Cisco and Australia’s Curtin University have announced investment in a new research centre, the Centre for Intent-based Networking, focused on advancing networking technology.
The Centre is an element of Cisco’s recently announced Country Digital Acceleration investment in the Australian market. Researchers at Curtin will conduct blue-sky research to support industries that require a new approach to networking. The University will share its findings with Cisco and Cisco’s customers and partners globally, said the University on its Site.
Curtin researchers at the new Centre for Intent-based Networking will use the network as a platform to develop a new generation of applications. The emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) represents an opportunity for intent-based networking to accelerate transformation across industries like manufacturing, mining and utilities. These industries face a unique challenge in converging their IT and operational networks. Researchers will seek to understand how to address these challenges and develop applications to help organisations tackle IoT.
“With intent-based networking, we’re reinventing the network from the ground up, and we’re just beginning to scratch the surface of what’s possible,” said Scott Harrell, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Enterprise Networking at Cisco.
The Centre will also focus on developing Intent-based network curriculum to train the workforce of the future. The curriculum will be made available in online (MOOC) and residential courses for Cisco customers and partners in the region.
Curtin has deployed an Intent-based network across its entire campus providing researchers with access to a real-world environment. This will be in order to provide campus wide user and application mobility, reduced network complexity, and simplified network segmentation.
Curtin University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Terry, said Curtin was proud to be extending and expanding on what was already an exciting and innovative partnership with Cisco. “This new agreement continues what is an already successful alliance based on a mutual vision and impeccable track record of industry engagement and innovation. The alliance will see the adoption of innovative Cisco technologies and solutions by Curtin and will also help Curtin to develop the highly skilled and industry-ready students of the future. Curtin University is already a major player in Australia’s technology landscape and we look forward to continuing that role in partnership with Cisco.”