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Connected Agriculture: Internet of Things for Digital Agriculture by CISCO

International IT company Cisco partnered with industry, met in Sydney to launch Innovation Central.

Cisco’s latest research and development hub focused on Internet of Things (IoT) innovation and commercialisation.

The focus of the Sydney Innovation Central, one of nine such Cisco centres around the world, is ‘digital’ agriculture, smart cities, astronomy and how Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and solutions can do more with less. It is a research partnership between the University of New South Wales, the NSW Farmers Federation, National Farmers Federation, Data61, NSW Department of Primary Industries and ATP Innovations.

Innovation Central is located at ATP (Australian Technology Park) Innovations, a leading technology incubator and community of technology entrepreneurs.

The new Sydney centre will combine with Cisco’s established centre in Perth, hubs at UNSW Kensington campus, and Adelaide’s Flinders University, and eight other centres in Rio de Janeiro, Toronto, Songdo, Berlin, Barcelona, Tokyo, London and Paris.

Kevin Bloch, Chief Technology Officer at Cisco Australia and New Zealand led a panel of partners. In launching event he said, "Cisco experts, together with industry partners and ecosystem startups, will develop proof-of-concepts, features and functionalities and do rapid prototyping. Innovation Central will incorporate dedicated space to demonstrate IoT in action and open areas where customers, startups, open communities, researchers, entrepreneurs and technology enthusiasts are afforded an environment to develop new ideas and technologies".

“Cisco spends about $6B per year on R&D and it has been a very acquisitive company – investing more than $2.5B in start-ups. It now wants to invest and co-develop via these innovation centres to grow the IOT market, catch up, and importantly get ahead.” he said.

Source: http://www.itwire.com/