New high-tech home to grow fledging Gold Coast firms
Published Monday, 22 October, 2007 at 09:05 AM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
A new $1 million-dollar home for high-tech businesses on the Gold Coast was officially launched today.
Minister for Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle said the Gold Coast Innovation Centre was a state-of-the-art facility to nurture bright, emerging technology firms into the commercial business world.
The Centre, based at Griffith University, provides office space, facilities, mentoring and business planning support to firms in the challenging start-up phase.
Ms Boyle said companies helped by similar facilities, such as the i.lab Incubator in Brisbane, had a 90 per cent success rate.
“This is because they also get access to industry experts across a range of business management areas including finance, capital raising, leadership, intellectual property and product commercialisation,” she said.
“The supportive business environment offered by the Gold Coast Innovation Centre will greatly increase the chances of long-term survival for new businesses.”
The Centre could house a range of technology firms creating products and services for sectors as varied as multimedia, health, pharmaceutical, sport and environment.
It will house up to 10 incubatees but will also offer 'virtual' incubator services to home-based businesses.
Three tenants have already moved in including software company RelevanceNow created in 2005 by former Griffith University students John Zakos and Liesl Capper.
Ms Capper said its flagship product MyCyberTwin allowed users to create virtual personalities that chat online on your behalf through social networks such as MySpace and MSN.
“Feed in content from emails, blogs, and online conversations and it learns to talk like you when you’re away from the computer,” she said.
The Gold Coast Innovation Centre is funded with $500,000 from the Queensland Government and $250,000 from Griffith University and $187,500 from Gold Coast City Council.
Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clark said firms like RelevanceNow would eventually graduate into the broader business community.
“Their success is important because it will create jobs and enhance the Gold Coast’s reputation as a rapidly developing and innovative business destination,” Mr Clark said.
Griffith University Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Max Standage said the new centre was a catalyst for attracting other high-tech businesses and services to the region.
"This is a key step in building critical mass in the Gold Coast's emerging technology industry. It will attract skilled workers and encourage technology graduates to remain here," he said.
Ms Boyle said the Queensland Government’s support of innovation and technology infrastructure was about creating a vibrant, knowledge-based economy for the State.
“i.lab, for example, has supported 70 business start-ups and hundreds more external firms. These companies have raised $50 million in capital and created 360 smart technology jobs for Queensland.”
Ends
Media contact: 3224 2004
22 October 2007
Minister for Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle said the Gold Coast Innovation Centre was a state-of-the-art facility to nurture bright, emerging technology firms into the commercial business world.
The Centre, based at Griffith University, provides office space, facilities, mentoring and business planning support to firms in the challenging start-up phase.
Ms Boyle said companies helped by similar facilities, such as the i.lab Incubator in Brisbane, had a 90 per cent success rate.
“This is because they also get access to industry experts across a range of business management areas including finance, capital raising, leadership, intellectual property and product commercialisation,” she said.
“The supportive business environment offered by the Gold Coast Innovation Centre will greatly increase the chances of long-term survival for new businesses.”
The Centre could house a range of technology firms creating products and services for sectors as varied as multimedia, health, pharmaceutical, sport and environment.
It will house up to 10 incubatees but will also offer 'virtual' incubator services to home-based businesses.
Three tenants have already moved in including software company RelevanceNow created in 2005 by former Griffith University students John Zakos and Liesl Capper.
Ms Capper said its flagship product MyCyberTwin allowed users to create virtual personalities that chat online on your behalf through social networks such as MySpace and MSN.
“Feed in content from emails, blogs, and online conversations and it learns to talk like you when you’re away from the computer,” she said.
The Gold Coast Innovation Centre is funded with $500,000 from the Queensland Government and $250,000 from Griffith University and $187,500 from Gold Coast City Council.
Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clark said firms like RelevanceNow would eventually graduate into the broader business community.
“Their success is important because it will create jobs and enhance the Gold Coast’s reputation as a rapidly developing and innovative business destination,” Mr Clark said.
Griffith University Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Max Standage said the new centre was a catalyst for attracting other high-tech businesses and services to the region.
"This is a key step in building critical mass in the Gold Coast's emerging technology industry. It will attract skilled workers and encourage technology graduates to remain here," he said.
Ms Boyle said the Queensland Government’s support of innovation and technology infrastructure was about creating a vibrant, knowledge-based economy for the State.
“i.lab, for example, has supported 70 business start-ups and hundreds more external firms. These companies have raised $50 million in capital and created 360 smart technology jobs for Queensland.”
Ends
Media contact: 3224 2004
22 October 2007