The ACT Government has committed $700,000 to establish the 'Canberra Cyber Hub' that will capitalise on one of the fastest growing sectors in Australia, and position Canberra as the cyber capital of Australia.
Dr Michael Frater, former Rector of UNSW Canberra, will lead the establishment of the Canberra Cyber Hub project, which will concentrate on four key objectives:
- Growing Canberra's cyber security education pathways
- Accelerating SMEs to grow connections and attract investment
- Promoting the ACT's research capabilities
- Showcasing Canberra's cyber security capabilities
By 2024, Australia's cyber security spending is expected to grow by 35 percent to $7.6 billion, while an estimated 7,000 additional cyber security jobs will be created.
"Canberra is well-placed to be a leader in cyber security due to our high concentration of cyber security stakeholders, established education and research capabilities, highly skilled workforce, collaborative business community and close proximity to government," said Assistant Minister for Economic Development, Tara Cheyne.
"The Canberra Cyber Hub will harness Canberra's unique cyber capabilities to create more jobs and further diversify the ACT economy.
"The ACT Government wants the Canberra Cyber Hub to be co-designed and industry-led, which is why Dr Michael Frater has been asked to lead the establishment of the Canberra Cyber Hub, working with key stakeholders to develop its design and function.
"It's great to have Dr Frater on board to help grow the ACT's cyber security sector," said Minister Cheyne.
The initial $700,000 investment will go towards:
- funding the Canberra Innovation Network to accelerate the growth of small and medium enterprises
- developing an 'education portal' to help students and businesses navigate education pathways in Canberra
- promoting Canberra's cyber security capabilities
Quotes attributable to Dr Michael Frater, Project Lead for the Canberra Cyber Hub:
"The Canberra Cyber Hub will work to advance and showcase our expertise as the cyber capital of Australia.
"With the Commonwealth Government due to spend $1.67 billion on cyber security over the next decade, our proximity to government puts us in a competitive position to be able to capitalise on this investment through better collaboration and capacity-building.
"The Canberra Cyber Hub will aim to build our skilled workforce through education, helping start-ups and other businesses attract investment, showcase our research capabilities and cement Canberra as a key player in the national and international cyber security landscape."
