Palaszczuk Government funding boost for innovation and jobs on the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast will benefit from the creation of a new region-wide innovation hub under a co-funded Advance Queensland agreement worth almost $1.8 million.

Speaking from the Gold Coast today (Monday), Innovation Minister Leeanne Enoch said the Palaszczuk Government had allocated $500,000 over three years from its $6 million Advancing Regional Innovation Program (ARIP) to support the Gold Coast Hub and its 12 local partners in delivering a range of new innovation-led economic development initiatives.

"The Gold Coast Hub will be a unifying influence on the Gold Coast’s innovation community, which is spread throughout the diverse region between Yatala in the north and Coolangatta in the south out to the Hinterland,” Ms Enoch said.

“This will be a place of action and inspiration for all members of the innovation community, including startups, entrepreneurs, investors and students through to the involvement of larger companies and all three levels of government.

“Our funding will support collaboration and encourage local entrepreneurs, business leaders and key industries to work together to innovate and strengthen the region’s economy.”

The Gold Coast Hub is backed by Opmantek, Little Tokyo Two, Slingshot Accelerator, Startup Apprentice, New Wave Capital, BPS Technologies, Griffith University, Bond University, McLaughlins Lawyers, Altezza Partners, Sports Gold Coast and Study Gold Coast.

Little Tokyo Two, one of Queensland’s most experienced co-working space hosts, will operate and grow the main innovation hub, which is expected to be located in Surfers Paradise.

Gold Coast Hub Chief Executive Officer Sharon Hunneybell said a priority will be connecting existing resources, adding new resources and building a grassroots support network in the central, northern, southern and hinterland Gold Coast areas.

“The Gold Coast Hub provides activities that support the innovation ecosystem at the Gold Coast,” she said.

“This includes the scaling up of businesses, helping startups, giving all innovators increased exposure to investors and providing all Gold Coasters with opportunities to make global connections.

“It is an exciting time to be a Gold Coast innovator.

“On behalf of all of our partners, volunteers and sponsors I’d like to thank the Queensland Government for their support through the ARIP program and acknowledge the vision and philanthropic work of Opmantek in making this happen as part of their significant and enduring contribution to the local innovation community.”

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate welcomed funding for the innovation hub.

“The Gold Coast has so much to offer as a destination for international venture capital and innovation is a path we need to take in order to renew our tourism offerings and develop exciting new industries,” he said.

“This is a way for our entrepreneurs and innovators, no matter where they are based in our diverse region, to combine their strengths, collaborate and turn their ideas into new products and services to benefit people everywhere.”

Bond University Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and Director of the Bond Business Commercialisation Centre Baden U'Ren said funding the Gold Coast Hub will provide access to a centralised meeting and collaboration space for the region's entrepreneurs.

“Creating an innovation hub for the Gold Coast has been high on our agenda for a couple of years now,” he said.

“The hub and network of outreach centres will draw in the energy of the whole Gold Coast community for innovation and maximise the potential for collaboration, investment and learning.”

Under the ARIP, the Palaszczuk Government is providing matched funding up to $500,000 to 12 regions: Gold Coast, Far North Queensland, North Queensland, Outback Queensland, Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday, Fitzroy, Wide Bay Burnett, Darling Downs and Maranoa, Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, Ipswich and West Moreton and Redland and Logan.

Advance Queensland is the Palaszczuk Government’s $420 million flagship initiative to drive innovation across the state and turn great ideas into new products, businesses and jobs.

Visit the Advancing Regional Innovation Program for more details on ARIP, or contact Sharon Hunneybell of Gold Coast Hub on 0422 354 782 or email joinus@gchub.com.au.

ENDS

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