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MELBOURNE CONNECT BECOMES MAJOR PARTNER OF VIC GOVT DIGITAL INNOVATION FESTIVAL

Learn more about DIF2021 a hybrid program of online and in-person events running from Aug 25 - Sept 8.
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Melbourne Connect is thrilled to be a precinct partner of the Victorian Government’s annual Digital Innovation Festival, which launched this week with a series of live events and will run until 8 September, complemented by a range of on-demand content. 

Having now become a highlight on the event calendars of many Victorians, the festival aims to showcase our local tech sector, promote innovation, and encourages businesses and individuals to make a difference through digital technologies. It is targeted at entrepreneurs and startups, education and research, business and industry, as well as community and public sector. 

Melbourne Connect was set to be a major physical hub for many of the festival’s marquee events; however, due to restrictions, the schedule has shifted to be entirely virtual – a fitting format given the digital focus and breadth of activities that extends to over 300 events.  

Phil Callaghan, Operations Director at Melbourne Connect.

Operations Director Phil Callaghan said when the partnership opportunity arose it was a natural fit for the precinct which describes itself as a “digital and data powerhouse.” 

“The opportunity to partner with the Victorian Government on a festival that is all about collaboration, community, and ultimately building capability across emerging tech and helping prepare for a digital future is a perfect fit for Melbourne Connect and the community who call it home. 

“Within our precinct we bring together world-class researchers, startups, students, industry, artists, government, and many more groups who very possibly have been taking part in this Innovation Festival for years now and we’re so thrilled they can now engage with the content, and even submit events of their own to share some of the knowledge that sits within this precinct.”

The precinct is home to some of the most brilliant minds in emerging technologies, with the University’s Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology an anchor co-located partner which incorporates the Computer Information Systems and several other research divisions.  

It also has become the new residence of the Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre and Translating Research at Melbourne, who support some of the brightest emerging entrepreneurs in the country and will be delivering events as part of the festival. 

Alexander Jannink, Founder of Acusensus.

Some of the events being delivered by the Melbourne Connect community include: 

  • Fireside Chat with Alexander Jannink, founder of Acusensus an innovative road safety technology provider which delivered the world-first distracted driving enforcement camera solution who call part of the Melbourne Accelerator Program in 2018. 
  • Automation of Traffic: Exploring the use of AI to reduce bottlenecks and over-crowding in the metro transport system, and to assist in the automation and optimisation of all elements of the urban system. 
  • MAP21 Open Mic Pitch Night: A chance to dive into the startup world, connect with potential startup employers and hear some amazing startup pitches.  
  • MEC Masterclass: Exploring essential skills and business practices in resilience and wellbeing for founders to learn and adopt during the current climate.

Other highlights of the week will be the: 

  • Top Trends Debate: showcasing the visions of five leading industry professionals asked to identify a yet unrecognized technology trend and convince the panel and audience of the explosive impact this will have in the next 3-5 year  
  • The Emerging Innovation Summit 2021 a future-shaping event that offers the attendees a rare opportunity to learn with the world’s best innovators and thinkers in rapidly changing world. 
  • The Pearcey Oration: delivered by Jeremy Hirschhorn, ATO Second Commissioner – encouraging us all to imagine the future, as he addresses Digital Transformation – Australia as a World Leader. 

On the back of Melbourne Connect’s own recent Innovation Week many of the events that were delivered as part of the schedule will form DIF On-Demand content, and the precinct was proud to host the broader community of event organisers for the festival warm-up in July. 

We can’t wait to open our doors again, and when we do will welcome the community to DIF Pop-Up Hubs throughout the precinct – a new concept running for the first time as part of this year’s festival to continue these conversations well beyond the two week DIF schedule and take place in the state-of-the-art event spaces within Melbourne Connect.  

Learn more about the Digital Innovation Festival and all the events via their website.