CANBRRA: Networking giant Cisco is making an investment splash in Australia, announcing an Internet of Everything Innovation Centre, one of only eight globally.
The US firm said the centres are “aimed at catalysing and showcasing IoE innovation and development, bringing together customers, industry partners, start-ups, application developers, accelerators, government organisations and universities.”
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The new centre, planned for 2015, will join its peers in Rio de Janeiro, Toronto, Songdo, Berlin, Barcelona, Tokyo and London.
Cisco said it intends to invest $US15 million over five years into the centre, and will host company experts together with industry partners and ecosystem start-up who will develop proof of concepts, features and functionalities, and do rapid prototyping. The company also said the Centre will include dedicated space to demonstrate IoE in action and open areas where customers, start-ups, open communities, researchers, entrepreneurs and technology enthusiasts are invited to work and brainstorm on new ideas and technologies.
The initial ecosystem partners of the Cisco IoE Innovation Centre, Australia, currently include Sirca (owned by 40 universities across Australia and New Zealand), Curtin University and Woodside Energy.
Australia is a sophisticated market with a high level of innovation and an early adopter of new technology,” said Irving Tan, senior vice president Asia Pacific and Japan at Cisco.
Australia is already highly regarded globally for its resources and agriculture sectors and is well-placed to serve the rapidly growing Asian markets, and the Australian government has prioritised these sectors accordingly. Cisco has been involved in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project for over five years. The aim now with Cisco IoE Innovation Centre, Australia and its ecosystem of partners is to accelerate innovation and the adoption of the IoE in Australia,”
According to a recent Cisco study, Australia is one of the countries with the greatest potential to benefit from IoE, thanks to its proximity to Asia, its well-trained engineers and its innovation power. Cisco estimates the potential IoE Value at Stake for the Australian economy to be more than $US74 billion over the next 10 years.
Developing a vibrant ecosystem and vertical solutions creates building blocks essential to capture the full value of IoE. The Cisco IoE Innovation Centre, Australia, will be a platform for technology ideas and open innovation which will help develop and test new solutions,” the company said.
The centre will contribute to improve business outcomes and quality of life, as well as spark a new generation of start-ups and jobs in Australia.”
