State Treasurer announces $250k funding for Innovation Centre

11-Aug-2011 The Innovation Centre played host to a visit by the Hon. Andrew Fraser MP, Queensland Treasurer and Minister for State Development and Trade who announced a funding boost of $250,000 over the next two years.

The continued support from the Queensland Government enables the Innovation Centre to continue their work attracting and developing new businesses in the Sunshine Coast region.

“Eighty local businesses got their first start through the ICSC business incubator resulting in more than 300 local jobs and $23.8 million in capital investment,” Mr Fraser said.

“We expect that we’ll see many more businesses achieve similar success with this funding boost of $250,000 over two years.

“ICSC’s work is vital to building a local knowledge hub to diversify the local economy from traditional sectors of tourism, hospitality and retail.”

Innovation Centre CEO Colin Graham said this investment is a vote of confidence in the positive role the Innovation Centre plays in the creation of high value jobs in knowledge-based businesses on the Sunshine Coast.

“We have built a strong hub around the future-focused industries of ICT, clean and health technologies and the creative industries, with a focus on the Knowledge Precinct developing around the University of the Sunshine Coast at Sippy Downs” Mr Graham said.

Since 2002, The Queensland Government has provided $1.625 million toward the ICSC, which is part of the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Over the next two years ICSC is forecast to deliver business development support to a further 20 clients, create at least 60 high level jobs and help develop a dynamic business network through more than 30 workshops and seminars.

---