CANBERRA INNOVATES

Canberra is a knowledge capital, with unrivalled access to universities, thought leaders and research institutes, and a national hub for innovation across a range of sectors.

Defence

With an established defence business network, Canberra offers unique proximity to decision makers, procuring agencies and government infrastructure in the defence sector.

Here you’ll find a highly skilled workforce, with productive industry and research partnerships, developing innovations and cutting-edge technologies for defence across areas including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, cyber security, and space and spatial sciences.

Canberra is not only home to the Department of Defence, but also the historic Royal Military College at Duntroon, the Australian Defence Force Academy, the Australian Command and Staff College, and the Australian Industry and Defence Network.

Space And Spatial Science

Canberra is the driving force behind Australia’s space industry, with world-renowned space capabilities uniting innovative players across government, industry, educational institutions, and the research community.

A range of world-class infrastructure and space facilities are located or head-quartered in Canberra, including the Australian National Concurrent Design Facility (ANCDF) at UNSW Canberra, ANU’s National Space Test Facilities (NSTF) at the Advanced Instrumentation Technology Centre (AITC), CSIRO’s Centre for Earth Observation, and the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC).

Canberra is also home to Skykraft, a space services company who recently launched the largest Australian-made payload into space, the first of over 200 satellites set to orbit the Earth over the next two years to assist in global air traffic management.

Cyber Security

Canberra is internationally recognised as a leader in the cyber security industry, thanks to our cutting-edge infrastructure and high-technology companies. National security organisations including Department of Defence, Australian Signals Directorate, Australian Secret Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), and Australian Cyber Security Centre are all based here.

In Canberra, you also have access to top-ranked universities and research institutions leading cyber security efforts, as well as business organisations, networks and resources designed to encourage industry growth, alongside a highly skilled, security-cleared workforce.

Annual industry events, like the Military Communications and Information Systems Conference (MilCIS), choose to be held in Canberra to access the knowledge and expertise found in our nation’s capital.

AGRI-TECHNOLOGY

As Australia’s largest inland city, Canberra is surrounded by agricultural land, and is celebrated for quality produce including cool climate wines, black Perigord truffles, wheat, and small goods. We’re also leading the way in agricultural science and technology.

Our research centres are addressing critical regional, national and global challenges in agri-technology, food technology, environmental sciences and innovation in genetics and phenomics. The Centre for Entrepreneurial Agri-Technology is also an innovation hub, supporting agri-technology-related business and connecting researchers with industry to address real-world issues.

Here you’ll also find Australian agricultural peak bodies like the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Grains Research and Development Corporation, and Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.

Renewable Energy

Canberra is a leader in renewable energy research and development, with the ANU’s Energy Change Institute, and Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) both paving the way for research, education, future skills development, and technology rollouts.

But when you meet in Canberra, you’re also contributing to a future that’s genuinely sustainable. The ACT is Asia Pacific’s most progressive territory in moving towards a low-carbon economy, powered by 100% renewable electricity, and the first state government to invest in and trial a green hydrogen vehicle fleet. We’re also on track to achieve zero net emissions by 2045.

ICT AND E-GOVERNMENT

With world-leading government digital services and close proximity to the Australian Government, Canberra is a prime location for IT providers to do business.

Canberra was one of the first cities in the world to introduce an advanced broadband fibre optic cable network, and now it’s home to the best optic fibre network in Australia. Leading education facilities like Australian National University, UNSW Canberra and University of Canberra are all paving the way in skills and research development, while the Canberra-based Digital Transformation Agency is working to ensure Australia has one of the top three digital governments in the world by 2025.

Education And Research

Canberra is the innovation and education capital of Australia, and one in six people here work or study at a tertiary education or research institution. When you hold your event in Canberra, you can tap into experts, thought leaders and innovators from our five universities, which are all ranked among the best in the world, plus vocational provider Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT).

The capital is also Australia’s highest performer on measures of innovation and entrepreneurship. It’s home to the Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN), which brings together worldclass researchers, entrepreneurs and start-ups, investors and venture capitalists to support innovation.

Tourism

Canberra is one of Australia’s fastest growing tourism regions, and our diverse schedule of art and cultural exhibitions and events, museums, and major sporting and business events draws visitors from all over the world.

Canberra Airport is a world-class facility, located just minutes from the CBD, making it easy for your delegates to get in and out. You can plan a visit or an event at one of Canberra’s many national institutions, such as the National Museum of Australia, National Gallery of Australia, Royal Australian Mint, or the Australian War Memorial. All budgets and requirements are catered for with a vast range of accommodation and function spaces in the CBD, or a short drive from the centre of the city.

Health And Sports Sciences

Canberra is a hub for all things health and sports sciences, from our internationally regarded research institutions to some of the top training facilities in the country.

When you meet here, you can access leading experts for your event, like influential scientists from the prestigious John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR) at Australian National University, researchers from the Health Research Institute and the Research Institute of Sport and Exercise at the University of Canberra Hospital, or athletes and leaders in sports innovation from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).

A City Of Knowledge

With five universities all ranked amongst the best in the world, combined with state-of-the-art training facilities like the University of Canberra Hospital and the Canberra Institute of Technology Woden campus (currently under construction), Canberra is a centre for knowledge. Here you will also find countless leading organisations, highly regarded internationally for their ground-breaking innovation and research. The Research and Learning Institutes Group (RALIG) allows event planners to access the extraordinary knowledge and expertise of the thought leaders from these organisations.

A City Of Culture

Canberra is a hub for culture and the arts. Here you’ll find the country’s major cultural institutions which are always expanding and evolving, like the Australian War Memorial, the National Portrait Gallery and the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.

The venues not only tell the Australian story and house rare artworks and artefacts, but also serve as unique function venues, for events large and small. The ACT also boasts a rich calendar of events, from Enlighten and Floriade, to live sport, music, and festivals.

A City Of Influence

As the home of Australian Parliament House and the Federal Parliament Press Gallery, Canberra also allows you unrivalled access to key government decision makers and the country’s most prominent media outlets.

On a territory level, the ACT Government is regarded as one of the most progressive in the country, leading the way in initiatives like same-sex marriage, cannabis legislation, the COVID-19 vaccination rollout, and wellbeing indicator framework. All of the ACT’s electricity has come from renewable sources since 2020, and the territory is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2045.