New Advance Queensland funding ignites more ideas and jobs

Eighty-five innovative Queensland businesses will share in $10 million of Palaszczuk Government funding to develop products and create new jobs, Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy Leeanne Enoch announced today (Friday).

Ms Enoch said the Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas funding will help the companies expand their markets - and their workforce.

She said round three recipients include the world’s first automated life jacket, a batting training device to help the next generation of cricket superstars develop their skills, a rapid cooling device to eliminate heat stress for mine workers, and a drone with the greatest combined flight and hover capacity in the world.

“Unlike the LNP who cut, sack and sell, the Palaszczuk Government has now supported 203 Queensland businesses through $26.5 million (three rounds) of Ignite Ideas funding – driving more than a thousand new jobs,” Ms Enoch said.

“This government is providing these innovative businesses – independently assessed in a highly competitive process - with opportunities to take their amazing ideas to new levels, and new markets.”

Market-leading Brisbane sports science firm Fusion Sport – who have worked with the NFL, AFL, English Premier League and NBA - received almost $250,000 in funding.

CEO Dr Markus Deutsch said this will allow the company to “cross-over” to work with the military in Australia, the US and the United Kingdom.

“We have averaged 25 per cent staff growth per annum over the last three years, but now expect our company to double in size over the next three years,” he said.

Techshot – who are behind a training device tested by the Australian Southern Stars Women’s team - received $99,550 in Ignite ideas funding.

The company has also received an order from the Greg Chappell Cricket Centre for 1000 units, which are used to train cricketers to copy the best players in the world.

Director William Prowse, an engineer with more than 20 years of playing and coaching cricket in Australian and the United Kingdom, made a series of prototypes using material sourced from a local hardware store.

Children’s TV content producer, Like a Photon Creative, received $250,000 to develop the KINDERGO reading app. They have already worked with Sesame Street US, the BBC and all major Australian TV networks.

Like a Photon Creative managing director Kristen Souvlis praised the Palaszczuk Government for fostering innovation and predicted the app will result in 100 new Queensland jobs by 2020.

Yeppoon-based Cool Mine received almost $100,000 for The Cool Tube – an air conditioner-like device helping mine workers avoid potentially fatal heat stress.

Sales and Accounts manager Vanessa Gleadhill said the funding will allow for two new jobs, with eight more to be created within three years.

Townsville-based ADIVO – who are behind an innovative market-ready prototype of the world’s first automated electronic inflation system for lifejackets – received $100,000 in Ignite Ideas funding.

CEO Mitch Nissen said the product has international appeal, including a ready market with Great Barrier Reef tourism operators. He said the funding will allow his business to expand with three new jobs, and in the longer term another 24 positions.

Iridium Dynamics – who developed the Halo vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) – received almost $100,000 funding.

CEO Ian Conway Lamb said the drone has the greatest combined flight and hover capacity in the world, and the funding will create three new jobs – with another 20 in three years.

“The Ignite Ideas grant is helping us reduce our manufacturing costs to provide a product which is affordable even to smaller organisations operating long-range UAVs,” Mr Conway Lamb said.

Queensland’s Chief Entrepreneur Mark Sowerby said the Ignite Ideas funding will be the catalyst for the 85 businesses taking their next big step forward.

“I keep meeting Ignite Ideas recipients as I travel around Queensland, and they all see this as their big chance,” Mr Sowerby said.

“They absolutely want to make the most of it, and I’m certain we’ll have some Queensland entrepreneurial heroes emerge from these new grants.”

Ignite Ideas is part of the Palaszczuk Government’s $420 million Advance Queensland initiative.

Visit the Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas Fund webpage for more information on the program and its recipients.

ENDS

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