National Imaging Facility Strategy
2026–2028
Vision: Enable Australian imaging science to unlock solutions to major challenges.
Mission: Make cutting-edge imaging capabilities accessible to Australian researchers and industry to enable significant impacts on national health challenges and to accelerate Australian innovation.
Expertise
Goal: Strengthen Australia’s community of world-leading imaging experts and users.
Driver: World-leading imaging magnifies the productivity and impact of outstanding researchers, but it is sophisticated and difficult to use, requiring experts with deep imaging knowledge.
Actions:
- Transition to a new expertise model that is scalable, sustainable, and flexible.
- Advocate for the critical role of imaging research infrastructure experts and leaders in imaging and its applications.
- Expand Australia’s community of users through training and increasing accessibility.
Technology
Goal: Keep Australia at the forefront of physical imaging research infrastructure.
Driver: Imaging is transforming scientific discovery and medical science.
Actions:
- Maintain and grow capability in transformative imaging technologies.
- Build national imaging capacity to answer questions that benefit Australia’s diverse population.
- Prioritise technology investments for innovation and international comparative advantage.
Impact
Goal: Facilitate the translation of research to benefit national health challenges and the broader economy.
Driver: Imaging is a core technology for translating research, and strongly aligns with policy objectives of the Australian and state governments.
Actions:
- Invest in the infrastructure and people that help translate research.
- Support an end-to-end imaging translation pipeline that helps move research through to practice in the health system, product development or commercialisation.
- Support and promote the impact of imaging research.
Data
Goal: Generate valuable imaging data collections that answer important medical research questions.
Driver: Imaging data generated across research and the health system is growing rapidly in size, complexity and value, while artificial intelligence techniques provide opportunities to generate new knowledge from these data.
Actions:
- Partner with organised research, clinical and industry communities to create nationally significant imaging data assets.
- Develop and operate national-scale digital research infrastructure and services that enable trusted imaging across research and clinical environments.
- Foster the application of artificial intelligence methods to imaging data.
Collaboration
Goal: Ensure that NIF has the partnerships and resources to deliver on its vision.
Driver: The increased demand for imaging capabilities in science, medicine and industry requires strong collaboration and funding to operate effectively and deliver maximum impact.
Actions:
- Operate as an accessible, national-scale research imaging platform.
- Collaborate with Australian communities that are addressing national challenges and like-minded international organisations.
- Attract and leverage diverse investment to maximise NIF’s capacity and capability.
