Talking business at Sydney’s top tech conference

SYDNEY'S role as a buzzing technology hub will be in the spotlight next month when industry leaders gather at Australia’s largest business tech conference to discuss everything from cyber security to e-health.

The CeBIT Australia 2016 conference, sponsored by the City of Sydney, will take place from May  2 to 4, gathering more than 15,000 tech entrepreneurs, investors, government representatives and customers from across Australia and overseas. 
 
The conference celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, and is expected to generate $60 million of economic activity for Sydney.
 
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said a strong and successful tech sector was vital for Sydney’s growth and prosperity.
 
“We’ve sponsored CeBIT since 2011 to help our tech community build knowledge, relationships and business opportunities,” the Lord Mayor said.
 
“Sydney has a healthy culture of tech innovation, and it’s one that’s still growing and developing. We’re playing our part to boost that development through conferences like CeBIT and through our new Tech Startups Action Plan, which provides a framework to support the city’s growing startup sector.”
 
The ICT sector is the fifth largest employer in the City of Sydney area. Over 64 per cent of Australia’s technology startup companies are located in Sydney and concentrated in the City’s local area.
 
Businesses and individuals from across Australia, as well as China, Taiwan, New Zealand, India, Pakistan and Germany, are expected to attend the event this year.
 
Attendees will have access to the latest cutting edge technologies and trends, spanning cyber security, financial technogies, cloud, mobility, e-health, computing and digital marketing.
 
Sydney has Australia’s highest concentration of new, innovative high-growth businesses, such as successful business software developer Atlassian and graphic design software company Canva.
 
Harvey Stockbridge, Managing Director of Hannover Fairs Australia, said as well as the business and tourism generated, CeBIT Australia helps to promote Sydney as a global, innovative and progressive city.
 
“CeBIT assists Sydney in attracting inward investment, establishes trade dialogue, allows knowledge transfer and increases productivity - establishing Sydney as a destination of choice for global companies, boosting business and skilled migration,” Mr Stockbridge said.
 
The City will sponsor this year’s event to the value of $50,000, which includes $35,000 in cash sponsorship and $15,000 value in-kind sponsorship for venue hire.
 
For more information about CeBIT Australia 2016, visit: www.cebit.com.au
 
For more information about the City’s support for technology startups, visit:
www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/business/business-support/business-in-your-sector/key-industries/creative-and-digital/technology-start-ups

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