NSW creates connectivity innovation network
The New South Wales government has announced the Connectivity Innovation Network to bring together researchers, industry, and government agencies to solve connectivity challenges and deliver improved outcomes for citizens.
The University of Technology Sydney and the University of Sydney will lead the establishment of network, which has been developed by NSW Telco Authority in consultation with the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer.
Some of the challenges in focus include power resilience, ubiquitous connectivity, sensors, network, and cyberautomation.
Australian government invests $111 million in quantum computing
The Australian federal government has announced a $111 million investment to support commercialisation, adoption, and use of quantum computing to create jobs, support Australian business, and keep Australians safe.
A big portion of the investment, $70 million, will go towards a quantum commercialisation hub, which is expected to be supported by a yet-to-be-developed national quantum strategy.
The government expects quantum technologies can deliver Australia $4 billion in economic value and create 16,000 new jobs by 2040.
The announcement is part of the release of a Blueprint and Action Plan for Critical Technologies, which identified quantum as one of the government’s nine technologies for initial focus to build the right skills and acquire the necessary tools to adopt critical technologies in a safe and secure manner. Other critical technologies include advanced communications (5G and 6G), artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
ASX’s distributed ledger technology as a service is in production
The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)’s distributed ledger technology (DLT) as a service is in production and taking in its first customers. ASX says the blockchain-based service provides access to its DLT infrastructure, data hosting, ledger services, and support. January 2021, ASX launched a beta version, with more than 20 organisations trialling it.
Each user within an organisation has invite-only and permissioned access to a synchronised and real-time immutable audit trail. Automated consent management and sovereignty to data owners ensures each party sees only the data on the ledger that they have permission to access.
Telstra bets on APIs for faster development
Telecommunications provider Telstra announced plans to have 100% of its key business applications using API-first architecture, as part of its business strategy.
Telstra expects the use of APIs to enhance its internal product development by making reusable APIs available throughout the organisation. The telco will let developers o access some of its APIs through its developer portal and other marketplaces, enabling app developers to consume and integrate Telstra network IT and data assets into their apps. It will also use API-first architecture to integrate with enterprise customers and cloud providers, which will be allowed to request a service or check the status of their order directly via API.
Google’s $1 billion investment in Australia
Google announced it will invest $1 billion into its Digital Future Initiative to into Australian infrastructure, research, and partnerships to help strengthen local capabilities, create jobs (including researchers and engineers at a Google hub), and help Australia’s digital economy.
A Google-paid analysis suggested the initiative would support 6,529 new direct jobs and 28,057 total jobs across Australia and deliver $1.3 billion in direct investment and $6.7 billion in total economic impact.
Cognizant promises 1,600 tech jobs
IT consultancy Cognizant has announced plans to open an office in Adelaide and create 1,600 jobs for digital engineers, graduates, and apprentices by 2026. The office will be located in Adelaide’s central business district, backed by federal and state governments’ investments of about $750 million to help develop new technology hubs outside of Sydney and Melbourne.
Axiom opens office in Charles Sturt University Innovation Hub
Axiom Connected will set up its Australian office in Charles Sturt University’s Innovation Hub, located in Port Macquarie, NSW, from January 2022.
The office will have 10 staff, but plans are to increase the employee count to as many as 50 within two years. This includes plans for hiring user-interface and user-experience specialists, developers, programmers, and business analysists.
Axiom will prioritise Charles Sturt graduates and alumni in the initial round of recruitment. As part of the agreement, Axiom will work with the university to deliver work placement and graduate employment opportunities for students in the region.
Earlier this month, Charles Sturt University announced that IBM was opening a client innovation centre in Bathurst, which is expected to create 300 jobs and will see scholarships offered to its students and work experience at the centre.