Cisco and Curtin mark 10 years of innovation with new regional Innovation Central presence

Cisco and Curtin University are celebrating a decade of Innovation Central Perth (ICP), with the partnership now expanding to Curtin’s Singapore Campus where the first international Innovation Central facility will open later this year.

Since opening in 2015, ICP has served as a dynamic platform where Cisco engineers, Curtin researchers and students have joined forces to tackle industry challenges, developing innovative solutions and projects that foster growth, provide jobs and helps to build sustainable economies.

Now running successfully for more than a decade, and having been the blueprint for Innovation Centrals in universities across Australia, the model will expand internationally with Innovation Central Singapore opening at Curtin Singapore in October this year.

Curtin University Vice Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne CNZM said ICP was a leading example of how universities and industry can unite effectively to turn innovative problems into real-world outcomes.

“The decade-long and highly successful relationship between Curtin and Cisco has transformed the role of digital innovation, allowing ICP to become a cornerstone of Western Australia’s digital innovation ecosystem. Not only has ICP been crucial for industry and government, it has also been an outstanding vehicle for providing work-integrated learning opportunities for Curtin students to gain skills directly with industry partners, particularly in key areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, mining and digital health,” Professor Hayne said.

“Now with Innovation Central expanding to Curtin Singapore, a wider range of industry, experts and students will have the opportunity to collaborate and solve real-world industry challenges using innovative thinking and research.”

Professor Melanie Johnston-Hollitt, Chair of the ICP Governing Board and Director of the Curtin Institute for Data Science, said ICP had grown exponentially in the last decade.

“Since 2020, ICP has provided more than 130 Curtin students with industry placements and led more than 150 projects across various critical sectors including mining and resources, manufacturing, government, health, insurance, banking and tourism,” Professor Johnston-Hollitt said.

“It has been a tremendous honour to witness ICP’s growth and contribute to this highly skilled and dedicated team. We are thrilled to be launching the first international Innovation Central in Singapore and continuing to support industry on a global scale.”

ICP and the Curtin partnership have also been major pillars in the establishment of the National Industry Innovation Network (NIIN), with Curtin a founding partner in the launch of the NIIN in 2020. The NIIN is one of Australia’s largest and most inclusive industry-university collaboration platform, dedicated to solving national challenges, driving technology adoption, and fostering workforce readiness to position Australia as a global leader in innovation with ICP playing a leading role.

Ben Dawson, Senior Vice President at Cisco for Australia and New Zealand, highlighted the significance of the initiative. “Innovation Central Perth has been a major contributor to the success of the National Industry Innovation Network and demonstrates what’s possible when industry and academia come together to solve real-world challenges,” Mr Dawson said.

Our proven model to scale innovation with the NIIN has already attracted over half a billion dollars in project related funding and delivered hundreds of impactful projects.

This longstanding partnership with Curtin is vital in playing a role in positioning Australia as a global leader in digital transformation, ensuring we have the skills, technology, and innovation needed to secure our economic future and we are excited about the future possibilities of extending the partnership into the region.”

Professor Johnston-Hollitt also acknowledged Curtin Singapore Pro-Vice Chancellor and President Professor Alex Stojcevski for spearheading the initiative in Singapore.

Further information on Innovation Central Perth can be found online here.

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Photo: Chair of the ICP Governing Board and Director of the Curtin Institute for Data Science Professor Melanie Johnston-Hollitt, Director of ICP Dr Daniel Marrable, Curtin Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne, Cisco Senior Vice President for Australia and New Zealand Ben Dawson, Curtin University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research John Curtin Distinguished Professor Melinda Fitzgerald, Cisco Director of Western Australia Mark Patterson, Cisco Managing Director, Public Sector and Strategic Industries Sam Gerner.