Australia’s leading innovation district is on UTS’s doorstep

A flourishing innovation ecosystem in the heart of downtown Sydney is transforming the way that University of Technology Sydney (UTS) researchers and students work, learn and collaborate.

Tech Central, Australia’s leading innovation district, is a thriving innovation, creativity and technology precinct that spans six neighbourhoods in and around the southern end of Sydney’s CBD, including UTS’s home suburb of Ultimo.

Backed by millions of dollars in public and private investment, it’s home to three universities, a teaching hospital and more than 100 research centres, along with 250,000 square metres of dedicated space for technology businesses.

“Tech Central is fast emerging as a world-class research and commercialisation hub,” says UTS Deputy Vice Chancellor of Enterprise Professor Glenn Wightwick. 

“The revitalised UTS Campus sits at the heart of this dynamic neighbourhood, positioning us to lead and collaborate on a vast range of research and entrepreneurship opportunities.”

Notable neighbours

The Tech Central precinct draws together companies that are delivering innovations in everything from fintech and AI to robotics, analytics, sustainability and virtual reality, including global names like Canva, Safety Culture and — shortly — Atlassian. At UTS, this co-location with some of Australia’s most exciting businesses is leading to new partnerships that have the potential to deliver massive gains in these rapidly growing fields.

These include a collaboration between the UTS Climate Change Cluster (C3) and surf brand Piping Hot to develop algae-based textiles, and the newly established Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Fashion and Textiles, a UTS and TAFE NSW partnership focused on the latest advances in sustainable fabrication, cutting and production.

A growing presence

UTS is also contributing to the development of important new research infrastructure within the Tech Central precinct. The university is a founding partner of the Sydney Quantum Academy, which positions Sydney as a global hub for quantum talent, research and technology, and is currently establishing the UTS Vault, a secure facility that will enable the development of protected cybersecurity and defence technology projects.

The revitalised UTS Campus sits at the heart of this dynamic neighbourhood, positioning us to lead and collaborate on a vast range of research and entrepreneurship opportunities.

Professor Glenn Wightwick
UTS Deputy Vice Chancellor of Enterprise

And UTS students are getting in on the action, too: UTS Startups, the home of entrepreneurship at UTS, showcases student-led innovation on one of Tech Central’s busiest street corners.

Now, more than 1,000 technology-enabled, UTS-student-led businesses can share their big ideas with industry leaders, prospective investors and clients, and other budding entrepreneurs.

“UTS has a reputation as a world-leading university of technology in research, teaching and innovation,” Professor Wightwick says.

“Our location in Tech Central is core to our commitment to technology-led social, environmental and technological transformation led by students and researchers alike.”