Canberra is one of Australia’s leading centres for digital technologies.

World-leading government digital services

Digital services are an integral part of a modern government, and Canberra’s close proximity to the Australian Government makes it a prime location for information technology (IT) providers to do business. The Australian Government spends billions of dollars on digital technology services each year.

The Canberra-based Digital Transformation Agency has developed the Data and Digital Government Strategy for the Australian Government. By 2030, Australia aims to deliver simple, secure and connected public services, for all people and business, through world-class data and digital capabilities.

Doing IT business in Canberra

IT businesses are powering in Canberra.

The sector comprises more than 1,000 businesses. These range from multinationals to micro businesses. There’s also a range of government IT services, including:

• enterprise resource planning
• digital identity and documents management
• cyber security
• data centres and cloud computing
• research and development for new government services
• IT applications in fields like energy management, automotive and defence.

Business IT services

Many of the world’s leading IT firms have set up major operations in Canberra. These include:

• IBM
• Leidos
• Data#3
• HP Enterprise
• Microsoft
• Oracle Corporation
• Accenture
• DXC Technology
• SAP.

Among these, several large Australian IT businesses also operate in Canberra, including:

• Telstra
• Datacom
• Technology One.

Cyber and quantum

Canberra is the capital of Australian cyber security and quantum, and home to the National Security Office Precinct.

Ranked the world’s 5th most powerful cyber nation, Australia’s cyber security research capability is world class. We have the nation’s highest rated data centres here in Canberra, alongside leading quantum computing and cryptography companies.

We’re home to a highly skilled, security-cleared workforce serving national security organisations – backed by our infrastructure, research institutions and proximity to government. Here you can pitch for business and invest in leading suppliers to the Australian Government and Five Eyes’ nations.

Learn more about the cyber and quantum sector in Canberra.

Data centres and cloud computing

We have the nation’s highest-rated data centres here in Canberra, and world-class cloud computing capacity.

The Australian Government demands secure cloud services. Supporting infrastructure has attracted billions of dollars worth of business investment in data centres in Canberra. This includes:

• renewable energy-derived electrical power
• ultra-high bandwidth fibre
• land
• quality staff in a secure environment.

Companies with major data centres in Canberra include:

• CDC
• Vault Cloud
• NextDC
• Intellicentre (IC1, IC2, IC4)
• Equinix.

Our thriving technology sectors

Leveraging our knowledge capital and close connections to universities and research institutes, technology is an area where we easily showcase our strengths and capabilities.

Space

Canberra’s space industry capability is internationally renowned, with a demonstrated track record of commercialising space research and technology.

Find out more about Canberra’s space sector.

Climate action

The ACT is now powered by 100% renewable electricity, generated by wind and photovoltaic power. And as Asia Pacific’s most progressive territory in moving towards a low-carbon economy, we’ve attracted more than $2 billion in investment into sustainable energy.

Find out more about Canberra’s climate action sector.

Defence

Canberra has an established defence business network and is the best place in Australia for opportunities in the defence sector. We develop innovations and cutting-edge technologies for defence.

Find out more about Canberra’s defence sector.

Agri-technology

Canberra has a high concentration of leading expertise and knowledge in plant sciences and agri-technology. The fast-growing sector offers many investment opportunities.

Find out more about Canberra’s agri-technology sector.

Canberra has a range of IT businesses across a number of technology sectors, including:

• automotive: Seeing Machines – driver awareness monitoring systems
• climate action: WindLab and Reposit Power – operation and demand management
• space: Electric Optic Systems – systems sensors and systems for space situational awareness.

Skills, training and education

Canberra is home to one of Australia’s highest-ranking universities, 2 research-intensive Group of Eight (Go8) universities, as well as high-quality vocational education and training institutes.

• Australian National University (ANU)
• UNSW Canberra
• University of Canberra (UC)

It also hosts:

• National Security College at ANU
• Australian Centre for Cyber Security at UNSW Canberra
• University of Canberra’s National Security Institute.

Our institutes work closely in partnership with business and government to foster innovation and technological growth, and harness new ideas from bright young minds.

Research and development (R&D)

We have established facilities and infrastructure with advanced capabilities to develop products and business. Here, you can test and deploy appropriate technologies across a modern, innovative city with ease and support.

A number of multinational companies have IT R&D operations in Canberra. These support government IT priorities and include:

• IBM
• SAP
• Leidos
• HPE

Canberra is a leading centre of IT research. The city has key strengths in cyber security, quantum computing, analytics and machine learning.

The following organisations specialise in IT research.

Data61

CSIRO’s Data61 is the data and digital specialist arm of Australia’s national science agency. Their research expertise includes:

• AI
• robotics
• cyber security
• modelling
• analytics.

Data61 employs more than 100 staff and research students in Canberra. It spends around $19 million per year here.

ANU

College of Engineering, Computing and Cybernetics

ANU has very strong research capabilities in IT through its College of Engineering, Computing and Cybernetics.

Fields of expertise include:

• information engineering such as computer vision, robotics and signal processing
• artificial intelligence such as machine learning, planning and optimisation, intelligent agents and data mining.

3A Institute – ANU School of Cybernetics

ANU’s 3A Institute is Australia’s leading research group in the field of AI, particularly the issues of:

• regulation
• ethics
• human interface.

National Computational Infrastructure (NCI)

This is Australia’s high-performance supercomputer, cloud and data repository.  NCI supports the critical national need for high-performance data, storage, and computing services.

NCI brings the Australian Government and the Australian research sector together through a broad collaboration involving:

• national science agencies
• universities
• industry
• the Australian Research Council.

Infrastructure

Canberra has the best optic fibre networks in Australia.

Intra Government Communications Network (ICON)

This is an independent, secure point-to-point fibre connection and protocol between buildings in Canberra. It began in 1991 as a private communications network between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade sites.

ICON now provides an unmetered and cost effective telecommunication service to 146 Australian Government agencies and service providers, across 3,849 fibre links within the ACT.

Australia’s Academic and Research Network (AARNet)

AARNet connects the Australian research and education sector locally, nationally and to the rest of the world. AARNet provides dedicated optical fibre, ultra-high speed and capacity with speeds as high as 100Gbps.

National Broadband Network (NBN)

The NBN delivers reliable, fast, resilient and secure broadband across Canberra with services available in most suburbs.

Talk to us

To learn more about how to explore digital technology opportunities in Canberra, contact our Investment Team.