Newcastle's Tech Scene Transforms Beyond Mining

Newcastle's technology and startup ecosystem is one of Australia's most interesting regional innovation stories: the city's extraordinary economic transition (from steel and coal to knowledge, creative, and technology industries) has been accompanied by the development of a genuine tech startup community, anchored by the University of Newcastle's commercialisation programs, the Hunter Innovation Project, and a growing cluster of technology companies that have chosen to build in Newcastle rather than Sydney, taking advantage of the lower operating costs, the strong lifestyle proposition for attracting talent, and the collaborative and supportive character of a regional tech community. The UON NeW Space (Hunter Street, Newcastle CBD) and the Hunter Innovation Festival (annual event bringing the Hunter's tech and creative communities together) are among Newcastle's most important technology ecosystem infrastructure.

UON and the Research Commercialisation Ecosystem — the University of Newcastle's commercialisation programs (including the UON Proof of Concept fund and the Newcastle Business School's entrepreneurship programs) have produced a growing number of university spinout companies and student-founded startups. The UON NeW Space (Hunter Street CBD) provides a city-centre innovation and co-working space that is central to Newcastle's efforts to build a visible and accessible tech community in the inner city.

Hunter Innovation Project and Startups — the Hunter Innovation Project (a collaboration between the City of Newcastle, the NSW government, and the University of Newcastle) is the most significant initiative driving Newcastle's tech ecosystem development, providing co-working infrastructure, mentor networks, investor access, and community events that are building the human infrastructure of Newcastle's innovation community. Hunter startups including IM Systems (robotics and automation), Smart Precinct NI (smart city technology), and several health technology companies founded by clinicians at the John Hunter Hospital are demonstrating Newcastle's capacity to produce viable technology businesses.

Energy and Resources Technology — Newcastle's proximity to the Hunter Valley's coal industry (and its energy transition challenges) creates unique opportunities for energy technology companies focused on carbon capture, mine rehabilitation technology, and the digital tools required to manage the complex economic transition of Australia's most significant coal-producing region.

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