Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has today announced a blueprint for Queensland’s future to drive jobs growth and solve some of the state’s largest challenges through innovation.
The release of the Building our Innnovation Economy – Advance Queensland Strategy coincides with global innovation festival ‘QODE’ being held in Brisbane.
“Our $650 million Advance Queensland fund is paying dividends,” the Premier said in Parliament today.
“Now we take the next step with the Building our Innovation Economy—Advance Queensland Strategy.
“When we started Advance Queensland we recognised innovation as the vital economic driver that it is.
“Today 19.7 per cent of Australian start-up founders are located in Queensland—more than Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia.
“We have successfully completed the start-up phase. The next step is to scale up, and that is what this strategy is all about.”
Innovation Minister Kate Jones said the Building our Innovation Economy – Advance Queensland Strategy, was developed in close consultation with some of the state’s leading innovators, entrepreneurs, academics and business identities.
“This strategy will transform Queensland’s economy,” she said.
“It gives us a blueprint to embrace advances in technology and use these to our advantage to create sustainable jobs growth and solve some of the biggest challenges facing our state in the future.
“Over the last four years our Advance Queensland agenda has delivered for our economy – supporting more than 4450 innovators to create 14,800 new jobs.
“But we recognise we must change our focus to remain ahead of the curve and solve challenges that matter to Queenslanders like saving the Great Barrier Reef, energy and water sustainability and healthcare.
“Research by CSIRO’s Data61 has shown that if we successfully embrace innovation Queensland’s economy will be well placed to create one million jobs by 2038.”
Building our Innovation Economy – Advance Queensland Strategy outlines five priorities to shape the next phase of Advance Queensland – back our strengths, solve big challenges, build innovation in our regions, scale-up innovation and new skills and new jobs.
“The Newman Government cut millions of dollars from the science and technology budget and last year we saw the LNP Federal Government get rid of the innovation portfolio entirely,” Ms Jones said.
“This is in stark contrast to the Palaszczuk Government. We’re committed to investing in innovation to create the jobs of the future in Queensland.”
Queensland’s Chief Entrepreneur Leanne Kemp said the draft strategy reflects rapid changes to technology, jobs and business.
“New technologies and ways of thinking are creating opportunities for industries to leverage their existing competitive strengths and make significant improvements in their operations,” Ms Kemp said.
“This technology and thinking is driving the creation of new ways of doing business, of working and of partnering with like-minded organisations to achieve shared visions.
“The Building our Innovation Economy – Advance Queensland Strategy captures how we will harness this new way of working and opportunities for economic growth across the state.”
Following public consultation, the final strategy will be released later in 2019. To have your say on the Building our Innovation Economy – Advance Queensland Strategy, visit the Advance Queensland website.
