The Victorian Government has announced an industry-led consortium comprising Artesian, University of Melbourne, RMIT University and La Trobe University, has been selected to establish the Cremorne Digital Hub.
The Victorian Government will invest $10 million in the digital innovation hub, which will uplift technology and innovation capability, develop and attract talent, create jobs, and stimulate business growth.
The Cremorne Digital Hub will deliver a range of activities including community building and knowledge sharing events, digital skills training and custom education, research and innovation, and a range of start-up and commercialisation activities including the establishment of the Cremorne Venture Capital Fund.
Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford said the Hub will turbocharge this rapidly growing sector.
“The Hub will encourage collaboration, build capability and provide access to expert networks here and around the world,” Minister Pulford said.
University of Melbourne Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor James McCluskey said the University, along with its partners, will bring extensive experience in digital innovation and research commercialisation, as well as key industry relationships and student talent.
“The University of Melbourne is committed to investing in partnerships with government, industry, and businesses to further our research discovery and impact. The Cremorne Digital Hub will enable us, with our consortium partners, to continue our strong work around research translation and commercialisation, which will improve lives, create jobs, and drive the economy,” Professor McCluskey said.
Professor Adrian Pearce, who will lead the project at the University of Melbourne, said: “Through the Cremorne Digital Hub, we hope to ignite people’s imaginations to create new value in using digital technologies and provide the opportunity for students, staff and industry partners to collaborate on new and innovative projects. We are pleased to be working with the government and our industry partners on this exciting project that will benefit all of Victoria.”
The Hub will bring Victoria’s existing innovation ecosystem together into a world-class technology precinct. This includes Melbourne Connect, the University of Melbourne’s purpose-built digital innovation precinct. As a key node of digital innovation connectivity, Melbourne Connect will grow the impact of research and new ventures in collaboration with industry partners.
Melbourne Connect Executive Director, Professor Eduard Hovy, said: “Programs at Melbourne Connect are designed to help researchers, start-ups, industry, government, corporates, higher degree students, and the community unlock digitally driven, data-enabled and socially responsible solutions to our most pressing challenges. We look forward to playing our part in bringing the Cremorne Digital Hub to life.”
Cremorne Digital Hub supports the University of Melbourne’s drive to increase innovation and commercialisation. It will enable research translation and commercialisation pathways from existing programs, such as the University’s Melbourne Accelerator Program and Translating Research at Melbourne (TRAM), allow a range of industry partners to access cutting edge AI and research, and foster future talent.
For more information about the Cremorne Digital Hub, please visit the DJPR website.
