Hitachi, NTT DATA, and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the Green Transformation (GX) across Australia.
The collaboration comes as Australian industry faces mounting pressure to meet the government’s Safeguard Mechanism, which requires large emitters to provide transparent, verifiable ESG data and achieve a 43% reduction in emissions by 2030.
Central to the agreement is the transformation of the UTS campus into a “Living Laboratory”. This real-world testing ground will allow industry, academia, and government to co-create and commercialise advanced decarbonisation technologies.
The partners intend for this scalable proving ground to serve as a blueprint for the wider Australian commercial building sector, which is increasingly prioritising digital energy management solutions.
The partnership’s first major initiative focuses on the Australian localisation of EcoAssist-Enterprise, Hitachi’s ESG data management solution. Unlike generic tools, the system is being adapted to align with the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS). In a significant technological leap, the platform will integrate with NTT DATA’s AI solution, HUCAST.
HUCAST uses artificial intelligence to predict weather patterns and human occupancy flows, automatically adjusting air-conditioning in real-time. This ensures significant energy savings without compromising the comfort of building occupants.
Following successful initial verification at UTS, the partners plan to roll out these GX solutions across the broader Australian market. While the immediate focus remains on smart buildings, the group intends to leverage insights from the Living Laboratory to expand into other industrial sectors.
The alliance underscores a shared commitment to responsible innovation and the rapid realisation of a sustainable, net-zero society in Australia.
