The CSIRO is pocketing hundreds of millions from billions of Wi Fi devices the Federal Government has said.A multi-million dollar legal settlement over CSIRO’s Wi-Fi technology has delivered more than $220 million for the Australian organisation, which invented the technology in the 1990s.

The Minister for Science and Research, Chris Evans, says the latest agreement brings total revenue for the CSIRO’s technology to almost $430 million dollars.

Today’s settlement is the second successful litigation to be conducted by the research body, which now has licence agreements with 23 telecommunications companies.

“While we always celebrate Cathy Freeman, or other sports stars, it’s time we celebrated Australian scientists and recognised that Australian science is leading the world in development of new technologies and earning income for Australia,” Senator Evans said.