Sydney ranks as best ecosystem for startups in Southern Hemisphere
Sydney has once again secured its position as the leading tech innovation ecosystem in the Southern Hemisphere — ranked #25 globally in the 2025 Startup Genome report, with an ecosystem valued at $55 billion- three times that of Melbourne and more than ten times Brisbane’s.
Home to more than 3,000 tech startups and attracting 65% of Australia’s total startup funding, Sydney continues to stand out as the nation’s engine room for innovation. The city was also ranked 22nd in the 2024 Smart Cities Index, and named a Top 25 Most Innovative City in the World in 2024, thanks to its advanced digital infrastructure and strong culture of innovation.
Recognised as one of the most attractive cities globally for tech talent, Sydney stands out for its strong government adoption of AI and leadership across Fintech, Cybersecurity, Creative & Gaming, and Quantum Technologies. It also offers an exceptional quality of life, ranked #7 globally by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) in 2024. Combined with its advanced digital infrastructure, world-class research institutions, and thriving startup scene, Sydney is a magnet for global tech companies looking to invest, grow, and thrive.
Quantum Technology on the Rise
Sydney’s momentum extends beyond startups. It is fast emerging as a global centre for quantum technology—a field set to revolutionise industries from finance and communications to healthcare and defence. With a growing base of quantum startups and strong collaboration across research, industry, and government, the city is building a dynamic quantum ecosystem.
Educated Talent
Sydney boasts a highly skilled workforce and continues to attract top talent from across Australia and around the world. New South Wales is home to the nation’s largest STEM talent pool and technology workforce. Four of Sydney’s leading universities — Macquarie University, UTS, UNSW Sydney, and the University of Sydney — rank within the top 1% globally (QS World University Rankings), and are among the Top 50 worldwide in key fields driving quantum innovation, including Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Natural Sciences.
Australia’s quantum sector is the result of more than three decades of research excellence and sustained investment. It now ranks fifth globally for quantum workforce size, supported by 38 quantum-focused firms and 26 research organisations. At the centre of this progress is a deep and growing pool of talent.
Within this vibrant ecosystem, Sydney Quantum Academy plays a pivotal role — building a future-ready pipeline of researchers and professionals through industry collaboration, researcher development, and education programs.
As Sydney continues to push the boundaries of innovation, now is the time to connect, collaborate, and contribute to one of the world’s most exciting quantum ecosystems.
