Synchrotron science facilitates technological innovation and discovery, which is fundamental to growing an innovative economy. Since 2006, a wide range of cutting-edge research in Aotearoa New Zealand has benefited from a unique partnership with the synchrotron facilities operated by ANSTO – Australia's Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation based in Victoria.
In 2006 the Victorian State government invited New Zealand to contribute to construction of beamlines at the newly built Australian Synchrotron facility in Melbourne. This contribution was jointly funded by a consortium of Universities and Crown Research Institutes and a substantial capital grant from the New Zealand government (a 50/50 split), who could see the benefits of synchrotron science.
The consortium formed NZSG to hold shares in the Synchrotron on their behalf, represent them in governance matters, manage access to the facility, and promote synchrotron science to researchers.
Initially, the New Zealand research community had access to the facility until April 2013. From 2006 to 2013, our researcher’s expertise in synchrotron science flourished.
In 2012, for an interim period ANSTO was subcontracted to operate the Synchrotron. Five groups from the Australian and New Zealand research sectors contributed funding for ANSTO to operate the synchrotron until 2016. The New Zealand portion of funding continued to be met by the research sector and the government through an annual grant, again shared equally.
In 2016, the Australian Commonwealth government assumed ownership of the Synchrotron. All shares, including those held then by NZSG, were assigned to ANSTO, and the Australian government agreed to fund the facility until June 2026.
Since 2006, Aotearoa New Zealand has invested AUD17 million in the building of new beamlines and contributed AUD27 million towards facility’s operations. These costs have been shared among the eight NZSG financial shareholder institutions and the government. As a result of this significant investment, partner New Zealand research organisations receive ongoing priority access rights.
