La Trobe University, in partnership with Cisco and Optus, has opened its Digital Innovation Hub to boost R&D in sectors such as healthcare, education, advanced manufacturing, and smart urban infrastructure, fostering greater collaboration among students, researchers, businesses, and industry.

The hub, which leverages Optus’ 5G connectivity, is the first of its kind in Australia to host Cisco’s Webex Hologram technology, providing a platform for enterprises, students, start-ups, and Victorian businesses to collaborate, innovate, and transform.

Victorian Minister for Skills and TAFE Gayle Tierney said Victoria is an innovation powerhouse, and its universities, as international leaders in research and development, play a critical role in the State’s success.

“Facilities like La Trobe University’s Digital Innovation Hub give students a chance to test and improve their skills while helping businesses to tackle real-world challenges – this means everyone involved is transforming and growing”, Minister Tierney stated.

La Trobe Vice-Chancellor John Dewar AO said the purpose-built centre confirms the University’s leadership in tech innovations relevant to global industries.

“The Digital Innovation Hub builds on the University’s deep connection to business, creating a catalyst for new research and commercial developments that could transform sectors like healthcare, education, and telecommunications. It offers real-time opportunities for our students, academics and business to collaborate and innovate,” Professor Dewar added.

Cisco’s vice president for Australia & New Zealand Ben Dawson commented, “The Digital Innovation Hub in Melbourne brings together a range of partners, projects and precincts to offer students with access to the industry right at their doorstep. That’s why we’ve chosen it as the home of Innovation Central Melbourne – a facility that brings tech leaders together with industry and academia to address the skills gap and solve real world challenges. The Digital Innovation Hub offers the next wave of technologists with the latest tech and connections at their fingertips to turbocharge innovation.”

According to Optus Head of Government, Enterprise and Business Kavin Arnasalon, Optus is investing in Australia’s universities to become leading research institutions, utilising its fast and reliable 5G connectivity to enable students and researchers to explore the potential of AI, virtual and augmented reality, and ultra-reliable low latency.

“Through our strategic partnership with La Trobe University and Cisco, Optus looks forward to supporting students, researchers and the next generation of business leaders to have hands on experience in integrating technology into the workplace to drive business transformation,” Arnasalon added.

Meanwhile, Cisco Innovation Central Melbourne Director Jeffrey Jones emphasises the importance of social interaction in fostering innovation. He believes that innovation occurs when people are in the same place simultaneously, and the new Digital Innovation Hub will facilitate these interactions.

The hub’s other functions include:

• Augmented reality experiences, including through Cisco’s Webex hologram: Various smart glasses are being tested for various healthcare, education, and agriculture applications.
• Interactive touch wall: a cutting-edge presentation where guests can interact with interactive multimedia displays to learn about various research projects.
• Optus 5G co-design showcase: experimentation and prototyping in fields such as IoT (Internet of Things), augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR).
• National Industry Innovation Network showcase: Featuring interactive maps, case studies, success stories, and a database of member organisations from Cisco’s ‘National Industry Innovation Network,’ highlighting their creative projects, technology, and contributions to their respective industries across Australia.

The Digital Innovation Hub houses three top digital labs: Cisco & La Trobe’s AI and IoT Centre, Innovation Central Melbourne, and Optus 5G Lab.