Palaszczuk Govt funds to boost METS in Mackay region

Published Friday, 06 January, 2017 at 03:56 PM

Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines
The Honourable Dr Anthony Lynham

The state’s $21 billion Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) sector is set to reap the benefits of innovative ideas being fast-tracked to market, thanks to a $2.7 million investment by the Palaszczuk Government.            

Minister for State Development Dr Anthony Lynham today announced the programs will provide real opportunities for the growth of METS companies based in Paget and the Mackay region.

“The funds will support six actions to be delivered in collaboration with METS Ignited, the independent Australian Industry Growth Centre based at QUT Gardens Point in Brisbane,” Dr Lynham said. 

“These actions are part of the Palaszczuk Government’s $6 million, four-year commitment to METS Ignited to help facilitate jobs and growth across the state.

“All of the actions are being piloted in Queensland and offer significant benefits to the state, such as enhancing METS sector clustering in Mackay to encourage local industry collaboration and piloting an industry accelerator that will be open to Queensland METS companies looking to turn a great innovations into commercial reality.

“Finding new ways to take innovative ideas to market quickly is key to ensuring Queensland’s world-class METS sector can grow and remain sustainable and competitive over the long term, both at home and abroad.

“Increasing collaboration between miners, METS companies and researchers is vital to improving our rate and speed of converting great ideas into dollars.

“The METS sector contributes $21 billion to the state’s gross revenue and has huge potential for further domestic growth and even greater expansion overseas.

“Queensland METS’ companies are international market leaders in exploration, mine design and construction, mine safety, social licence and management, minerals processing, remediation and rehabilitation.

“The sector’s long record of developing innovative solutions to the challenges faced by Bowen Basin miners has also seen their innovations applied overseas and in other sectors, including agriculture and construction. Much of that innovation has come directly from METS companies based in Paget and the Mackay Region”

The six actions being implemented by the Department of State Development as part of its collaborative work program with METS Ignited are:

  • Piloting a technology accelerator in Queensland to enhance the commercialisation of new technologies that attract industry investment. This initiative will be open to Mackay companies that have developed a great process or product and want to get access to expert assistance in turning all that work into a commercial outcome.
  • Identifying energy and resources testing facilities to ensure new technologies are geared for the real world and will attract investment. Mackay METS companies want greater access to in-situ testing facilities and this project will help to identify those opportunities.
  • Enhancing METS industry clustering in Mackay, to increase collaboration between companies and foster development of new business opportunities. Mackay has a number of clusters of METS expertise which can only benefit from greater collaboration around capabilities and areas of focus for future mining operations.
  • Funding a project that is expected to create business opportunities for Mackay METS companies to supply energy efficiency solutions to the resources sector
  • Developing managerial skills, business models and industry development interventions that support Mackay METS companies to create and capture value from new technologies. This proposed initiative with the Queensland University of Technology seeks to place researchers in Queensland METS companies, including Mackay companies, to develop strategies for enhancing the internal business capabilities and external competitiveness of these organisations.
  • Developing baseline data that measures the amount of collaboration occurring within the METS sector. This will be used as a baseline for evaluating the current status and opportunities for greater collaboration and growth in specialist METS clusters such as those in Paget and the Mackay Region.

“While these are significant commitments, they are not the only way the Palaszczuk Government is supporting growth and jobs in Mackay,” Dr Lynham said.

“The Palaszczuk Government’s METS sector Roadmap and Action Plan, developed to align with the national METS Sector Competitiveness Plan, is currently due for release in 2017.

“The roadmap will include additional actions designed to assist Mackay METS companies looking to grow their businesses.”

ENDS

Media Contact:          Benjamin Mulcahy 0419 562 389

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