Cisco and Sharon AI Unveil Australia’s First Secure AI Factory Powered by NVIDIA
In addition to its high-performance capabilities, Sharon AI will offer a sandbox environment for customers to experiment with proof-of-concepts, facilitating tailored AI solutions across various industries.
RMN Digital AI Desk
New Delhi | February 27, 2026
SYDNEY — February 23, 2026 — Cisco and SharonAI Holdings Inc. have announced the launch of Australia’s first Cisco Secure AI Factory in collaboration with NVIDIA. This milestone initiative aims to provide the nation with secure, scalable, and high-performance sovereign AI capabilities, ensuring that all data processing remains strictly within Australian borders.
The new AI Factory is designed to support the development and responsible use of artificial intelligence in alignment with Australia’s National AI Plan. By establishing a robust national digital infrastructure, the project seeks to power an AI-enabled economy and accelerate innovation for enterprises and government agencies across the Asia-Pacific region.
Cutting-Edge Infrastructure: The facility is built on a foundation of high-performance technology designed to handle complex machine learning tasks. Key components include:
- 1024 NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra GPUs, providing breakthrough performance and flexibility.
- Cisco UCS servers integrated with Cisco’s security and networking portfolio and Nexus Hyperfabric technology.
- VAST Data’s storage systems for fast and scalable data access.
- NEXTDC’s Australian data centers, which provide the resilient, sovereign hosting environment for the infrastructure.
Driving Sovereign AI Innovation: Stefan Leitl, Vice President and General Manager of Cisco Australia & New Zealand, emphasized that the Secure AI Factory will allow organizations to harness their data for competitive advantage while maintaining the highest security standards. “This collaboration positions Australia at the forefront of secure, responsible AI,” Leitl stated.
James Manning, Co-Founder and CEO of Sharon AI, noted that the deployment of the NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra GPUs was architected alongside Cisco to bring “unprecedented value” to customers. He expressed expectations for further collaboration and the launch of additional clusters in 2026 and beyond.
Sudarsharn Ramachandran, Country Manager for NVIDIA in Australia and New Zealand, highlighted that secure, sovereign infrastructure is now a critical resource for enterprises throughout the region, and this launch marks a significant step in accelerating the next wave of AI innovation.
In addition to its high-performance capabilities, Sharon AI will offer a sandbox environment for customers to experiment with proof-of-concepts, facilitating tailored AI solutions across various industries.
