Microsoft opens doors to Sydney technology centre

Microsoft has opened a new technology centre in the Sydney CBD, showcasing the tech giant’s cloud and AI offerings to both customers and partners alike.

Microsoft Technology Centre (MTC) features a number of rooms to showcase the company's technology ecosystem as well as 30 partner solutions, including a “mixed-reality” showcase, a cyber security room, an “innovation factory”, workshops and boardrooms.

The centre targets both enterprise and government clients, and is managed by a dedicated team led by director Tyrone Theodorides.

“Investing in Australia’s future is a big part of the role that Microsoft plays,” Microsoft Australia managing director Stephen Worrall said.

“The launch of [the MTC] is evidence of that commitment, in addition to the previous investments we have made over the past year.”

Some of the engagement options available on-site are strategy briefings, architecture design sessions, data centre tours, workshops, proof of concepts and hackathons.

"The MTC will help us engage enterprise customers on best-in-class solutions that combine our and our partners’ expertise and experience," Microsoft Australia one commercial partner lead Mark Leigh said.

"Enterprises invited to the MTC will follow a specific process encompassing planning, preparing and executing to ensure maximum value and impact. We’re hopeful that as many as 400 enterprises a year will be able to benefit from the Sydney MTC."

The centre is backed by partnerships with DXC Technology and the NSW government, with Microsoft signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Department of Finance, Services and Innovation (DFSI).

The MOU aims to kick off a series of sessions to progress digital transformation projects across NSW.

Meanwhile, DXC signed a five-year strategic arrangement as part of the centre's launch, with the aim of supporting services provider as it transitions workloads to Azure.

"Working together, Microsoft and DXC will be able to accelerate the migration of banking, commercial and public sector workloads to Azure, positioning enterprises to benefit from the security, trust, resilience and performance of a global cloud," Leigh added.

"Transitioning to the cloud also helps increase the responsiveness of enterprise to shifting market conditions and opportunities and opens the door to the constantly evolving array of services and tools available for Azure."