// Industry and universities have collaborated to accelerate innovation …
Global tech giant Cisco and telecoms leader Optus have joined forces with Curtin and La Trobe Universities to establish the National Industry Innovation Network (NIIN).
It proponents claim this will be a new model for industry and universities to collaborate in addressing real-world industry challenges and responding to long-term national interests.
The four foundation members will pool resources including research chairs, innovation centres, supply chains, partner networks and specialist expertise.
The new Network will act as both a ‘clearing house’ for immediate industry challenges and a driver for economic stimulus, resilience and recovery through digital transformation.
According to Cisco ANZ Vice President, Ken Boal, the ultimate aim of the network is to make Australian industries more adaptive and resilient.
Business Managing Director of Optus, Chris Mitchell acknowledges the immense challenges that Australia will face in the near future.
“Australia faces immense health and economic challenges and no single company or university has all the answers. In combining our technology, expertise and networks, we can create a greater impact together.”
Chris Mitchell, Optus
Curtin University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Terry AO echoes similar comments to Mitchell.
“We have demonstrated that sharing our resources and expertise brings great value to our communities and our economy. We are proud to partner with Cisco, Optus and La Trobe to take a leading role in finding new ways to solve industry problems and address national challenges.”
Deborah Terry, Curtin University
La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Dewar AO, welcomed the partnership as an important step to support innovation and job-creating economic activity.
“I welcome this new alliance as an important development in bringing industry and universities to work together to support economic recovery and digital transformation. This is an exciting new development with the potential to change the way we think about collaborations between universities and industry for the benefit of the nation.”
John Dewar, La Trobe University
One of the first projects to be tackled by the NIIN will be a white paper on the role of collaborative technology in remote working, with a specific focus on government, health and education sectors.
It is anticipated that this will provide a framework to help users better understand and evaluate the adoption and application of these technologies in different use cases.
“We can take the learnings out of the recent surge in the adoption of collaboration technologies that have enabled remote working, and build on the capability and productivity that’s been realised, to support a more resilient digital economy and society.”
Ken Boal, Cisco Australia and New Zealand
Chris Mitchell adds, “It is in Australia’s interest to provide governments, peak bodies and industry with the information necessary to make informed decisions on security, privacy, scalability and usability.”
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MAIN IMAGE: Taken from various websites.
Disclosure: Curtin University is a sponsor of Startup News.
