Bunbury MLA Don Punch, ECU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Regional Futures) & Vice-President, Professor Cobie Rudd and Innovation and ICT Minister Stephen Dawson at the launch of WACTIH at ECU South West\'s Bunbury campus
The State's first ever Creative Tech Innovation Hub will be established by Edith Cowan University South West in Bunbury city.
The WA Creative Tech Innovation Hub (WACTIH) will be the recipient of $1.2 million in funding from the McGowan Government over the next 4 years.
The boost of support for regional creative enterprises was announced as a contribution towards a future WA, by Innovation and ICT Minister Stephen Dawson at the ECU South West Bunbury campus on Thursday.
The new hub is to be funded through the State’s $16.7 million New Industries Fund and will assist in accelerating the development of the creative technologies industry and developing industry STEM skills to embrace the technological future.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Regional Futures) & Vice-President, Edith Cowan University, Professor Cobie Rudd said the WACTIH will see Edith Cowan University collaborate with the State Government, City of Bunbury and industry to help stimulate WA’s emerging creative and immersive technology industry and grow a future ready workforce in Western Australia and its regions.
"The hub will focus on multiple creative digital industries including, gaming, experiential and immersive technology, software development, product design, advertising, film and media," said Professor Rudd.
"The WACTIH will help entrepreneurs and innovators, businesses and creative enterprises grow by linking research and education in the use of digital and immersive technologies."
Innovation and ICT Minister Stephen Dawson said that the purpose of the McGowan Government's New Industries Fund was to support and accelerate WA's innovative start-ups, emerging businesses, and small and medium enterprises to diversify local and regional economies and create jobs and industries.
"Today's announcement of the Creative Technology Innovation Hub is a boost not only for creative tech enterprises across the State, but a vote of confidence in our regional innovators," said Minister Dawson.
"The hub is set to drive economic value in the regions through business and skills transformation for increased, long-term advantage.
"Through the new hub, the McGowan Government aims to expand the State's presence in the global digital supply chain of services, content and code."
The WACTIH will help drive regional development by creating new research opportunities in the regions and utilising businesses' ability to operate successfully in distributed networks.
Bunbury MLA Don Punch said he was thrilled to see the State’s first Creative Tech Innovation Hub in Bunbury, which was now proudly home to hundreds of digital and creative businesses and innovators.
WACTIH will join the State's established innovation hubs in life sciences, data science and cyber security to build capability and capacity to diversify the economy, leverage new commercial opportunities and create jobs.
