Unlocking the jobs of tomorrow by supporting the entrepreneurs of today is the focus of a $1 million program launched at Fire Station 101.
Mayor Andrew Antoniolli welcomed the move as further progress towards making Ipswich Australia’s most prosperous and liveable Smart City.
“To do this we will focus on jobs, growth and liveability,” he said.
“We have been working with all levels of government and the education sector to upskill our community. This is already happening through our highly successful innovation and accelerator hub Fire Station 101.
“The Advancing Regional Innovation Program (ARIP) partnering government, education and business sectors, brings together a wide variety of experience and skills to help young entrepreneurs develop further.
“There will be new jobs and a new lifestyle through innovation. We will be left behind if we do not evolve.”
The dual focus on high school entrepreneurs and a strong industry engagement with 10 sector-specific accelerator programs will tap into new opportunities for economic outcomes.
The program builds on existing investments in innovation to attract new investment opportunities for practical outcomes.
We are not only creating new entrepreneurs, but building a sustainable innovation ecosystem across Ipswich and West Moreton.”
Minister for Innovation Leeanne Enoch said the program would focus on a two-pronged approach of targeting student entrepreneurs and fostering strong industry engagement.
“The economy is changing and we have had a lot of diversity very quickly. Doing nothing is not an option. Innovation is about readjusting and changing our focus,” she said.
“We will soon see very different jobs requiring very different skills. Jobs are changing but they are certainly not disappearing. This program will ensure future jobs growth for the region.
“The government will support the collaborative project led by Ipswich City Council with funding of $500,000 over three years. That amount will be matched by council and nine collaborative partners.”
Ipswich Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Phillip Bell said the local economy was strong and growing quickly, with businesses eager to turn ideas into commercial outcomes.
“School leavers, innovators and entrepreneurs in our region are simply finding new ways of doing things, and new markets and techniques for ‘makers’, ‘thinkers’ and ‘producers’ are the outcomes the investment in innovation and entrepreneurship is returning,” he said.
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