UTS is set to be part of the biggest technology hub of its kind in Australia as the vision for the world-class innovation precinct takes shape.
An aerial view of Tech Central, which will be at the heart of the innovation and technology precinct. Photo supplied by Atlassian
The vision and almost $50 million in funding announced for Tech Central bring the world-class innovation and technology precinct emerging in inner-Sydney a step closer to reality.
Tech Central will be home to startups, scale-ups and innovation ecosystem partners – putting NSW at the forefront of tech development, said NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
The Tech Central tower is set to house 4000 Atlassian employees after its completion in 2025. Photo supplied by Atlassian
Local technology giant Atlassian has committed to become an anchor tenant of the precinct, basing its Australian headquarters at the new site. And the NSW Government has committed to facilitating 250,000 square metres of office space in the precinct which stretches several kilometres from Central Station to Camperdown, including South Eveleigh.
In announcing $48.2 million in funding to bring Tech Central to life, Ms Berejiklian said: “We have some brilliant tech innovators and entrepreneurs in our state and Tech Central will help us retain local talent and attract some of the brightest minds in the world. This will be more important than ever as we recover from the pandemic.”
We want to create jobs, ideas and innovation. This will be home to thousands of workers and the best new ideas.
Scott Farquhar, Atlassian co-founder
As a 30-year resident of Ultimo, UTS is at the heart of the precinct and well placed to contribute to the development of startup and scale-up businesses that will aid the state’s economic recovery from COVID-19.
Vice-Chancellor Attila Brungs said UTS applauds the NSW Government for its future-focused thinking and looks forward to welcoming Atlassian and other leading technology firms to our increasingly dynamic neighbourhood.
A bird’s eye view of Tech Central – at 40 storeys it will be the world’s tallest hybrid timber tower. Photo supplied by Atlassian
Professor Brungs said: “Leading innovation and technology precincts the world over usually have universities as key stakeholders. At UTS, we believe innovation happens best in collaboration. One of the biggest impacts a university such as ours can have is providing opportunities for people to bump into one another and put that collaboration to work, establishing startups, conducting important research, setting young people on the path to the jobs that will move Australia forward.
Australia will benefit from these homegrown, high-quality and scalable startups that are critical to rebuilding and growing our economy.
Attila Brungs, UTS Vice-Chancellor
“Despite the challenges 2020 has already thrown at us, including the bushfires and the pandemic, we’ve seen a growth of 103 technology-driven student startups in our UTS Startups community. That brings our total to 337 active student startups.
“Not only will they benefit from being an entrepreneur in a bustling tech precinct, but Australia will benefit from these homegrown, high-quality and scalable startups that are critical to rebuilding and growing our economy.”
The government has a long-term goal for Tech Central to create 25,000 innovation jobs and encourage 25,000 new students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) and life sciences.
Atlassian co-founder Scott Farquhar, left, at UTS with Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Vice-President (Innovation & Enterprise) Glenn Wightwick, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, CSIRO chairman David Thodey and NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet. Photo by Terry Clinton
Atlassian and the NSW Government have negotiated to develop and build the company’s new Australian headquarters at Central station, above YHA Central Railway Square.
Atlassian co-founder and co-CEO Scott Farquhar said technology can turbo-charge Australia’s recovery.
“That’s why we’re building this precinct. We want to create jobs, ideas and innovation. This will be home to thousands of workers and the best new ideas. If you want to work in tech, this is the place you will want to be.”