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Major boost for smart business on the Sunshine Coast
12 April, 2006
The Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast Pty Ltd has
announced plans for a major expansion with a new hi-tech
facility to be constructed to accommodate around 15 -20
additional small to mid sized knowledge based businesses.
The Innovation Centre already operates an award winning Business
Incubator that has supported the start-up and growth of 20 early
stage businesses in sectors such as software development,
electronics, biotechnology and sustainable water solutions.
The new development is the Innovation Centre Business
Accelerator and this will provide an additional 2000m2 of office
space, board room and meeting rooms for businesses that have
progressed beyond the start-up stage and have a more proven
business model.
The Business Accelerator will be constructed within the existing
Innovation Centre building, taking over the space initially used as
a function centre. A 500-seat business function centre will be
retained within the revamped facility.
The development of the Business Accelerator was made possible by
a A$3.6 million funding package from the Queensland Government. The
Hon. Chris Cummins MP, the Minister for Information Technology
Policy, announced the Beattie Government's support for the Business
Accelerator.
"This announcement will help accelerate Sippy Downs as the
knowledge hub of the Sunshine Coast. The new Innovation Centre
Business Accelerator will be built within the existing Innovation
Centre at the University of the Sunshine Coast to provide high-tech
companies with mentoring support; access to IT campus-based
experts, cost-effective office accommodation and the most advanced
Internet services available," Mr Cummins said.
"Companies operating from the facility will be part of a broader
high-tech community and will collaborate closely with the
University of the Sunshine Coast."
Mr Cummins said young companies graduating from the existing
Innovation Centre Business Incubator and other knowledge based
businesses would be able to collaborate and operate within a
facility focussed on accelerating the development of new technology
businesses and jobs.
"It will help retain these high-tech and knowledge-based
business on the Sunshine Coast and ensure smart jobs for our
children," he said.
Mr Cummins said the Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast had been
established in 2002 to help develop a cluster of technology
businesses on the Sunshine Coast and attract new businesses to the
region.
"The region is growing rapidly so it is important to provide
facilities to meet the needs of progressive industries like ICT
that will provide residents with quality jobs in the future. "
Innovation Centre CEO Colin Graham said key sectors are already
expressing interest.
"The Innovation Centre Business Accelerator is already
generating significant interest from businesses in three key
sectors - IT, health and sports technology; and in sustainable
development or environmental technologies.
"The Innovation Centre Business Accelerator will provide next
stage office space for business outgrowing the IC Business
Incubator as well as businesses moving directly into the purpose
built facility.
"We have a strong flow of enquiries of businesses from SE
Queensland and a number of interstate businesses attracted by the
Sunshine Coast location and lifestyle - which they believe will
help them attract talented professional staff - by our proximity to
Brisbane and its international airport; excellent broadband
connectivity - with significant support from Telstra Country Wide -
and by the opportunity to collaborate with the University of the
Sunshine Coast - Australia's fastest growing university."
Construction of the Innovation Centre Business Accelerator will
begin by the end of the year and open in early 2007. Expressions of
interest from businesses are now being invited.