Optus says the extension will see Optus Enterprise and La Trobe University collectively invest up to $6.8M over the next five years to develop a 5G Ideation Lab within La Trobe University’s Digital Innovation Hub and accelerate the digitisation of Healthcare by creating new opportunities to transform the demands and delivery models being placed on Australia’s Healthcare system.
By leveraging Optus’ technology and expertise along with La Trobe University’s deep domain in Allied Healthcare and Wellbeing the partnership will aim to undertake a research and innovation-based approach.
The launch of the 5G Ideation Lab follows on the back of the Victorian Governments’ $23M investment to accelerate research and development by start-ups and local businesses. The lab also brings La Trobe University in-line with other Optus Enterprise 5G academic collaborations, such as Curtin University, Optus advised.
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The partnership extension will also see the appointment of an Academic Research Chair in Digital Health, who will continue to support the Optus talent pipeline through a program of Optus Scholarship initiatives in the areas of cybersecurity, data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI).
“Optus Enterprise is excited to extend our partnership with La Trobe University for an additional five years. This is a great example of how Optus continues to lead the way in driving academic-industry collaboration by supporting the talent and skills pipeline of the future, said Optus Enterprise managing director Chris Mitchell.
“Having access to a 5G ecosystem where students and businesses can co-create will benefit the Victorian economy through upskilling and training the workers of the future.”
La Trobe University Pro vice-chancellor (industry engagement) Dr Megan Fisher said “The Optus partnership is highly valued, and by connecting across multiple areas of the university - research, teaching, workforce development and infrastructure – it demonstrates the innovation that industry and higher education can create together.”
This extension also comes on the back of Optus Enterprise and La Trobe University being awarded a cyberskills grant valued at $2.3M from the Australian Federal Government.
The partnership will also see La Trobe University work with Optus Enterprise on a number of transformational projects including upgrades to La Trobe University’s network, cloud infrastructure and contact centre valued at $26M, the company concluded.
This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 10 December 2021.
