16 November 2015
Business growth, and driving innovation and entrepreneurship in South Australia is the focus of the new Innovation and Collaboration Centre (ICC), being launched today at the University of South Australia.
A strategic partnership between UniSA, the Government of South Australia and anchor industry partner Hewlett Packard Enterprise, the ICC is set to help business and industry turn their ideas into market success, building on South Australia’s growing reputation as the state for innovation and enterprise.
By leveraging world class Hewlett Packard Enterprise and UniSA expertise in business growth, creative thinking, commercialisation, and technology, the ICC will support the life cycle from idea/startup to growth and expansion for businesses and industry organisations.
The Centre will provide a unique multidisciplinary environment where SME’s and entrepreneurs can access a wide range of services and expertise to help them develop their products and grow their business.
These services include business management, strategy and marketing (UniSA Business School), business growth (Centre for Business Growth), commercialisation (UniSA Ventures), digital video marketing (Centre for Digital Video Intelligence), design (Match Studio) and technology (HPE and UniSA IT).
The ICC will also run technology and innovation-based business support programs, start-up workshops for individuals and groups, and workshops designed to meet the needs of small-to-medium-sized businesses. These tailored events, along with business model evaluation and business development diagnostic clinics, will help those businesses learn how to address challenges and achieve growth.
UniSA Vice Chancellor, Professor David Lloyd, says the ICC is set to become a commercialisation pipeline for new innovations, creating opportunities to help South Australian businesses flourish.
“The ICC is built on a strategic partnership which will see business benefit from UniSA’s knowledge in business growth and commercialisation, combined with Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s technological expertise and the support of the South Australian Government,” Prof Lloyd says.
“It’s a partnership which champions the growth of SA’s business sector through a collaborative, dynamic and supportive environment, and it’s one which will help educate the professionals of tomorrow, as our students will be able to generate their business ideas and utilise the resources of the Centre.”
Premier Jay Weatherill said the government was proud to support the collaboration between The University of South Australia and Hewlett Packard Enterprise.
"Innovation is key to transforming the State’s economy and our vision is to position South Australia globally as a start-up destination,” Mr Weatherill said.
“The Innovation and Collaboration Centre will be an incubator for businesses wanting to explore new ideas and it will provide world-class resources and support to accelerate the growth of start-ups, small businesses and student entrepreneurs.”
Hewlett Packard Enterprise, South Pacific Managing Director Nick Wilson says he is thrilled with the partnership.
“Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s role in establishing the centre is a direct reflection of our dedication to enabling innovation that transforms industries, markets and lives,” Mr Wilson says.
“Investing more in Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics is vital for the economic future of our region, and will help to strengthen relationships between industry, the public sector and the higher education sector.”
The ICC will initially be based at City West campus prior to relocating to UniSA’s Health Innovation Building, part of the South Australian Health and Biomedical Precinct on North Terrace, due for completion in 2018.
Media contact: Will Venn office (08) 8302 0096 / 0401 366 054 email will.venn@unisa.edu.au.
Manager, Innovation and Collaboration Centre:
Jasmine Vreugdenburg office (08) 8302 0927 email jasmine.vreugdenburg@unisa.edu.au
