We at the Faculty of Design and Society (FDS) are excited to launch CreaTech 2026.
This pedestrainisation of Jones Street presents a rare opportunity to reimagine how public space can be experienced, understood and activated.
Rather than viewing out city streets simply as infrastructure, CreaTech invites researchers and industry partners to explore how emerging technologies can connect people to stories, Country, culture, climate and each other, while shaping more inclusive, engaging and responsive urban experiences.
Working alongside a live campus transformation led by the UTS Property Team, CreaTech enables new ideas to be imagined, tested and demonstrated in a real-world setting — generating research-led prototypes that showcase the art of the possible in the future of public spaces
2026 CreaTech collaborations
The four selected CreaTech collaborations for 2026 are:
Growing a creative innovation ecosystem
CreaTech is the first major initiative delivered through the UTS Creative Industries Strategy, a long-term commitment to positioning UTS as a catalyst for innovation, growth and collaboration across Australia's creative economy.
Australia's creative and cultural industries contribute more than $155 billion to the national economy each year, yet investment in research and development and innovation across the sector remains comparatively low by OECD standards. At the same time, the convergence of creativity and technology is creating significant opportunities for growth across media, gaming, screen production, immersive experiences, digital storytelling and cultural innovation.
Located at the intersection of Tech Central and the Ultimo creative precinct, UTS is uniquely positioned to connect world-leading researchers, creative practitioners, technology specialists and industry partners to accelerate new forms of innovation.
CreaTech is therefore an invitation for organisations to work with the University in a new way.
Through collaborative partnerships with researchers and students, participating organisations will have the opportunity to explore new ideas, experiment with emerging creative technologies and develop solutions that create pathways for industry partners’ future growth. Projects address challenges and opportunities relating to place-making, climate adaptation, digital storytelling, cultural engagement, First Nations knowledge, public participation and the future experience of cities.
The program is structured as a two-stage process.
- In 2026, four selected teams will receive support to undertake exploratory research and prototype development. Teams will work collaboratively to develop concepts, test ideas and assess future opportunities, culminating in a showcase in November 2026 attended by representatives from industry, government and key precinct partners including UTS Property, Lendlease and the Indigenous Institute of Design and Cultural Wellbeing.
- Beyond the showcase, projects will be positioned to pursue future research, commercialisation and impact pathways. This may include grant applications, industry partnerships, pilot activations, product development, new ventures or longer-term research programs.
Importantly, intellectual property developed through the program will be owned by participating creative industry partners, ensuring organisations can continue to develop, commercialise and scale successful outcomes beyond the life of the program.
CreaTech is the beginning of a broader agenda. As the first initiative of the UTS Creative Industries Strategy, it will inform a growing program of activities designed to strengthen Australia's creative economy, support sustainable and inclusive growth, promote First Nations cultures and create new opportunities for collaboration between industry, research and education.
Additional initiatives and partnerships will be announced throughout the year as UTS moves from pilot programs toward a larger Creative Industries Strategy agenda for 2027–2030.
More information
If you are an industry partner interested to connect with us on this project or would like updates on this initiative.