Is Canberra Australia's next big start-up hub?
Canberra hasn’t exactly always had a reputation as the liveliest place in Australia. Important? Definitely – after all, it is the nation’s capital city, home to the Prime Minister and various sites of historical and cultural significance. However, in the past, some might say it has lacked the edge of Melbourne and Sydney.
However, Canberra has upped its game in the last few years. It came in at third position on Lonely Planet’s hottest cities to visit in 2017 list and has developed a thriving community for start-ups, entrepreneurs and co-working. It’s official. Canberra is cool.
Some impressive start-ups have sprung out of Canberra in recent years. Skoolbo with literacy and numeracy software, Beta Therapeutics for the control of diabetes and inflammatory diseases, and CSIRO-backed The Healthy Grain.
The Canberra Innovation Network is largely responsible for this transition. By providing prospective entrepreneurs with access to programs like the Griffin Accelerator and KILN Incubator, the CIN is harnessing the potential of Canberra’s creative workforce and creating opportunities for businesses to grow and thrive.
The blossoming of co-working spaces has also been important in creating physical locations for the city’s start-up community. Entry 29, Good Work Canberra, Wotso Workspace and Brainspace have helped developed a buzzing network of entrepreneurs and creatives.
While South Australia has made headlines in recent times for Elon Musk’s gigantic lithium ion battery, it was Canberra that successfully trialled a virtual power plant comprised of residential batteries and demand management in March. The system is predicted to “account for around 36 megawatts, or five per cent, of Canberra’s total peak load”.
Sydney and Melbourne may hold 35 per cent and 14 per cent of Australian start-ups respectively, but Canberra’s ascension in this sector appears likely to continue in the coming years.
The Canberra Innovation Network will host and present at the Canberra ACS Seminar, covering a range of topics including entrepreneurship, start-ups and innovation. They will be around to answer any questions you may have.
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