Cisco, UTS unveil Innovation Central Sydney

Cisco and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have teamed up to launch Innovation Central Sydney (ICS), an expansion of the Innovation Central Network which is, in turn, a major pillar of the National industry Innovation Network (NIIN).

Cisco and UTS said ICS provides a platform for industry and government to explore emerging technologies through innovation projects, as well as engage with experts and contribute to the development of the next-generation workforce.

Through ICS, partners will collaborate on applied research, industry-driven projects and work-integrated learning, with a focus on UTS’ priority areas of AI, cybersecurity, sustainable engineering and connectivity.

Two new roles at UTS have been subsequently established through the alliance.

The Cisco Research Chair for Sustainable Engineering, Associate Professor Ilaria Barletta, aism to transform research into practical, scalable solutions that advance environmental, social and economic sustainability.

The NIIN Industry Alumni, Professor Andrew McLean, focuses on connecting university and industry, advancing collaborations with industry and government, offering strategic guidance to NIIN programs, and supporting academics and students.

Cisco Australia’s regional manager for NSW Public Sector, Georgia Jenkins said the opening of Innovation Central Sydney is an important moment in evolving the digital agenda in NSW, bringing together industry and academia to solve real-world challenges.

“Evolving the partnership with UTS as part the National Industry Innovation Network is a key milestone in accelerating digitisation to promote robust communities in NSW, especially as technologies like AI become increasingly critical to unlocking a resilient future," he said.

UTS Vice Chancellor and president Professor Andrew Parfitt said Innovation Central Sydney positions Australia to move beyond experimentation and into large-scale, responsible AI adoption.

“Innovation Central Sydney brings together the people, infrastructure and partnerships needed to translate digital innovation into real world impact," she said.

"As the latest node of the National Industry Innovation Network, it strengthens Australia’s capacity to adopt AI safely, build skills at scale and deliver outcomes that benefit industry, government and the community,” he said. 

The NIIN began in 2020 by Cisco and Optus partnering with Curtin University and La Trobe University, aiming to improve digital economic resilience and transformation by developing a model for industry and academia to collaborate in addressing industry challenges and long-term interests.

In 2022, Cisco and Flinders University teamed up to launch Innovation Central Adelaide, complementing three existing Innovation Central locations in Sydney, Perth and Brisbane.

Later that year, Cisco and the University of Canberra established the Innovation Central Canberra hub for industry and government to validate cybersecurity technologies, develop prototypes and de-risk the adoption process.