Melbourne touted as knowledge hub

MELBOURNE will become the "Boston of the southern hemisphere" under an ambitious plan by eight metropolitan universities and the city council to position it as Australia's knowledge hub.

MELBOURNE will become the "Boston of the southern hemisphere" under an ambitious plan by eight metropolitan universities and the city council to position it as Australia's knowledge hub.

The Melbourne Vice Chancellors Forum wants to establish a jointly funded "office of knowledge capital" to strengthen the city's research and development output.

The plan is linked to today's release of the forum's first report, which looks at the economic, cultural and community contribution universities have made to Melbourne.

The report found that universities located in Melbourne had an annual turnover of $4 billion in 2005 and operated physical infrastructure valued at more than $9 billion.

The MVCF chair Lord Mayor John So said the report showed how vital universities were to the Victorian capital.

"For the first time, this report brings together information and data on the important part universities play in the city and the significance of knowledge development to the future prosperity and success of Melbourne as an internationally competitive city," he said.

Universities involved in the study were Monash, Melbourne, RMIT, Deakin, Victoria, Swinburne, La Trobe and the Australian Catholic University.

The study, drawing on figures from 2000 to 2005, found Victoria's universities contributed more than $2 billion annually in international exports, rivalling tourism.

In 2005 there were 69,700 international students at Victorian universities, and 48,600 of those were in the city.

The huge number of overseas students had led to major housing developments and a boost to the local economy, with international students spending an estimated $600 a week on accommodation, food and living expenses.

Overseas students paid $687 million in fees to Victorian universities in 2005.

The study, entitled Melbourne -- Australia's Knowledge Capital, reported that universities paid $2.3 billion to their staff in 2005. Universities produced 56,000 graduates in 2004 while researchers generated 194 books, 1005 book chapters, 5763 journal articles and presented 2738 papers at conferences.

The report also found Melbourne universities operated 25 stand-alone research facilities and in 2004 there were more than 1521 scientists employed at medical research institutes.

"Victoria's universities with a Melbourne metropolitan presence are playing a key role in the economic and industrial development of Victoria," the report said.

"But they are also playing a much wider role in social and community development as well as preserving the state's and the nation's heritage."

Councillor So said the report identified the biomedical sector as one area to promote internationally.

"Melbourne researchers already hold a significant number of internationally funded research grants in this field," he said. "And we will continue to build on this reputation in the future."