SA's innovation hub taking expressions of interest

Expressions of interest have now opened for a new innovation hub in South Australia.

As part of the state government’s transformation of the former Royal Adelaide Hospital site into Lot Fourteen, the hub will feature up to 650 workspaces as well as conference rooms, event facilities and meeting spaces designed to promote collaboration.

Minister for Industry and Skills David Pisoni said the establishment of the hub is part of the plan to make South Australia the nation’s start-up capital.

“The Marshall Liberal Government went to the March election with a clear vision for the site, and now we are preparing for the first entrepreneurs to work and share their ideas at Lot Fourteen,” he said.

“Another election promise has been delivered, with the hub becoming the headquarters for South Australia’s first Chief Entrepreneur, Mr Jim Whalley.

“The Office of the Chief Entrepreneur will operate from the hub, complementing a unique concierge service connecting businesses with the most relevant services, from patent to business registration advice.

“South Australians already have the imagination and initiative to succeed, Lot Fourteen will provide a supportive space to bring their ideas to market and support them with access to meaningful scale and high-value customers without leaving the state.”

The hub will accommodate business ventures and entrepreneurs by providing an environment that stimulates competitive advantage to grow a strong business rapidly.

“We are inviting co-working incubator and accelerator operators with a strong track record of supporting start-ups to express their interest in developing the culture of the hub as anchor tenants,” said Pisoni.

“Importantly, we are also calling upon the innovators of our businesses community — including start-up and scale-up businesses, accelerators and professional service providers — to express their interest in leasing space or providing services at the hub.”

The expression of interest process itself is designed to provide a privately led and commercially operated hub, as recommended through extensive research and industry engagement. Experienced private co-working incubator and accelerator operators bring the culture and knowledge to accelerate the path to market for start-ups, helping entrepreneurs tap into and commercialise their creative flare to solve problems.

“True success is less about picking winners than providing the essential conditions for entrepreneurs to thrive,” said Pisoni.

Chief Entrepreneur Jim Whalley agreed, saying that his new role is to create a positive environment where new enterprises not only ‘start-up’, but thrive.

“South Australians are already innovative, but we have a fundamental issue in turning innovation into business,” he said.

“Entrepreneurs should be celebrated as the heroes of our community. They have the courage to take risks, to create the future and make mistakes along the way. We need to inspire more people to embark on this journey.”

Information sessions and site tours will be held on Monday, 17 September and Monday, 24 September. To attend, or learn more about the expression of interest process, or to complete the expression of interest form, visit www.industryandskills.sa.gov.au/eoi.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/chones

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