Innovators from across the globe mentoring Queensland

Some of the world’s best and brightest minds in business and technology have converged on Brisbane for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp (10-16 February).

Innovation Minister Kate Jones said Palaszczuk Government funding through Advance Queensland supported the bootcamp in partnership with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT).

“The bootcamp condenses a one-year MIT course into an intensive, one-week learning experience led by senior MIT business lecturers with a focus on Queensland’s key industries like agriculture technology, medical technology, mining and engineering technology,” Ms Jones said.

“This year’s theme is the Future of Sustainability and participants will be asked to find innovative ways of using technology to solve challenges in the environment, agriculture and mining sectors.

“This event builds on the success of last year’s inaugural Brisbane MIT Global Entrepreneurship Bootcamp that involved more than 110 participants from 35 countries.

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to diversifying Queensland’s economy so we stay ahead of the curve in years to come.

“That’s why we’ve allocated $513 million to Advance Queensland – to support initiatives like this bootcamp to equip Queenslanders to be successful in our key industries.”

The MIT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp aligns with the Queensland Government’s $513 million Advance Queensland initiative by bringing together entrepreneurs, industry, universities and government to collaborate and turn ideas into action.

Ms Jones congratulated three Queenslanders who received scholarships through Advance Queensland and QUT to attend the six-day bootcamp - Murray Saylor, Suhyun Kweon and Max Wasley.

“These young entrepreneurs have exciting futures and have made names for themselves as promising innovators,” she said.

Mr Saylor of Brisbane Tagai Management Consultants said the rollercoaster ride of entrepreneurship had allowed him to follow a passion for creating commercial and social value within diverse communities.

“This MIT challenge is an opportunity for me to continue my development as an entrepreneur amongst likeminded global village enablers,” he said.

QUT optometry student Suhyun Kweon recently returned from an internship with the World Health Organisation in Switzerland and is a past winner of the Brisbane Climathon - part of a network of global events aimed at finding innovative solutions to local climate change problems.

“As a person who moved to Australia 10 years ago, the MIT Bootcamp scholarship means a lot more than anything and I have a responsibility to share that knowledge,” Ms Kweon said.

Social entrepreneur and electrical engineer Max Wasley runs Youth Without Borders, a youth-led organisation that aims to build leadership and confidence in young people who face cultural, geographical and financial barriers.

“Sustainability in all regards is more important now than ever,” Mr Wasley said.

MIT is ranked as the number one university in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2016-2017.

According to the 2014 report on Entrepreneurship and Innovation at MIT, alumni have launched more than 30,000 active companies, creating 4.6 million jobs and generating US$1.9 trillion in annual revenue. The cumulative result is the equivalent of the 10th largest economy in the world.

For more information visit http://advance.qld.gov.au/uni-researchers/mit-entrepreneurship-bootcamp.aspx

Media contact: Kerrie Kahlon 3719 7538