UTS aims to be Australia’s Silicon Valley

UTS is aiming to position itself as the centre for technological innovation and collaboration in the country. The university is launching Intersection: Sydney’s digital and creative hub on November 20.

The launch is part of the NSW Government’s knowledge hubs initiative aimed at creating platforms for business and researchers to improve collaboration within industry. It is a joint venture of UTS, the NSW government and Microsoft.

Deputy Premier and NSW Minister for Trade and Investment, Troy Grant, welcomed the launch. He said Intersection is one of five knowledge hubs in key economic sectors initiated by the NSW Government and led and supported by industry as part of efforts to improve competitive advantage by fostering a culture of collaboration.

UTS said the goal is to grow jobs in the Australian start-up sector and to encourage local talent to remain in Australia.

UTS deputy-vice chancellor resources, Patrick Woods, said the University is a perfect location due to the high concentrations of entrepreneurial and innovative organisations in the Ultimo, Surry Hills and Sydney CBD area.

"Sydney is a global innovation leader, with NSW home to 40 per cent of Australia's creative and digital industries and City of Sydney data showing a 252 per cent jump in workers in those industries in Pyrmont and Ultimo over the past six years."

"So, the industry profile and workforce is here and at the same time the physical infrastructure is transforming the urban landscape with billions of dollars in new developments at Central Park, the UTS campus, Darling Harbour, the Goods Line and Barangaroo," he said.

Woods said Australia was far behind other countries in terms of the numbers of start-ups, their ability to access capital and Australia's ability to keep talent local.

"Intersection has been created to connect large companies with start-ups, develop programs of events, mentoring and internships and raise Sydney's global profile through collaboration."

Microsoft director developer evangelism and experience, Sarah Vaughan, said the partnership was an obvious choice, given Microsoft's commitment to Australia’s innovation potential.

"Intersection fills a need identified in Microsoft's own innovation research, for more cooperation and collaboration, by joining all the players including government, industry and the education sector.”