The role of NCI is to provide merit and partner access to internationally significant capability computing resources.

The NCI program provides for:

• Merit based access which, in keeping with NCRIS principles, provides for researchers in publicly funded research institutions to apply for resources on the National Facility and Specialised Facilities.
• Partner and affiliate access, in which partner organisations can buy, at full operating cost, a share of resources on the National Facility (and possibly Specialised Facilities), while affiliates can acquire a fixed level of resources for the year in which they invest.
• Other access, in which resources can be purchased by the public sector as well as commercial organisations and individuals.