Big things are growing at Sydney’s Tech Central

Sydney doesn’t just march to the beat of its own tech industry drum, it sets the rhythm for the global tech stage. As a vibrant and modern city, Sydney is at the forefront of the international tech scene. So much so that the trendsetter has its own industry-specific district, Tech Central, where you’ll find both techie household names and up-and-comers. The district is currently the star of a 15-year growth plan, at an estimated value of AUD $68b (USD $44b) and an anticipated 250,000 sqm of space. Demonstrating the importance of Tech Central’s growth, Annie Parker, inaugural executive director of Tech Central, explained her dream for the area: “I wanted it to become the world’s most inclusive, sustainable, and creative innovation district on the planet.” This dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed, with the district receiving an early-stage commitment of AUD $48.2m from Investment NSW, financial support from the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer, and more.

It isn’t just Parker highlighting how crucial Tech Central has become to Australia’s tech scene. Renowned names such as Canva, Rokt, Zip, and SafetyCulture call the district home – with the global HQs of titans Atlassian and AfterPay due to move in. As anchor tenants, Atlassian’s 40-floor hybrid timber-built skyscraper will be both the largest timber building in the world and the unicorn’s HQ – highlighting how a place in Tech Central is a symbol of success for thriving start-ups. AfterPay is following behind; it’s due to move in as an anchor tenant in Chippendale’s Brewery Yard district. With a motto of ‘from little things, big things grow’, Tech Central isn’t only attracting the industry’s hard hitters. At Tech Central, start-ups are aided in their mission to avoid obstacles to growth. The district’s Scaleup Hub has 8,000 sqm of office space on offer to the tech world’s newbies, supported by Stone & Chalk and the New South Wales Government. The initiative has created over 6,000 jobs and seen the birth of almost 500 start-ups. Start-ups, scaleups, and unicorns all over the world are at the forefront of innovation in the tech sector, and many have found their place in the famous capital of New South Wales. In the city, you’ll find tech powerhouses leading the way in robotics, AI, Internet of Things, quantum computing, blockchain, gaming, med and biotech, and cybersecurity – just to name a few. It’s not surprising that Sydney is attracting so many tech industry leaders and trailblazers. Six of the top 200 universities in the world are based in New South Wales, with tech graduates ranking higher on average than the other Australian states. Sydney is ranked ninth in AI research output internationally, and 45% of the country’s AI businesses can be found in New South Wales. The world’s greatest tech minds are being nurtured in Sydney, which boasts more than 150 research facilities alongside its universities and A-tier tech titans. For all tech conferences, symposiums, and events, Sydney is a universal thought leader. While Sydney is ranked seventh worldwide in The Economist Digital Cities Index, the legacy of Australia’s tech investment can be felt the world over. With alumni including Google Maps, PERC solar cells, WI-FI, and the black box flight recorder, it’s fair to say that Australia’s tech force is responsible for innovations that the 21^st century cannot live without. Community and connectivity are built into the foundation of Tech Central. From its physical footprint, the district’s compact area is built out of six connected neighbourhoods near the Sydney central business district and enjoys all of the varied public transport that comes with the premium location. Tech Central is also traversable by foot, bike, and car – featuring scenic paths for those wanting to take life at a slower pace. Empowering Tech Central’s community is a core belief of the district. It works with the New South Wales Indigenous Chamber of Commerce to make sure that First Nations voices are always heard and works with organisations including Indigitek to promote Indigenous presences in the tech industry. Tech Central also works to empower women and gender-diverse people in the tech industry who are usually drastically underrepresented in STEM. This empowerment extends also to its built-in accessibility including wheelchair access, prayer rooms, feeding rooms and baby-changing, and closed captions for screens. By championing diversity and breaking down socio-economic barriers to tech and STEM, Tech Central aims to create a more inclusive industry and encourage global change for the better. BESydney – Tech Central on Vimeo.

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Header image: Render Central Place. Credit: Norviska