Sunshine Coast Deputy Mayor Tim Dwyer and 10 business leaders from the region will embark on a mission to Boulder, Colorado to connect with key entrepreneurs to future proof the Sunshine Coast workforce.
The trip, which follows council’s participation at the March 2018 StartUp Catalyst Mission to Boulder, will provide a greater understanding of the trends influencing the skill set required for our future workforce.
The 10 business leaders from Sunshine Coast’s technology, innovation, health and education high-value industries will join the Deputy Mayor on the six-day mission which supports the Regional Economic Development Strategy’s local-to-global pathway and will aim to secure new programs, businesses and education opportunities for the region.
Cr Dwyer said this mission would showcase the potential of our healthy, smart, creative region.
“The international broadband submarine cable, which is set to be in operation in 2020, has the potential to deliver up to $927 million in new investment into Queensland with a significant chunk of that into the Sunshine Coast,” Cr Dwyer said.
“The cable is a significant asset and one that must be capitalised on by both the domestic and international business community.
Cr Dwyer said strong partnerships have started between the regions, as evidenced by the fact SunRamp Australasia, an offshoot of Colorado-based CableLabs will launch a program on the Sunshine Coast this year which will find, support and accelerate early-stage technology businesses.
“Colorado is very similar to the Sunshine Coast. It has a growing technology community and one we can gain much insight from as we navigate the rapidly changing digital landscape,” Cr Dwyer said.
“In addition to the business meetings, I will also meet with key organisations and government representatives in Denver and Boulder to explore a potential relationship between Boulder and Sunshine Coast local government authorities.
“This will provide us with a greater understanding of the Boulder innovation ecosystem and enable us to collaborate on projects that will support innovation and entrepreneurship here on the Sunshine Coast.
Organisations the Sunshine Coast delegation will meet with include angel investing group, the Rockies Venture Club, CableLabs, Colorado University, Galvanize and Boomtown.
