University of Melbourne partners with NTT DATA to advance digital capabilities

The collaboration will target research and innovation initiatives across AI, cybersecurity and quantum.

NTT Data has forged a strategic partnership with the University of Melbourne to pursue joint research and development initiatives, with AI, cybersecurity and quantum identified as priority areas.

“They’re foundational to Australia’s future digital capability and align with the university’s strengths,” David McKeering, CEO, NTT DATA said.

The collaboration will pair researchers with industry practitioners, identify critical industry challenges and co-design project outcomes.

It enables us to move quickly from shared intent into specific project design,” McKeering told CRN Australia.

An early focus will be the development of bio-digital twins for cardiovascular health. It will utilise the Parkville precinct, a biomedical research hub where the university has relationships with hospitals, research institutes and other partners.

“The goal is to work through that ecosystem to shape the right clinical and research collaborations,” he said.

One of the core objectives of the partnership is to equip graduates with industry experience and help address the digital skills gap. This includes embedding students in NTT Data projects, co-designing early career programs to include industry needs and providing roadmaps into professional roles.

“We want to ensure that students are not just participating in programs, but are becoming industry-ready for the global digital economy,” he explained.

NTT Data has also committed to achieving 50 percent female workforce participation and will guide joint diversity and inclusion initiatives.

“Diverse teams simply build more resilient technology,” he said.

The early careers program and work-integrated learning pathways are designed to create visibility and targeted mentorship for women entering the field.

“We want to ensure that inclusion isn't some side initiative, but is baked into how we design talent outcomes from the very start,” he said.

The final element of the agreement aims to establish a regional hub for innovation that will connect the university's ecosystem with NTT Data’s global innovation network to collaborate across the Parkville precinct.

“It's a co-creation engine that brings together students, researchers and precinct partners to test ideas and translate them into outcomes that matter,” McKeering said.

Tracking success and commercial outcomes

The overriding goal of the agreement is to develop, test and scale solutions with real-world impact. A steering committee will set annual priorities, track progress and adjust the roadmap as opportunities evolve.

Any specific commercial outcomes will be defined on a project-by-project basis through separate written agreements.

“If commercialisation is appropriate for a given initiative, we’ll agree upfront how IP, value creation and participation are structured so it’s transparent and mutually beneficial,” McKeering ended.

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