Driving digital research in Australasia with the Nectar Research Cloud

Established in 2012 as part of the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC), the Nectar Research Cloud is a national research cloud infrastructure operating across multiple research institutions in Australasia. This distributed model has evolved into a robust platform supporting over 4,000 researchers with flexible, secure, and powerful cloud computing services. As research demands grow and technology advances, Nectar continues to adapt and evolve, supporting both traditional and emerging fields, including data-intensive disciplines such as artificial intelligence and climate science.

Through strategic partnerships and enhanced GPU computing resources, Nectar empowers researchers to tackle increasingly complex problems, expanding opportunities for innovation and collaboration across disciplines and borders. Our services—such as Virtual Desktops and interactive platforms like JupyterHub—facilitate accessible and reproducible research practices, ensuring that researchers across institutions can fully engage with data-driven inquiry and discovery.

Looking to the future, Nectar is expanding geographically and enhancing its resilience through new nodes, with a particular focus on cybersecurity and service quality. Our new National Node, developed in collaboration with AARNet, will strengthen Nectar's core services and bolster our cybersecurity strategy as we work towards ISO27001 certification to ensure the highest standards of security and service management. The introduction of a High Throughput Computing service will further broaden our capacity to support extensive data processing needs, reinforcing Nectar's position as a cutting-edge eResearch infrastructure that strengthens research capabilities in Australasia.

In this presentation, we will demonstrate how Nectar’s evolving portfolio of services embodies the theme of "Evolution of eResearch Infrastructure" by meeting the current and future needs of higher education and research across the region. We will highlight how Nectar's continual adaptation positions the research community in Australasia to address complex challenges and contribute meaningfully to global knowledge. By fostering a dynamic and resilient infrastructure, Nectar continues to empower researchers to achieve excellence, foster collaboration, and drive impactful, sustainable advancements.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bernard Meade is the Manager of ARDC Nectar Research Cloud operations, bringing over 28 years of IT experience in Higher Education. With a PhD in astronomy instrumentation, he has dedicated two decades to supporting research computing infrastructure. Since the Nectar Research Cloud's launch in 2012, he has played a key role in its operations, combining technical expertise with a deep understanding of researchers' needs.

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For more information about the eResearch NZ / eRangahau Aotearoa conference, visit:
https://eresearchnz.co.nz/