Cisco and the University of Canberra have announced a partnership focused on addressing the cybersecurity skills shortage, securing Australia’s critical infrastructure, and expanding the National Industry Innovation Network (NIIN), an alliance of companies and universities focused on the role that digital can play in meeting Australia’s economic and social challenges.
The partnership, which has a major focus on Defence and critical infrastructure, will allow companies to experiment with new technologies, collaborate on applied research and to address forecast cyber security skills shortages.
“Cybersecurity is a major challenge for us at every level, and certainly for industry, government and universities – therefore, it is equally a major source of new jobs and innovation. There is enormous scope for Australia to improve its resilience against cyber attacks including the use of advanced digital technologies,” University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Professor Paddy Nixon said.
“Improving Australia’s cyber resilience will require action on many fronts: industry-driven research, applied innovation, and a focus on meeting current and future demand for specialist skills.
“The University of Canberra is looking forward to working with Cisco and other industry and education partners to tackle some of the nation’s most pressing challenges related to cybersecurity, and digital adoption more broadly.”
As part of the partnership the University of Canberra and Innovation Central Canberra will join the National Industry Innovation Network (NIIN), an alliance between industry and universities that aims to realise digital opportunities that can benefit the lives of all Australians.
“The partnership with the University of Canberra is a strategically important element in terms of what we are trying to achieve with National Industry Innovation Network. Cisco is committed and is investing in strategic partnerships with universities to accelerate the adoption of technology and address major risks to the Australian economy and society.
The focus on cybersecurity recognises that protection of data and infrastructure needs to be a national priority. It also acknowledges the important role that Canberra plays from a cybersecurity policy, skills and operations perspective, including in Defence and national security,” Cisco ANZ Vice President Ben Dawson said.
“Cisco’s investment in the National Industry Innovation Network is producing great results in areas as diverse as critical infrastructure, Net Zero, hybrid work and accelerating digital transformation.”
The Research Chair in Defence & Critical Infrastructure will also be integrated into the NIIN and benefit from Cisco’s global partnerships and complementary capabilities offered by this network in critical infrastructure, securing assets of national interest and the defence sectors.
