A focus on technology
Australians have long been early adopters of new technologies and technological innovation is a significant growth industry for the country.
In the past decade, several Australian-founded technology companies have had global success. Sydney-headquartered Atlassian is one of these and an extraordinary story of two university friends who are now acknowledged on the world stage as leaders in their field.
According to the Atlassian website – “Armed with a credit card and a dream, two college friends, Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar set out to create Atlassian. In 2002, they didn't know what kind of company Atlassian was going to be, but they knew exactly what it shouldn't be—an environment where they had to conform rather than be who they authentically are.”
A collaboration software company that helps teams organise, discuss and complete shared work, Atlassian’s products are now used by more than 300,0000 large and small organisations, NFPs and government agencies in more than 200 countries around the world.
And as they say – “The rest is history”.
In 2024, Farquhar stepped down as co-CEO but remains involved in the company as a member of the board while Cannon-Brookes is CEO of the company.
Ten years later, across the other side of the country in Perth, Western Australia, Melanie Perkins began the process of revolutionising graphic design because she decided it would be so much easier to produce a poster or flyer online in one place, with one tool. Born in her mother’s living room, Canva was officially launched in 2013. Headquartered in Sydney’s growing Tech Central, its 15 billion designs are used by over 220 million people across 190 countries in 100 languages. Corporate clients include HP, Atlassian and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Canva employs more than 4,500 people in offices across the globe. In 2024, Canva’s market valuation was more than AUD$49 billion.
Sydney has rightly earned a reputation of global standing as an innovative city with a flourishing technology sector. Australia ranks consistently high in innovation, in 2024 ranking 23rd of the 133 countries assessed in the Global Innovation Index. Sydney is the leading tech city in Australia.
Sydney’s standing in the technology sector is boosted further by Tech Central, the innovation and technology precinct at the southern end of the city, near Central Station, developed by the New South Wales (NSW) Government. The new headquarters of Atlassian anchors the precinct, alongside Canva, SafetyCulture and Rokt, and major hubs for quantum technology and the space industry are in residence.
The Tech Central precinct is growing the city’s strengths in technology with 250,000m2 of floorspace for technology companies, one fifth of which will be made available as affordable workspace for start-ups and early-stage companies.
As the future focal point of Sydney's innovation and technology community, the new facilities create a vibrant innovation and technology hub in the heart of Sydney, with strong links to international markets, Greater Sydney, and the rest of NSW.
Home to the Sydney Quantum Academy and the National Space Industry Hub, Tech Central residents also include Techstars in Tech Central, the largest pre-seed investor in the world and Cicada Innovations, Australia’s leading deep tech incubator. The Australian Centre for Robotics, one of the largest robotics institutes in the world, is also found here.
Tech Central comes together as a precinct to future-proof and diversify the NSW economy and cement its position as a leader in fintech, cyber and e-health, digital and deep technology including quantum, blockchain, AI, robotics, IOT and analytics as well as creative industries including VR and game design.
Institutions near to the new precinct – including the University of Sydney, University of Technology Sydney, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Data61, which is part of the CSIRO Australian Government agency responsible for scientific research – collaborate with business on joint research, commercialisation and graduate programs. For example, Sydney Biomedical Accelerator is a visionary partnership between the University of Sydney, Sydney Local Health District and the NSW Government. Innovative University co-working spaces for research-based organisations such as the Sydney Knowledge Hub and the Sydney Nanoscience Hub offer 25 laboratory modules housing academic research groups. Dedicated to collaborative research and innovation in cybersecurity, data protection, and defence technology, UTS Vault is also a resident of this tech innovation hub.
Tech Central comes together as a hub to future-proof and diversify the NSW economy and cement its position as a leader in fintech, cyber and e-health, digital and deep technology including quantum, blockchain, AI, robotics, IOT and analytics as well as creative industries including VR and game design.
Close to Sydney Airport, the precinct is also located near International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) and a wide range of accommodation options, making it ideal for conferences and business events in the city.
Moreover, Sydney boasts world-class venues and event partners, as well as an experienced and intellectually curious team at BESydney who are ready to support associations to deliver global meetings that inspire, motivate, educate and connect sector leaders. Its network benefits from strong connections to government and a Global Ambassador program that comprises world leading experts who lend their support to confirm Sydney as one of the world’s premier locations for global industry meetings.
