The Sunshine Coast has all of the key ingredients required to support an innovative and thriving tech industry. These include game-changing infrastructure, a supportive business and investor community, local government committed to innovation, talent and education pathways.
This, coupled with the region’s enviable lifestyle, is seeing the Sunshine Coast emerge as a future tech hub and offers myriad opportunities for the tech industry as well as tech-enabled business.
Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games opportunities
Technology will undoubtedly play a part in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in the form of specialised sports technology and potentially e-sports. The Sunshine Coast has already invested heavily in attracting major sporting events, sports infrastructure and education. We already have a strong foundation to host an event such as this with our SEQ partners.
The Sunshine Coast International Broadband Network, SC1 Tier 3N+1 Edge Data Centre, Critical Infrastructure – Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (CI-ISAC) and the new Maroochydore City Centre digital assets, provide an opportunity for research organisations, government and business to accelerate the development of new technology software, hardware equipment and devices.
Testing Tech in Paradise
The Sunshine Coast, Australia is uniquely positioned to allow companies to come and test and trial new tech in the real world.
Sunshine Coast Tech Industry Alliance
The newly formed Sunshine Coast Tech Industry Alliance (SCTechIA) will focus on priorities that build industry capacity; drive local tech jobs; encourage member collaboration to compete nationally and internationally; and to provide a united voice for the tech industry in the region.
SCTechIA evolved out of cybersecurity market sounding report lead by the Sunshine Coast Business Council in 2020.
The formation of SCTechIA also highlights how crucial technology is to all seven of Council’s identified high-value industries.
Find out more at sctechia.com.au
Sunshine Coast tech capability
The Sunshine Coast is home to a diverse and innovative tech ecosystem that recognises tech goes across all industries. Increasing the tech capability of our region will ensure that all of the Sunshine Coast’s major industries are able to innovate and participate globally, and at speed. Hear from a number of local tech businesses who are leading the way nationally and globally from their Sunshine Coast base. The local tech industry is supported at all levels, including a number of organisations that are using tech to differentiate themselves in the market.
Game-changing infrastructure
A local government strategy of focused infrastructure investment has led to a number of game-changing infrastructure projects being implemented within the Sunshine Coast region.
These projects include:
Sunshine Coast International Broadband Network
Sunshine Coast Council is the first local government in Australia to secure investment in an international submarine cable. The Sunshine Coast submarine cable is only the second landing site on the east coast providing critical infrastructure not just for the Sunshine Coast but also Australia. Providing redundancy, diversity for customers, reduced latency that can connect Queensland business and consumers directly to international markets.
Maroochydore CBD
The new Maroochydore City Centre has been designed to embrace extensive use of technology to create a cleaner, greener, and dynamic city centre. It will also provide state-of-the art office space/venues for business.
Sunshine Coast Airport
The completion of the Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion Project in June 2020 has greatly improved access to the region nationally and will provide increased accessibility to international markets. This significant infrastructure project will further enhance our national and global connections not only for tourism but also for business and freight.
The Sunshine Coast tech ecosystem
The Sunshine Coast is home to a dynamic and collaborative tech and innovation ecosystem that is well-connected and actively supports new business, start-ups and scale-ups.
The Sunshine Coast is a recognised leader in the establishment of industry innovation clusters and business networks. The Sunshine Coast Tech Industry Alliance is the latest such association to form, and will be actively working to build the local industry capacity.
An incubator for tech talent
The pandemic has fast-tracked the uptake of technology and the digitisation of business. No longer do individuals need to work in the major cities. It is possible to enjoy the beaches, lifestyle and the natural assets of the Sunshine Coast, whilst still competing on a national and global scale. And while the region is benefiting from a post-COVID-19 “brain-gain”, with a marked increase in migration from capital cities such as Sydney and Melbourne, our leaders and educators, like University of the Sunshine Coast and TAFE Qld, are focusing on upskilling our local talent and local business.
At the secondary education level, the Sunshine Coast is now the premier location for robotics education in Australia and a number of secondary schools are offering leading STEM programs.
Sunshine Coast Council is working closely with our education providers to:
- Ensure a source of sustainable growth and provide high-skilled, high-value job opportunities for our community.
- Create career pathways for our young people so they can study and work on the Sunshine Coast.