NIIN Programs
Innovation Centrals
NIIN Innovation Centrals provide collaborative environments where industry partners work with researchers and students to develop digital solutions.
Innovation Centre Directors
Innovation Central Canberra - Erin Stacey - University of Canberra
Innovation Central Brisbane - Jayne Smith - Queensland University of Technology
Innovation Central Melbourne - Jeff Jones - La Trobe University
Innovation Central Perth - Dan Marrable - Curtin University
Innovation Central Adelaide - Kathryn Anderson - Flinders University
Innovation Central Sydney - Ivan Chua - University of Technology Sydney
Innovation Central Singapore - Tom Goerke – Curtin University Singapore
These directors manage innovation programs and coordinate industry collaboration projects across the network.
Research, Development + Innovation Program
Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) Program
The NIIN RD&I Program is a core mechanism for translating research into impact at scale.
This program is how the network translates research into impact at scale. It brings together three connected pillars - Research Chairs, Industry Alumni and Specialised Centres - under a single program, recognising that real industry impact requires all three working together.
Positioned within leading universities and embedded in an industry-led network, the program spans national priority areas including AI, cybersecurity, health, advanced networking and critical infrastructure. Aligned to the Research, Development and Innovation agenda shaping Australia's national priorities, it drives collaborative innovation end to end - from problem definition through to prototyping, testing and deployment - giving every NIIN partner access to the full suite of RD&I capability.
Skills and Talent Development
NIIN supports workforce development through programs that connect students with industry projects and digital training opportunities.
Initiatives include:
- Cisco Networking Academy training hubs
- student innovation projects
- industry internships and placements
- collaborative research programs
These initiatives help build a skilled workforce capable of supporting Australia's digital economy.
Alliances
NIIN Cyber Alliance
The NIIN Cyber Alliance brings together universities, industry partners, and cybersecurity experts to strengthen Australia's cyber resilience.
The alliance focuses on:
- cybersecurity research and innovation
- threat intelligence collaboration
- cybersecurity education and workforce development
- industry–university cybersecurity projects
- national cybersecurity policy support
The alliance is anchored by Cisco and led in collaboration with the University of Canberra, which hosts the NIIN Research Chair in Critical Infrastructure.
NIIN Health Alliance
The NIIN Health Alliance is a strategic collaboration between universities, industry, government, and health leaders working together to advance digital innovation in health and aged care.
Anchored by Cisco and coordinated through the Cisco-RMIT Health Transformation Lab, the alliance brings together health-focused labs, research chairs, innovation centres, and cross-sector partners to support practical innovation, workforce development, and system-wide collaboration. It is designed to provide a low-risk pathway for health agencies, hospital operators, and partners to engage in digital transformation, prototyping, and applied innovation.