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Treasurer pledges funds for Innovation Centre
Queensland Treasurer and Minister for State Development Andrew Fraser visited the University of the Sunshine Coast yesterday to announce continued funding for USC’s successful Innovation Centre.
The Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast (ICSC) comprises a Business Incubator and Business Accelerator which support the start-up and growth of innovative businesses on the Sunshine Coast.
It currently has 33 client businesses, 22 of which are based at the ICSC at Sippy Downs employing 160 staff. These knowledge-based firms are from a range of fields including information, communication, creativity, health and clean energies.
Mr Fraser said the Queensland Government had provided $1.625 million towards the Innovation Centre since it first opened in 2002.
He said he was pleased to announce further funding of $250,000 over the next two years to help the ICSC provide a supportive environment for fledgling high-tech companies and significantly increase their chances of long-term success.
“Eighty local businesses got their first start through the ICSC business incubator, resulting in more than 300 local jobs and $23.8 million in capital investment,” Mr Fraser said.
“ICSC’s work is vital to building a local knowledge hub to diversify the local economy from traditional sectors of tourism, hospitality and retail.”
USC’s Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Birgit Lohmann and Innovation Centre CEO Colin Graham welcomed the Treasurer to campus and thanked him for the government’s continued support.
As well as the Business Incubator and Business Accelerator, the ICSC provides an extensive program of events to inspire and inform business professionals in the region. These include the popular Enterprise Tuesday events and Boardroom Briefings.
USC students and graduates can gain valuable work experience with businesses based at the Innovation Centre and budding student or graduate entrepreneurs can also access mentoring and networking opportunities at the ICSC, which also assists in the provision of a minor in Entrepreneurship at the University.
— Terry Walsh