Official Announcement | The World-Class Digital Innovation Center of La Trobe University Unveiled

At the end of last year, La Trobe University welcomed the Australian NationalMinister for Skills and Technical Education, Australian Parliamentarian Ms. Gayle Tierney (The Hon Gayle Tierney MP) to unveil the world-class Digital Innovation Hub on campus.

The Digital Innovation Hubis a world-class innovation park, in collaboration with global technology leaders Cisco and Optus, providing unprecedented technological capabilities for broader collaboration among students, researchers, businesses, and industries.

The Digital Innovation Hubis established by three leading digital labs,including the Cisco and La Trobe AI and IoT Center; the Melbourne Innovation Center and the Optus 5G Lab. La Trobe University, Cisco, and Optus are among the founding members of the 'National Industry Innovation Network' (NIIN).

The Digital Innovation Hub will accelerate R&D in a series of critical fields such as healthcare, education, advanced manufacturing, transportation, and smart city infrastructure.

The centeris located at La Trobe's main Melbourne campus,utilizing Optus's 5G connectivity, it is the only place in Australia hosting Cisco Webex Hologram technology, providing a one-stop platform for growth, innovation, and transformation for businesses and government organizations, students, startups, and enterprises in Victoria.

The Minister for Skills and Technical EducationGayle Tierney said, 'Victoria is a strong state empowered by innovation, and as an international leader in research and development, our universities play a crucial role in the successful development of Victoria.'

'Facilities like the Digital Innovation Hub at La Trobe Universityprovide students with opportunities to test and enhance their skills while helping businesses tackle real-world challenges—this means everyone involved is transforming and growing,' said Minister Tierney.

'The Digital Innovation Hub is built on the deep connections between the university and business, serving as a catalyst for new research and business development,which could transform fields such as healthcare, education, and telecommunications. It provides immediate opportunities for our students, academics, and businesses, looking forward to future collaboration and innovation opportunities,' said former La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor John Dewar AO.

Ben Dawson, President of Cisco Australia and New Zealand, said, 'The Digital Innovation Hub in Melbourne brings together a range of partners, projects, and parks, providing students with direct exposure to the industry. This is why we chose La Trobe University as the location for the Melbourne Innovation Center—it is a facility that connects technology leaders with industry and academia to address skill gaps and solve real-world challenges.The Digital Innovation Hub provides the next generation of tech talent with the latest technology and connections to drive innovation.'

Kavin Arnasalon, Head of Government, Enterprise, and Business at Optus, said, 'With Optus's fast and reliable 5G service, students and researchers can tap into the untapped potential of technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and augmented reality.'

Minister Tierney witnessed technology demonstrations including the use of Microsoft HoloLens with Cisco Webex Hologram technology and the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department, the latterallowing students to engage in immersive, real-time experiential learning through augmented reality technology.

The Digital Innovation Hub is located within La Trobe University's Research and Innovation Park, one of the key platforms for La Trobe's future cities, and is one of the few test sites globally with access to Cisco Webex Hologram technology, which uses industry-leading augmented reality headsets to create realistic, real-time holographic interactions.

Other features

• Augmented Reality Experience, including through Cisco Webex Hologram technology: various smart glasses are being trialed for use in healthcare, education, agriculture, and more.

• Interactive Touch Wall: Through interactive multimedia presentations, visitors can explore various research projects.

• Optus 5G Co-Design Showcase: Experimentation and prototyping in areas such as IoT, AR, VR.

• National Industry Innovation Network Showcase: Sharing interactive maps, case studies, success stories, and a directory of member organizations of Cisco's 'National Industry Innovation Network', highlighting their innovative projects, technologies, and contributions across various industries in Australia.

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