Cisco, UTS open digital innovation hub for AI in Sydney

Cisco and the University of Technology Sydney have launched Innovation Central Sydney, a new hub within Australia's National Industry Innovation Network that links university research with industry and government projects.

Known as ICS, the site is the latest node in the Innovation Central Network, part of the National Industry Innovation Network. The network brings together 10 Australian universities and works with industry on digital technology projects, including deploying artificial intelligence in operational settings.

Innovation Central Sydney sits in the NSW Government's Tech Central precinct. It is positioned as a place where organisations can run innovation projects, work with academic specialists and use on-site facilities. The hub also supports workforce development through university programs.

Network expansion

Backers describe the National Industry Innovation Network as one of Australia's largest industry-led innovation networks. It is linked to AUD $550 million in project funding, has completed more than 350 industry projects and has engaged more than 3,000 students in industry-led work.

UTS now plays an anchoring role through ICS, which is intended to strengthen collaboration with industry and government and scale applied innovation in areas of national priority.

The Cisco-UTS alliance at ICS will focus on applied research and industry-driven projects. Work-integrated learning is also part of the model, connecting students with industry activity as part of their studies. Focus areas at UTS include AI, cybersecurity, sustainable engineering and connectivity.

These priorities align with broader efforts to move AI from prototypes into deployed systems, alongside ongoing concerns about cyber risk and the resilience of digital infrastructure as governments and businesses expand their use of cloud services, data analytics and connected devices.

New appointments

UTS has created two new positions as part of the alliance. Associate Professor Ilaria Barletta has been appointed Cisco Research Chair for Sustainable Engineering, linking sustainability research with practical engineering applications across environmental, social and economic themes.

Professor Andrew McLean has been appointed NIIN Industry Alumni, focusing on strengthening ties between the university and external partners. Responsibilities include advancing collaborations with industry and government, providing strategic guidance across NIIN programs and working with academics and students involved in projects.

While the organisations have not disclosed the financial terms for the hub or the appointments, they presented ICS as part of a longer-term effort to expand the university-industry pipeline for applied digital innovation. The hub also adds to the infrastructure emerging around Sydney's technology precincts, which host startups, research groups and corporate teams.

Georgia Jenkins, Regional Manager for NSW Public Sector at Cisco Australia, linked the development to state priorities around digital transformation and the growing role of AI.

"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," said Georgia Jenkins, Regional Manager for NSW Public Sector, Cisco Australia.

Responsible AI

UTS Vice Chancellor and President Professor Andrew Parfitt described ICS as a step towards scaling AI deployment with governance in mind. He said the hub would bring together infrastructure, skills and partnerships within the network model.

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

The organisations also said ICS will act as a national platform for collaboration and support the development of a project pipeline as partners identify and scope new work across the priority areas.