Melbourne will host a major global data centre and artificial intelligence technology summit for the first time in Australia, with the event scheduled to take place in September at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, according to the Victorian Government.
The co-located events, Data Center World and The AI Summit, are expected to attract more than 1,000 attendees and generate up to $4 million for the state’s visitor economy.
The events form part of Informa Connect’s international conference series, which is also held in the United States, the United Kingdom and Asia.
The bid to bring the summit to Melbourne was secured by the Melbourne Convention Bureau and the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, with support from Business Events Australia.
The Victorian Government said the conference would highlight technology developments shaping future business and innovation, noting that the state is home to 40 data centres and the country’s largest cluster of AI firms.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said hosting the summit reflected confidence in Victoria’s technology sector.
“This is a major vote of confidence in Victoria’s thriving tech ecosystem and a powerful boost to local businesses and jobs,” he said, adding that such events “inject vital economic activity into our hotels, cafes, restaurants and venues.”
Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Danny Pearson said the conference would help showcase Victoria internationally, describing it as “a tremendous opportunity to showcase our state as a global leader in tech and innovation.”
Melbourne Convention Bureau chief executive Julia Swanson said the event would reinforce the city’s reputation in the sector.
“Melbourne is recognised worldwide as a hub for innovation and technology, and hosting this conference reinforces that leadership,” she said.
Informa Connect president for tech events Marco Pardi said the decision to expand the series to Melbourne reflected the city’s growing role in the global technology landscape, while Data Centres Australia chief executive Belinda Dennett welcomed the announcement, saying the conference would help position Victoria as a leading market for artificial intelligence infrastructure.
