Monash University Chancellor Dr Megan Clark AC and Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Sharon Pickering.
Monash University’s AI supercomputer MAVERIC is officially launched, with researchers already using its advanced capabilities to accelerate work in cancer, infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance and new medicine discovery.
The technology will exponentially fast-track efforts to better understand and address some of the world’s most complex health and environmental challenges.
Projects currently underway encompass the discovery of new biomarkers in precision medicine for multiple sclerosis, creating better AI models for mental health support, enhancing skin cancer detection, simulating the formation of stars and planets, and analysing thousands of images of Antarctica, spanning decades, to deepen our understanding of protecting this precious environment.
MAVERIC is aligned with Monash’s commitment to delivering AI responsibly and sustainably. Located within CDC Data Centres’ Brooklyn (Melbourne) campus, MAVERIC is underpinned by CDC’s advanced infrastructure, including a closed-loop liquid cooling system that enhances water efficiency and enables sustainable, high-impact research at scale.
Monash University Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Sharon Pickering, said the launch of MAVERIC marks a significant milestone for Australian research capability while setting a new standard for secure and sustainable AI infrastructure.
“MAVERIC gives Australia world-leading sovereign capability and Monash researchers access to the computing power needed to tackle the most complex scientific and societal challenges facing the world today,” Professor Pickering said.
“MAVERIC will directly improve the lives of Australians and their families by transforming data into real-world solutions that improve health outcomes, enhance quality of life and help secure a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come.
“Sovereign capability is urgent and critical, which is why MAVERIC has also been designed not simply as a supercomputer, but as a Trusted Research Environment (TRE), providing the security, regulatory assurance and sovereign control needed for authorised researchers to analyse sensitive data under strict, enforceable controls.”
With an initial pipeline of projects already underway, MAVERIC is meeting growing demand for AI-enabled research and helping ensure Australian researchers remain at the forefront of global discovery and innovation, not watching from the sidelines.
