Western Australian Innovation Minister, Bill Marmion, launched the Innovation Worth Sharing branding, and online WA Innovation hub yesterday.
This hub and branding is part of the $20 million state innovation package, announced in May this year, by Premier and Science Minister, Colin Barnett.
The package seeks to position Western Australia as a regional innovation hub, and foster industry growth via the following initiatives in partnership with stakeholders:
- Undertake international marketing and promotion for Western Australian innovation initiatives, attracting and retaining talent into WA
- Facilitate enhanced collaboration between businesses, universities and the research sector to see the commercialisation of ideas and solve problems
- Lead by example in the way Government invests in and uses technology and data to deliver better quality services
“This hub showcases the real stories of start-ups and businesses while informing and connecting aspiring innovators to the broader innovation ecosystem,” Mr Marmion said.
“It’s a place where potential investors, both local and international, can visit to identify new business opportunities.
“Innovation is about new ideas and new jobs that benefit West Australians, not just in new industries but also in existing industries; finding ways to re-tool and re-engineer the way we perform tasks, create products and deliver services.
“The hub facilitates that process by bringing people together to share ideas and information, learn and ultimately benefit the whole community by expanding our economy.”
The second stage of the hub will be released in early 2017, forming an online marketplace where innovators are invited to help solve problems in government and other organisations by contributing solutions to a shared collaborative platform.
The hub will be underpinned by the new innovation brand Innovation Worth Sharing, which will promote WA innovation both domestically and internationally.
“There are many business success stories across our state, and the innovation hub aim to increase community awareness about innovation, letting them know how they can get involved and providing an understanding of how they can benefit,” the Minister said.
“It’s also about promoting WA innovation internationally – to attract greater investment and interest in our vibrant innovation space.”
See our article on the WA Innovation Summit, which was held in July.
