Page 4

Auckland was host to hundreds of the world’s leading researchers in cyber security at PST 2016: The International Conference on Privacy, Security and Trust. Professor Hossein Sarrafzadeh from Auckland’s Unitec Institute of Technology was integral to bringing the conference to the city. He is part of STRATUS (Security Technologies Returning Accountability, Trust and User-centric Services in the Cloud), a NZ$10.6 million project that is helping put New Zealand on the world map for its leading work in cloud computing, cybersecurity and data analytics. Sarrafzadeh says: “Being good in this field is all about being smart and innovative, something that Kiwis do very well. It is exciting that we are gaining increasing visibility globally for this work.”Heads in the cloud The Auckland tech sector is large and diverse with a broad range of ICT and high tech manufacturers that are world leaders in their markets.4 | AUCKLAND AN INNOVATION HUB OF THE ASIA PACIFIC Technology and innovationAuckland’s tech boomAuckland’s tech sector is booming, growing by 80 per cent in the past decade and posting nearly 26 per cent growth in GDP in the last five years. In 2016, the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Asia-Pacific Index featured 53 New Zealand companies based on revenue growth over the past three years. Of these, 24 are based in Auckland. Auckland’s universities and research facilities are also heavily involved in ICT research and development, and the fast-expanding sector now ranges from wireless infrastructure and telecommunications, to digital content and data visualisation, geospatial information systems, cyber security, point of sale, animation and augmented reality (AR)/virtual reality (VR). This knowledge base feeds local advanced industries: agritech, fintech, health IT, medical devices, smart data and urban design, aerospace, robotics, advanced materials and interactive technology.GridAKL and the innovation corridor Established by Auckland’s economic growth agency, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) in 2014, GridAKL is an inner-city innovation hub where technology-focused businesses and entrepreneurs can develop and commercialise their innovations. GridAKL is now thriving with nearly 60 tenant companies working in the ICT and digital co-working space. It forms the centrepiece of the region’s expanding innovation corridor that now stretches to the AR/VR Garage in Eden Terrace to Grow North on the city’s North Shore.The sector’s first-ever showcase event, Techweek AKL 2016, was so successful - 10,000 attendees, 55 activities and 86 speakers across 19 venues - that Techweek will be a national initiative from 2017, with more than 100 events expected in Auckland alone.