The Planning and Transport Research Centre (PATREC) is a unique 'collaborative knowledge network' of four universities. Based in Perth Western Australia and established in May 2003, it offers high quality education and research programs in transport and logistics.

PATREC's founding sponsors are Curtin University of Technology, Edith Cowan University, Murdoch University, the University of Western Australia, the Western Australian Department for Planning and Infrastructure and Main Roads WA.

PATREC's role is to build professional and academic capability and expand the number and quality of researchers in its specialist fields. PATREC's strong governance structure involving universities, founding industry partners and an independent chairman, ensures independence and a high level of attention to quality outcomes.

PATREC brings together people with very strong national and international experience in research, industry and government, ensuring that its programs are highly relevant to contemporary public policy, planning and business issues. Able to use resources from all four public universities in the State, PATREC can address a wide range of research issues. Academic resources can be supplemented by other resources from industry.