Over the last ten years the Monash University research strategy has supported significant investments in both research infrastructure and appropriate cognate technical expertise.
Together, these various investments into research infrastructure have allowed the establishment of an integrated network of world-class technology platforms that underpin the university’s research excellence and quality. Each platform has dedicated management, governance and oversight, meaning they are focussed on the delivery of high quality services, can make decisions quickly and can create solutions for academic and industry researchers.
These core technology platforms are all readily available and easily accessible to any collaborating or other academic researchers as well as to industry partners. The goal being to provide cutting-edge research infrastructure and supporting expertise to help remove barriers to excellence in research and to encourage collaboration and importantly, ensure data quality. Research infrastructure is also intimately linked to the ability to recruit and retain high quality scientists locally and from overseas. Such individuals expect and require access to the best facilities to effectively address the most important scientific questions.
Certification to the International recognised Standard of Quality Management (ISO9001) can also differentiates a university’s research platforms. Platform ISO 9001 certification gives researchers, their academic collaborators and industry great confidence in terms of supporting and enabling research and industry engagement. Leading researchers are attracted to the platforms because of their proven quality, expertise, networks and focus. Industry is attracted because it can access a quality assured, one-stop technology shop and a seamless, uniform research service across the university. Furthermore, this level of certification leads to improved data quality. Finally, commercial partners have a central point to initiate collaboration in any particular area and the university has the capacity to deliver a high-quality, timely and responsive service.