Innovation Central Brisbane

Innovation Central Brisbane (ICB) is a cutting-edge university-industry collaboration, advancing digital transformation through an open innovation ecosystem and research hub.

Led in partnership by QUT and Cisco, ICB connects industry with students, graduates and researchers to design, develop and scale technology solutions to address real-world challenges in the retail and logistics sectors.

In late 2021 Cisco invested $61 million into six Australian university partnerships as part of their Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program to drive digital skills, innovation and transformation success. QUT is Cisco’s Queensland university partner. Our research partnership is focused on Trusted Retail Innovation. The Cisco CDA partnership program includes three key initiatives that each university leads exclusively in their state and collaborates on nationally and globally.

Cisco Research Chair

Dedicated to an emerging technology and industry vertical. Cisco Chairs are led by academics providing global research in the areas of: Trusted Retail; AI & IOT; Digital Health; Digital Transport; Advanced Networking; and Security and Critical Infrastructure.

Innovation Central

Based at each university and named according to the city they are based in, ICs are open innovation hubs enabling connection between students, researchers, industry, big tech, government and start-ups. Fitted with latest Cisco technology and led by University-Industry partnership experts, the ICs offer industry partners a front door for student engagement, prototypes, research projects and a landing pad for technology innovation.

National Industry Innovation Network (NIIN)

Membership to the NIIN connects all universities and industry partners for national scale, diversity of thinking and innovation impact. Cisco created the NIIN in response to business needs to drive greater university-industry collaboration to accelerate digital skills and transformation. NIIN partners include: Optus, QUT, University of New South Wales, Curtin University, La Trobe University, Flinders University, University of Canberra.

Trusted retail and logistics

As part of QUT and Cisco’s partnership, Cisco has invested $900,000 over three years into a global research program led by the Chair in Trusted Retail and Logistics. The research will explore trusted retail and logistics innovation, designing new trust management strategies and business models for industry. It will also connect industry with student talent, esteemed QUT alumni and university researchers who will collaboratively design, develop and scale technology solutions to address real-world challenges in the retail and logistics industry. Read the Trusted Retail Innovation White Paper.