Innovation Central Canberra (ICC) and IPTel Solutions have announced a new strategic partnership to accelerate applied innovation, collaborative research and real-world deployment in next-generation connectivity.
The partnership was formally launched on Thursday 4 June 2026 at Innovation Central Canberra, located at the University of Canberra. The launch brought together representatives from the University of Canberra, IPTel Solutions, Cisco, the National Industry Innovation Network (NIIN), Innovation Central partners and broader industry stakeholders to mark the beginning of a collaboration focused on Private 5G, edge technologies and advanced communications infrastructure.
Through the partnership, ICC and IPTel Solutions will work together to explore and develop practical, scalable solutions using Private 5G and Cisco Unified Edge Solution technologies. The collaboration will support innovation across areas such as smart infrastructure, critical industries, future networks, digital transformation and sovereign capability in advanced communications.
The partnership reflects ICC’s role as a collaborative innovation hub, connecting university research, industry expertise and emerging technology to help solve real-world challenges. By bringing together technical capability, applied research and industry-led deployment, the collaboration aims to create opportunities for new projects, capability building and technology translation.
Professor Fiona Dyer, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of Canberra, said the partnership demonstrates the value of collaboration between universities and industry in delivering practical outcomes.
“Partnerships like this are critical in bridging the gap between research and industry application. By working alongside industry leaders such as IPTel, we are enabling innovation that not only advances technology but delivers real impact for our communities and industry,” Professor Dyer said.
Costa Athanassiou from IPTel Solutions said the partnership provides an opportunity to move emerging technologies beyond concept and into deployment.
“This partnership with ICC allows us to move beyond concept into deployment, leveraging cutting-edge research and industry expertise to deliver practical, scalable solutions in edge technologies,” Mr Athanassiou said.
The launch event provided an opportunity for partners and attendees to explore how advanced communications infrastructure can support Australia’s future digital capability. Discussions highlighted the potential of Private 5G and edge technologies to enable faster, more secure and more reliable connectivity for industry, government and community applications.
As part of the launch, Professor Frank den Hartog led discussions on ICC’s advanced research capabilities and the role of Private 5G and edge technologies in strengthening Australia’s sovereign capability in digital infrastructure and advanced communications. The discussion reinforced the importance of building local capability and supporting innovation that can be tested, refined and deployed in real-world environments.
Private 5G and edge technologies are increasingly important in enabling high-performance connectivity for sectors that require secure, low-latency and reliable communications. These technologies have potential applications across areas such as health, transport, defence, education, smart cities, agriculture, utilities and critical infrastructure.
For ICC, the partnership aligns closely with its mission to connect students, researchers, industry and technology partners to deliver applied innovation outcomes. The collaboration also creates opportunities for future student engagement, industry projects and applied research initiatives within the University of Canberra’s innovation ecosystem.
The partnership with IPTel Solutions also strengthens ICC’s broader work across the National Industry Innovation Network, which brings together universities and industry partners to support innovation, skills development and technology adoption across Australia.
ICC extends its thanks to everyone who attended the launch and contributed to the partnership milestone, including colleagues from IPTel Solutions, Cisco, the University of Canberra, NIIN and the wider innovation network.
Innovation Central Canberra looks forward to working with IPTel Solutions and its partners to translate this collaboration into impactful projects that support industry capability, strengthen Australia’s digital infrastructure and create meaningful outcomes for communities.
