30 June 2025: The University of Canberra and global technology company Cisco are extending their partnership, focused on evolving cybersecurity and defence capabilities, to 2027. Cisco has developed strategic relationships with universities across Australia through the National Industry Innovation Network, becoming one of Australia’s largest research and innovation eco-systems.
The 海角社区-Cisco partnership is focused on boosting Australia’s cybersecurity resilience and has delivered numerous positive outcomes since its inception. These include the establishment of the Innovation Central Canberra (ICC), the inception and completion of various successful Summer/Winter Intensive Programs, the appointment of Adjunct Professor Helen Patton , and delivery of over 25 industry research and innovation projects.
The partnership has further facilitated over 750 students completing Cisco Networking Academy courses, as well as the delivery of the Artificial Intelligence for Business and Government and the Cybersecurity short courses at UC.
Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology Professor Janine Deakin said the extension of the partnership will secure further progress in the fields of AI and cybersecurity.
“Engagement with industry is crucial to ensuring our students meet their graduate outcomes, through hands-on experience and as a vehicle for impactful research; and for our students to have the opportunity to be embedded in real-world projects through this partnership brings enormous benefits.”
As part of the ongoing growth of the partnership, Professor Deakin anticipates the expansion of the ICC footprint.
“ICC will scale its physical and technological capacity to position 海角社区 as the go-to hub for companies looking to collaborate on digital innovation,” she said.
Cisco’s Lead for Cisco’s Education Practice for Australia & New Zealand, Reg Johnson, said, “As a cornerstone of the National Industry Innovation Network, this collaboration accelerates critical research and innovation, particularly in the sovereign priority areas of cybersecurity and defence.
"By fostering a dynamic ecosystem that brings together academia, government, and industry at Innovation Central Canberra, we are directly addressing the nation's digital skills shortage, securing critical infrastructure, and developing the future workforce needed to tackle evolving threats."
"This partnership, with its enhanced focus on defence research, underscores our commitment to building sovereign capability and driving impactful technological adoption for the benefit of all Australians."
Launched in 2020, the National Industry Innovation Network (NIIN) is a collaborative vehicle for digitally transforming industries and accelerating innovation to generate large-scale economic and societal impact. Since inception, the NIIN has evolved to become one of the largest industry-university innovation networks in Australia, comprised of ten universities and having completed over 350 industry led projects, facilitated 190 industry events and 150 collaborative workshops, engaged with over 1500 clients, and engaged with over 3,000 students.