- Thirteen innovation precincts and places will share in more than $4 million in funding from the Miles Government’s Queensland Innovation Precincts and Places Fund.
- The funding will help grow the precincts and places themselves and, by doing so, Queensland’s wider innovation ecosystem.
- The government is investing $15 million over three years through the Precincts and Places Fund to drive innovative and create good jobs.
Thirteen innovation precincts and places will share in more than $4 million in funding to drive growth and create more good jobs in Queensland’s innovation sector.
Innovation Minister Leanne Linard today announced the successful recipients in the inaugural funding round of the $15 million Queensland Innovation Precincts and Places Fund.
The Underwood Innovation Precinct will receive funding to support the development of a South East Queensland-based National Drone Centre of Excellence. The centre will help drive high value jobs in drone-related businesses, including defence, aerospace manufacturing, aviation management, and transport and logistics.
The Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct will use its funding to develop and grow businesses that will form the heart of new and exciting tech industries on the Gold Coast, including sports tech, creating new jobs and business opportunities in the future economy.
Cairns-based Launch Y(E)P will receive almost $1.3 million for two projects, including an upgrade of its facilities with state-of-the-art digital infrastructure to provide an enhanced space for collaboration among Far North Queensland innovators.
Queensland’s network of innovation precincts and places bring together business, industry and researchers to identify and develop new ideas, create new technologies and then look to commercialise them.
The Innovation Precincts and Places Fund was established to bolster technology innovation, boost productivity and stimulate competitiveness in Queensland’s innovation ecosystem.
Innovation is essential to Queensland’s economic future, with the Miles Government’s investments ensuring the state is a leader in the continued technological advances such as artificial intelligence, robotics, immersive technology, and new medical breakthroughs.
Quotes attributable to Innovation Minister, Leanne Linard:
“Innovation precincts and places are recognised around the world as engine rooms of economic growth and job creation and the Miles Government is proud to support them through our Queensland Innovation Precincts and Places Fund.
“Queensland has some of the world’s best in research, universities, manufacturing and tech, and we have a plan to see this sector thrive.
“Now it’s time to super charge our precincts and places and put them at the heart of accelerating Queensland’s innovation economy.
“These funds will help existing and emerging precincts get the strategic advice they need in the areas that matter to help create high-value jobs and drive Queensland’s innovation economy.
“We are supporting our innovation precincts and places across the state to bring businesses, entrepreneurs, researchers and investors together to discover and commercialise innovative solutions to market opportunities.”
Quotes attributable to Tara Diversi, Launch Y(E)P recipient:
“Advance Queensland Innovation Precincts and Places funding allows us to engage world-class local consultants in First Nations engagement, investment and partnerships.
“This will help us to build inclusiveness, sustainability and global competitiveness into our vibrant Tropical North Queensland innovation ecosystem.
“Launch Y(E)P will work with local contractors to transform our premises into a fit-for-purpose, modern innovation precinct.
“The TNQ precinct will be a place where startups, founders and supporting organisations have the space and support to start, do and grow their businesses, to run events and to collaborate among themselves and with other like-minded companies in other parts of the state through the use of state-of-the-art digital infrastructure.
“The Advance Queensland Innovation Precincts and Places Fund is a fantastic economic initiative, demonstrating true investment and value in the role that regional innovation ecosystems play in Queensland’s economic future.”
