Page 677 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 17 March 2015
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benefiting from having specialist undergraduates working for them while the undergraduates learn about innovation in business. Additionally, the Digital Canberra challenge is connecting ACT government staff with innovative small and medium-size enterprises to develop real solutions to ACT government service delivery challenges and to drive more effective service to citizens. We have also made significant progress in driving the acceleration of innovation and entrepreneurship within the territory economy.
Following consultation with the key stakeholders, I announced in March last year the establishment of the CBR Innovation Network to drive the innovation and diversification of the territory’s economy. The network is now operational as a not-for-profit company. Mr Tony Henshaw, the first chair of the new Canberra Business Chamber and chair of the Digital Canberra challenge, has been appointed chair of the network. Dr Sarah Pearson, formerly the CEO of ANU Enterprise, has taken on the role of CEO of the new network. The ANU, NICTA, CSIRO, University of Canberra and the University of New South Wales Canberra have all signed on as foundation members and have agreed to contribute $50,000 per annum to be members of the network. This is a first for Australia, and it makes the ACT the leader in innovation policy and program delivery in Australia.
The network now has a physical presence in Moore Street, in the city, premises that the ACT government has provided to the network at a peppercorn rental for the first two years. The new premises are home to the network, a new location for the Entry 29 co-working space, a home for the GRIFFIN accelerator and will soon host a best practice incubator for potential high growth companies. The establishment of the network is of fundamental importance to the future of the territory’s economy and represents my government’s new approach to innovation and jobs growth. It is a unique ACT response to unique ACT factors. It has the full support of stakeholders and builds on the ACT government’s ongoing efforts to drive innovation in the city.
The vision for the network is to link businesses and entrepreneurs to accelerate innovation and growth to maximise wealth creation. To achieve this, the network will develop strong links across participants, identify gaps and develop strategies for the innovation ecosystem. It has contracted the provision of the Canberra BusinessPoint service to the Canberra Business Chamber and, in the medium term, will review the mix of services and the delivery of them to maximise the growth of entrepreneurial wealth-creating companies for our city. And, while the network will have a key role in ensuring that services are available for innovative firms to grow, it will not only be a service provider; it will also have a key role in developing the ACT’s innovation ecosystem.
It is already developing a reputation as the principal proponent of a new approach to accelerating innovation in the territory. It will be the go-to point for developing the innovation ecosystem in Canberra and will clearly articulate to the government new and different approaches, broader than simply advising on program delivery options. It will provide policy grunt as well as practical implementation advice.
The territory government and the foundation members have committed to the network for an initial period of five years. During this time the network will become a leader in
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