Innovation Centre creates technology hub.
Amazing business opportunities are emerging out of the Sunshine Coast’s popular hub for innovation.
The Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast was established in 2002 as part of a regional engagement initiative of the University of the Sunshine Coast to create new jobs and new businesses.
It is now fast becoming a hub of activity for entrepreneurs and experienced business people.
In the short amount of time the Innovation Centre has been operating, it has supported the start-up and growth of more than 45 companies, and housed over 250 employees in 2008.
The Centre runs a Business Incubator and Business Accelerator to cater for start-ups and more established businesses, as well as running Executive Education courses in starting and growing successful businesses.
The Business Incubator caters for start-up companies and offers flexible office space that can grow with them, high speed fibre optic connectivity, the ability to tap into university talent, a lower total cost of operating and the support they need to grow stronger and faster.
The Business Accelerator accommodates more established businesses and professional service firms and offers the same benefits as the Business Incubator on a larger scale.
BIG ANT GAMES BEGIN
After tripling its space in 2008, the Innovation Centre has kicked off 2009 by attracting one of Australia’s biggest games development companies, Big Ant Studios, to the Accelerator from Melbourne.
Big Ant Studios CEO, Ross Symons said the reason they chose to locate at the Innovation Centre was due to the “close proximity to the University and its talent, the lifestyle location, which would make it easy to attract and retain great staff and the flexibility of the office space”.
The focus sectors of the Innovation Centre are information technology (IT), ‘green’ technology and creative industries, which are representative of the emerging trends globally as well as being directly beneficial to the Sunshine Coast region.
NEW BUSINESS PRECINCT
A Business and Technology Precinct is planned for the land adjacent to the University. The precinct is a strategic alliance between the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, three property development firms and the University of the Sunshine Coast, which will result in thousands of new jobs in the area.
In the past 12 months more than $80million has been invested into this university town concept, including investment in transportation upgrades, fibre optic cabling and Queensland Government funding to establish the Innovation Centre’s Business Accelerator.
Innovation Centre CEO, Colin Graham said, “The Sunshine Coast is rapidly growing and many people are choosing to locate their businesses here to take advantage of the ability to run a global business from a lifestyle location.”
The Business Incubator enables start-up companies to begin with a small number of staff, access business development advice and mentoring, expand as they require, and network with other entrepreneurs and members of the business
community at corporate events and functions.
Business Incubator manager and ‘entrepreneur in residence’, Nigel Hall said, “Start-up businesses that participate in our Incubator program have a far higher chance of success due to the mentoring and facilities available to them.”
For 2009, the Innovation Centre plans to continue the development of start-up companies on the Sunshine Coast as well as attracting established businesses from interstate and overseas to further strengthen the regional economy. ♦
INNOVATION CENTRE SUNSHINE COAST
Established
2002.
Location
Sippy Downs, Sunshine Coast, one hour north of Queensland’s capital, Brisbane.
Number of businesses started
45 companies since establishment.
Capital Raised
More than $20million in investment has been raised for the businesses located at the centre.
Employment opportunities
Innovation Centre companies employed around 250 staff in 2008.
Success rate of start-ups participating in the Business Incubator program
90%.
Sectors
CT – including the Games sector, Green Technology and Creative Industries.
Tel: +61 7 5450 2600.
E-mail: innovationcentre@usc.edu.au
www.innovation-centre.com.au ♦
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