HISTORY

 

 The TCG Group has been at the forefront of Australian innovation for over 50 years.

 

TCG Pty Ltd, the first company within the Group and the oldest Australian-owned I.T. enterprise, was established in 1971.

TCG’s Group Managing Director, Peter Fritz AO, is a co-founder of over 150 businesses and several business accelerators.

He was a member of the Board that led the development of the Australian Technology Park in 1991-1997, and chaired the National Incubator Companies Board created by the ATP Board in 1998. Peter also co-founded the Joint Technology Partners (JTP) incubator which became a significant investor in Australian technology start-ups.

TCG has significant experience in supporting the growth of startups across a number of sectors.

In 1993, some of the 65 companies in the TCG Group were publicly floated on the Australian Stock Exchange as TechComm Group Limited, later renamed Utility Computer Services (UXC). In 2016, UXC was acquired by CSC for $430 million. Another former TCG company – Hypercom Inc. – floated on the New York Stock Exchange in November 1997 for US$600m (AU$1 billion), making it the largest technology company to be established in Australia at the time. More recently, TCG has founded, built and successfully exited several technology startups.

TCG WAS A LEADER IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF WIRELESS MESSAGING AND LOCATION-BASED SYSTEMS (LBS), PARTICULARLY IN HEALTHCARE.

As a TCG business from 2002, Integrated Wireless Pty Ltd grew to be Australia’s leading specialist provider of wireless communication systems and workflow solutions. Its key focus was the provision of mission-critical messaging, including location-based information, to enable optimal staff response. The business was sold to Ascom AB of Sweden in 2014.

TCG HELPED LAY THE FOUNDATIONS FOR THE INTERNET OF THINGS (IoT) THROUGH ITS EARLY PARTICIPATION IN MACHINE-TO-MACHINE (M2M) COMMUNICATIONS.

M2M Connectivity Pty Ltd was founded by TCG in 2002 in partnership with Ericsson Australia. In the years to follow, it went on to become Australia’s leading specialist distributor of wireless modules and modems for M2M communications in Australia and New Zealand, before being sold to Sierra Wireless of Canada in 2020.

In 2019, TCG together with Saber Astronautics established the Wolfpack Space HUB Business Accelerator to support Australian space industry manufacturers.

The Wolfpack Space Hub has already won about $3 million in customer contracts in the defence industry. Located at the TCG Group Office in Waterloo, the accelerator provides incubation, training and support for space industry start-ups.

 

Over the years, TCG companies have produced
many innovative products and solutions

 

  • 2022

    Global Access Partners signs collaboration with Nobel Prize Outreach to stage the Nobel Prize Dialogue Sydney on the “Future of Decision Making”.

  • 2021

    Expansion of GAP’s impact on the international stage, including: Inaugural GAP Summit for the Pacific and Small Island Nations, joint projects with the OECD; and International Taskforce on SMEs

  • 2020

    Fritz Family Foundation and ICDP foundation established

  • 2019

    Journal for Behavioural Economics and Social Systems (BESS) launched

    Wolfpack Space Hub Business Accelerator founded

  • 2017

    Australian Space Initiative, leading to the establishment of the Australian Space Agency

  • 2014

    Establishment of the Australian Society for Progress and Wellbeing

    Organised “The G20 Agenda for Growth: Opportunities for SMEs” Conference as part of Australia's G20 Presidency

  • 2013

    Development of Australia’s first National Cloud Computing Strategy

  • 2012

    Public consultation on NSW strata law reform, the first major strata reform in NSW since 1961

  • 2010

    Empowering Civil Society - digital engagement strategies, online community consultation processes

    Launch of ‘A Vision for Australia: GAP Annual Summit’ series in NSW Parliament House

  • 2009

    First 5000 established - an online platform for Australian medium-sized businesses

  • 2008

    “Second Track” Process developed

  • 2007

    Open Forum launched - an online platform for focused dialogue on social, political, economic, ecological and cultural issues and challenges

  • 2004

    Establishment of a Global Trust Centre

    Mentre launched - business accelerator management systems

  • 2000

    Global Access Partners (GAP) process - an interactive model for government & private sector collaboration

  • 1999

    Australian Technology Park - incubator management systems

  • 1998

    VOIP (Voice over IP) telephony

  • 1995

    Plastic money note wear detection technology

    Design and manufacture of plastic note sorting machines

  • 1993

    Ambrosia - development and manufacture of food additives from waste fruit using cold distillation technology

  • 1990

    Light modulation communication system

  • 1988

    Lottery ticket validation terminal

  • 1987

    Hand held terminal

    Establishment of the grape growing and wine industry in the Southern Highlands NSW (first vineyard in the region)

  • 1986

    Mirror microwave communication technology, first CT3 technology in the world

  • 1985

    BOW Memory unit for cash registers

    Electronic document design and management system

  • 1984

    Credit card validation system

    MOX memory unit for building security

  • 1983

    Development of low cost fossil fuel power station simulator

  • 1980

    Voice output modem - pioneering communication technology

  • 1978

    First echo-free hands free telephone handset

  • 1973

    TCG technology company incubator established

  • 1972

    Online stock control system developed (first real time system in commercial use)

  • 1971

    TCG established

 

The TCG Group’s innovative corporate structuring created a unique business model which is still taught at universities across Australia
and the world.