Published Wednesday, 06 August, 2008 at 04:45 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Bligh Government invests $3.6million to increase business growth on the Sunshine Coast
The new State Government funded Sunshine Coast Business Accelerator is expected to increase private sector investment and fast track local businesses growth over the next decade, Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle announced at the opening today.
Ms Boyle said the Queensland Government’s support for the new Sunshine Coast Business Accelerator reflected its overall commitment to the development of a knowledge economy in the region.
“We have provided the Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast with $3.6 million to help set-up the new Accelerator,” Ms Boyle said.
“It will assist small to medium size businesses progress beyond the start-up stage and to become successful in their own right.
“The Accelerator follows on from the successful Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast which was set up in partnership with the University of the Sunshine Coast to assist start-up companies.
“Since the Centre was established in 2002, it has provided support to 51 start-up businesses which have created 331 jobs and raised more than $10 million in investment capital.
“The Centre is fully occupied and is currently supporting 22 technology based start-up businesses.”
Ms Boyle said the Accelerator has highlighted the importance of a full-scale business and technology precinct around the University of the Sunshine Coast at Sippy Downs.
“The facility will employ more than 250 people in highly skilled jobs with the Precinct potentially employing 5,000 people in the next 10 years.”
Ms Boyle said investors would be attracted to the precinct’s accessibility, it’s proximity to the University of Sunshine Coast and its ability to tap into the latest technology.
“The Queensland Government has spent $66M to upgrade the Sunshine Coast Motorway and on the new interchange to improve access to Sippy Downs,” she said.
“While the Federal Government has also invested $11.6M as past of its Clever Networks Project to provide fast speed fibre optics to the precinct.
Ms Boyle said three developers had already signed a collaborative marketing agreement with the University of the Sunshine Coast and the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
“S&L Developments, Aria Property International and Investa Property are looking to advance this business and technology precinct which is very exciting news,” she said.
Ms Boyle said one of the Accelerator’s newest tenants was Six Degrees Creative which provides media advertising, branding and design services.
“Their products have been so successful that their team has grown and as a result have taken out larger space in the new Accelerator as their business headquarters,” she said.
“Six Degrees Creative has made the Sunshine Coast its base while having a vast network of national client support services”.
Ms Boyle said ENACT Business Architects are another example of the Incubation Program’s success. ENACT have grown from three to nine staff and have trained a team of more than a dozen qualified business professionals throughout Australia.
Ms Boyle said the new Sunshine Coast Business Accelerator is expected to be almost fully occupied by the end of the year.
“It currently had a 40 percent occupancy rate with seven companies ranging from AMPM, a professional construction and property development project management consultancy; Herlife which provides tailored life insurance solutions for women and Ausvoc Educational Publishing, a commercial unit of the Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE,” she said.
“The Accelerator will also be host to service providers such as Redchip Lawyers and Fisher Adams Kelly who will provide specialist expertise in the commercialisation of intellectual property for the clients.”
Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005
Ms Boyle said the Queensland Government’s support for the new Sunshine Coast Business Accelerator reflected its overall commitment to the development of a knowledge economy in the region.
“We have provided the Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast with $3.6 million to help set-up the new Accelerator,” Ms Boyle said.
“It will assist small to medium size businesses progress beyond the start-up stage and to become successful in their own right.
“The Accelerator follows on from the successful Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast which was set up in partnership with the University of the Sunshine Coast to assist start-up companies.
“Since the Centre was established in 2002, it has provided support to 51 start-up businesses which have created 331 jobs and raised more than $10 million in investment capital.
“The Centre is fully occupied and is currently supporting 22 technology based start-up businesses.”
Ms Boyle said the Accelerator has highlighted the importance of a full-scale business and technology precinct around the University of the Sunshine Coast at Sippy Downs.
“The facility will employ more than 250 people in highly skilled jobs with the Precinct potentially employing 5,000 people in the next 10 years.”
Ms Boyle said investors would be attracted to the precinct’s accessibility, it’s proximity to the University of Sunshine Coast and its ability to tap into the latest technology.
“The Queensland Government has spent $66M to upgrade the Sunshine Coast Motorway and on the new interchange to improve access to Sippy Downs,” she said.
“While the Federal Government has also invested $11.6M as past of its Clever Networks Project to provide fast speed fibre optics to the precinct.
Ms Boyle said three developers had already signed a collaborative marketing agreement with the University of the Sunshine Coast and the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
“S&L Developments, Aria Property International and Investa Property are looking to advance this business and technology precinct which is very exciting news,” she said.
Ms Boyle said one of the Accelerator’s newest tenants was Six Degrees Creative which provides media advertising, branding and design services.
“Their products have been so successful that their team has grown and as a result have taken out larger space in the new Accelerator as their business headquarters,” she said.
“Six Degrees Creative has made the Sunshine Coast its base while having a vast network of national client support services”.
Ms Boyle said ENACT Business Architects are another example of the Incubation Program’s success. ENACT have grown from three to nine staff and have trained a team of more than a dozen qualified business professionals throughout Australia.
Ms Boyle said the new Sunshine Coast Business Accelerator is expected to be almost fully occupied by the end of the year.
“It currently had a 40 percent occupancy rate with seven companies ranging from AMPM, a professional construction and property development project management consultancy; Herlife which provides tailored life insurance solutions for women and Ausvoc Educational Publishing, a commercial unit of the Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE,” she said.
“The Accelerator will also be host to service providers such as Redchip Lawyers and Fisher Adams Kelly who will provide specialist expertise in the commercialisation of intellectual property for the clients.”
Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005