CeBIT 2015
Advantage Wollongong is showcasing the city's information technology expertise at Australia's largest IT industry event in Sydney on Wednesday and Thursday. The Advantage Wollongong stand is part of the NSW government's presence at CeBIT.
Advantage Wollongong is in partnership with Wollongong City Council, the University of Wollongong and NSW Trade & Investment. It is the fourth year Advantage Wollongong has featured the city's IT capabilities at CeBIT, after Wollongong became the first city to exhibit there in 2012.
It is seen by civic leaders such as lord mayor Gordon Bradbery as an opportunity to demonstrate that Wollongong is a superior location for IT companies. Cr Bradbery said the city's presence at the industry showcase was a key element of Advantage Wollongong's Knowledge Service Strategy, which has helped create 1500 jobs in the region.
NSW Trade & Investment recently funded an IT directory for the industry umbrella group ICT Illawarra (ICTI), which has more than 200 listings. And the NSW government recently chose Wollongong as the site for one of its new Tier 3 data centres. It is also helping fund the construction of a $20 million home for the iAccelerate, which has already supported 46 startups since 2012. The new 4000-square-metre facility will have accommodation for up to 280 budding entrepreneurs and will be located at the University of Wollongong's Innovation Campus research and technology precinct, which itself has become a major attraction for IT companies.
NEC is opening a $25 million tech support facility on the new campus that is also home to companies such as Pactera, TeleCommunications Systems Inc, tickets.com and itree.
Cloud computing specialist Serenus and two startup IT companies from the iAccelerate business and technology incubator, Social Status and Me3D, are also exhibiting at CeBIT 2015.
Social Status has developed a unique social media analytics platform that is attracting international attention, while 3D printing specialist Me3D is a finalist in the CeBIT Business Awards for innovation and community service.
News story published on May 6 in Illawarra Mercury: CeBIT 2015