Technology & innovation

Australia has an AUD$167 billion tech sector that has expanded by 80% in five years and continues to grow by an average 16% each year. Our sector includes expertise that ranges from software as a service (SaaS), fintech and cybersecurity to quantum and digital games.

Sydney is the startup capital of Australia. Backed by government investment and strategy, it has the largest innovation ecosystem in the country and a dynamic sector with extraordinary talent, world-leading universities, research institutions and incubators that are breaking ground in emerging technologies.

Compared to other global tech hubs, Sydney has a greater pool of experienced tech workers, and our country has the highest number of new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) students per capita among the OECD nations, with a tech talent workforce that is expected to grow to 1.2 million by 2030.

Australia has a proven record for tech and innovation – incubating tech including Google Maps, Wi-Fi, PERC solar cells and the black box flight recorder – and in 2022, Sydney ranked 7^th worldwide in The Economist Digital Cities Index for its digital connectivity, services, culture and sustainability.

Collaboration is at the heart of technology and innovation in NSW, with dedicated districts created by government that bring together experts from across industry, government and academia.

Our innovation districts include  – an ecosystem of universities, industry partners, startups and research institutes – where resident innovators work across quantum technology; health, medtech and biotech; fintech; AI; culture and creativity; and sustainability and the environment.

Part of Tech Central, Cicada Innovations is a deep tech incubator that has among its areas of focus health, food and agriculture, advanced industry, climate and energy, and space. It supports revolutionary science and technology startups and seeks to find deep tech solutions to complex challenges.

To the west, a new aerotropolis – Bradfield – is being created alongside a new airport due to open in 2026. An innovation and education district, it will be a base for emerging and new industries, with an Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility to accelerate collaboration and incubation.

Our universities are vital to the tech and innovation ecosystem in NSW, working as partners to both government and industry. In Sydney, our academic institutions consistently achieve high global rankings for their expertise; and they host a wide range of specialist research facilities.

The University of Sydney and University of Technology Sydney are both integral partners in Tech Central; and with the University of New South Wales Sydney and Macquarie University they deliver the Sydney Quantum Academy, which works with industry and government to develop Sydney’s quantum ecosystem.

In addition, the University of New South Wales is home to the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology, renowned for pioneering the transformation of waste for use as a new generation of green materials and products; and the Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology.

The University of Sydney is home to the Sydney Nanoscience Hub, a purpose-built facility where researchers explore the nature of matter, design new technologies and engineer them in some of the best cleanroom and nanofabrication facilities in the world.

And the University of Technology Sydney is home to the Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute, which has eight key research labs that focus on fundamental, technology transfer, and applied research; as well as the UTS Robotics Institute – a world-leader in autonomous and human-centred robotics.

We have networks across technology and innovation, with Global Ambassadors who are world industry leaders. From the CEOs of deep tech incubators like Cicada Innovations and companies like Atlassian and Salesforce, to researchers and Chief Scientists.

Meet our Ambassadors