A $1 million program to boost jobs and local business opportunities in the Redland and Logan region through new innovation hubs and education centres.
Minister for Innovation Leeanne Enoch today (Thursday) said the government will support the project led by the Redland City Council with funding of $500,000 over three years through its $6 million Advancing Regional Innovation Program (ARIP).
Ms Enoch said 11 ARIP partners, including Logan City Council, Griffith University, Little Tokyo 2 innovation hub, and the Redland City Chamber of Commerce will match the state’s funding.
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“The Redland and Logan ARIP has a robust, multipronged approach to fostering business growth that includes the establishment of innovation hubs and a series of innovation summits and entrepreneurial events,” Ms Enoch said.
Member for Woodridge Cameron Dick said the establishment of innovation spaces across the region, including the Griffith University Logan campus, would bring together students, community and industry partners and provide local startups and entrepreneurs with resources, networks and mentors.
“The Advancing Regional Innovation Program will foster innovative mindsets in local school students enabling the next generation of business leaders in this region to develop the ideas and abilities needed to ride the innovation wave,” Mr Dick said.
Member for Springwood Mick de Brenni said the collaborative program was an important opportunity for the region.
“There are innovative local businesses doing great things in both Logan and the Redlands and this program will be a catalyst to strengthen local opportunities for our community to fully participate in the jobs of the future,” Mr de Brenni said.
Member for Logan Linus Power welcomed today’s announcement. “Logan has fantastic innovators and this program gives them the support they need,” he said.
Member for Capalaba Don Brown said: “It’s wonderful to be fostering innovation throughout Redlands and supporting the growth and employment opportunities that it will provide.”
Redland and Logan ARIP coordinator Frank Pearce said he was looking forward to working with other partners to “develop a suite of programs that engage a broad spectrum of our local communities in innovation activities that will provide lasting benefit”.
“We are particularly excited about deepening our links into the local education community, giving local young people pathways into digital futures,” Mr Pearce said.
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said innovation was at the core of Redland City Council’s service delivery, with smart cities and digital connectivity a strategic priority.
“The Redlands is looking to become a nursery for innovation and this partnership will help grow our local innovation sector,” she said.
“By collaborating with Logan, innovative businesses and the State Government, it will ensure our local innovators are well placed to grow their ideas, as well as their business networks.”
Redland City Chamber of Commerce President Lynne Sturgess said the chamber’s mission was to make Redlands the best place to do business in Queensland.
“The ARIP grant will provide not only funding, but also incentive for multiple organisations in Redlands and Logan to work together to generate a culture of innovation within the region,” Ms Sturgess said.
Logan Mayor Luke Smith welcomed the announcement and said it built on the City of Logan’s intent to become an innovative, dynamic city of the future and enabled the council to work collaboratively with Redland City Council, Griffith University and private investors to strengthen the local knowledge economy and create jobs.
“Establishing innovation spaces across our region will bring together students, community, and industry who can sit outside of bureaucracy and find solutions to problems,” Mayor Smith said.
“The possibilities for start-ups will be endless with access to resources, networks, education, and mentors.”
Griffith University Pro-Vice Chancellor Linda O’Brien said the project was a great opportunity for the region.
“We know success comes from challenging the norm, from adapting and innovating, from creating new trends and pioneering solutions,” Ms O’Brien said.
“I am absolutely delighted to be working with such great partners to advance Queensland by harnessing innovation to diversify the economy and create jobs.”
Under ARIP, the Palaszczuk Government is providing matched funding up to $500,000 to 12 regions: Redland and Logan, Far North Queensland, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, North Queensland, Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday, Fitzroy, Outback Queensland, Wide Bay Burnett, Darling Downs and Maranoa, Moreton Bay and Ipswich and West Moreton.
Visit the Advancing Regional Innovation Program for more details on ARIP, or contact Frank Pearce on 0427 646 776 or [email protected]
This media release was issued by Minister for Innovation Leeanne Enoch
