New Centre for Infrastructure Research (CIR) set up to help practitioners and policy-makers make “smarter” infrastructure decisions will be launched in Wellington today.

The University of Auckland has formed the specialist research centre to help tackle the country’s infrastructure challenges.

Investing in an advanced national research and education network will deliver at least $4 of economic benefits for every tax dollar spent by 2015, a recent study suggests.

The study, undertaken by high-end investment consultancy Temple: Capital Investment Specialists, assessed the value of REANNZ (Research and Education Advanced Network New Zealand) to the New Zealand economy.