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About MI*NetMI*Net is a proposed Mathematics-in-Industry Network. It will provide a technology diffusion service to Australian Industry that will assist companies to find and implement innovative solutions to difficult technical and organisational problems. The network will enable the Mathematics-in-Industry Study Group (MISG) to work beyond the scope of its annual workshop. Since 1985 the MISG Workshop has provided an annual opportunity for 6-8 Australian companies to work for one week on their problems in partnership with a team of expert industrial mathematicians. Whereas the workshop has been the engine room for the generation of new solutions and new applications, MI*Net will be a vehicle for the dissemination of these solutions to industry and industry support groups. MI*Net seminars and discussion groups will be held on a regular basis in each state and, for problems that cannot be brought forward to the annual MISG Workshop, MI*Net will provide access to a range of alternative consulting services. MI*Net files contain an extensive list of successful case studies and the new MI*Net leaflets present these solutions from an industry perspective. Why was the problem important? How was it solved? In what way did the company benefit from the solution? More importantly, MI*Net will help other companies to adapt these solutions to their special problems. The University of South Australia has recently agreed to coordinate a feasibility study for MI*Net. A steering committee has been formed with members from each mainland state. The feasibility study is funded by the Federal Department of Industry Science and Resources and is supported by universities and key industry organisations. The proposal has been endorsed by State Governments in WA, SA, Victoria, NSW and Queensland. The steering committee will prepare a business plan to be submitted for consideration to the Department of Industry Science and Resources in June 2001. The MI*Net partners will seek further funding from the Department to establish the national network, but in the longer term will aim to be self-sufficient. The network will have a major node in each state and a designated national node. The national node will:
The major nodes will be responsible for determining appropriate programs and services in each state, and will operate autonomously but within mutually agreed guidelines. MI*Net could give your company the edge, but MI*Net also needs your support. For more information about MI*Net contact your state representative at the address given below.
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