A collaborative regional project developing a “virtual innovation incubator” for the Hunter region is being established.

 

The Regional Incubator aims to accelerate the successful development of start-up and fledgling companies, as well as more established innovative businesses or those wishing to become more innovative, by proving entrepreneurs with a wide array of targeted resources and services.

 

The lead organiser is Hunter Founders Forum Ltd, with an impressive list of financial supporters which includes the City of Newcastle, the University of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie City Council, NSW Department of Industry, Newcastle Now, Hunter New England Local Health District and CSIRO.

 

This is further backed by a group of supporters including Hunter Angels, Slingshot, DiGiT, TAFE NSW, the Lunaticks Society, the Business Centre, eighteen04 and the AiGroup.

The Regional Incubator is reaching an important milestones with an Expert in Residence (EIR) application being submitted with AusIndustry.

 

The Regional Incubator is set to officially launch in early 2018 based on recommendations by the EIR.

A lead-in regional incubator pilot program launched on 18 April. The current list of local innovators, entrepreneurs and businesses involved in the program includes Elite Robotics, itsFOUND, Corridor Insights, Andrew Clark / Melissa Kilkelly, Blue Tail, Henry Harding, Eduardo Estrada / Manish Agarwal, ScrubIT App, Rescue Pod, Obelisk Systems, Optim Controls, The Cipher Set, New England Trading and Mobito.