Cisco partners up to boost health technology

Cisco_Logo_RGB-2color_92x52Flinders has announced an even closer collaboration with Cisco through the establishment of a new chair to attract a world-renowned academic in the field of health technologies and the Internet of Everything (IoE).

Cisco, a worldwide leader in networking and the provider of state-of-the-art campus network infrastructure at Flinders, will support high quality research in emerging, innovative health technologies and IoE, based in the new Flinders building at Tonsley, which was opened on 10 March.

Flinders and Cisco have also established a Cisco Academy at Tonsley, which also deliver a curriculum to train students for the jobs of the future enabled by IoE. The Internet of Everything, which is the intelligent connection of people, processes, data and things through the Internet, brings a new range of economic opportunities to private and public sectors.

Work in the area has the potential to radically change how people interact with health services, and how they manage and maintain their health throughout life.

The partnership promises the development of streamlined, Internet-enabled health informatics, which has applications such as personalised monitors and hand-held clinical devices, point-of-care testing and remotely managed health diagnostics

Flinders Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling welcomed the new phase of collaboration with Cisco.

“This is an involvement that very much plays to the strengths of the two organisations, and I am confident that it will translate into real benefits for the wider community,” Professor Stirling said.

Professor Richard Constantine, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Information Services) at Flinders, said the partnership comes at an exciting time for the University.

“Flinders has undergone a major technological renewal with Cisco and has the infrastructure in place to do exciting things in this area,” Professor Constantine said.

“Focused in the new Flinders building at Tonsley, our researchers can investigate ways to use technology to create new devices that will have a major impact on how we look after ourselves in the years to come. Having Cisco on board as a global leader in IoE will give us the capacity to do more of this work and do it more quickly.”

For Cisco, this is an opportunity to invest in a university with a reputation for innovative research and a vision for use of technology in health and aged care.

Mr Ken Boal, Vice President, Cisco Australia and New Zealand, said: “Cisco is excited to be expanding its strategic relationship with Flinders through the research chair, bringing together leaders in research and business to develop innovative technology solutions for aged health care.”

The partnership is set for an initial three years and will directly fund research in innovative health technologies undertaken at Tonsley. Flinders has a strong record in research and development of health related technology across the areas of medical devices, assistive living and rehabilitation.

Posted in
College of Science and Engineering Corporate Engage News Research Teaching and learning