Microsoft recently launched the Queensland Microsoft Innovation Centre (QMIC), which focuses on accelerating the growth of small to medium enterprises, start-ups and student entrepreneurs by supporting Queensland-based software ecosystems.
“Microsoft is committed to promoting jobs, innovation and growth. The launch of the Queensland Microsoft Innovation Centre will help bridge some of the current gaps for start-ups in their journey to success by equipping and inspiring them to innovate,” said Sharon Schoenborn, State Director – QLD, NT, and Pacific Islands,
Microsoft Australia.
The goals of QMIC include:
• Growing the start-up sector, independent software
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Microsoft recently launched the Queensland Microsoft Innovation Centre (QMIC), which focuses on accelerating the growth of small to medium enterprises, start-ups and student entrepreneurs by supporting Queensland-based software ecosystems.
“Microsoft is committed to promoting jobs, innovation and growth. The launch of the Queensland Microsoft Innovation Centre will help bridge some of the current gaps for start-ups in their journey to success by equipping and inspiring them to innovate,” said Sharon Schoenborn, State Director – QLD, NT, and Pacific Islands,
Microsoft Australia.
The goals of QMIC include:
• Growing the start-up sector, independent software vendors (ISV’s), entrepreneurs;
• Assisting in the establishment of 100 start-ups alongside our industry partners over three years;
• Working alongside our industry partners to provide the elements required to develop a successful start-up;
• Extending reach into regional QLD to assist in establishing start-ups and to leverage the National Broadband Network (NBN);
• Creating up to 200 jobs for Queensland companies during the three year program;
• Supporting and equipping businesses that enable growth through commercial success or acquisition;
• Operating as Queensland’s hub to strengthen the local software ecosystem networks; and
• Positioning Queensland as a flagship state for innovation in productivity.
"Innovation in technology is what will drive Queensland’s success as a global competitor. Young technology start-ups are the engine room of innovation and are critical to a healthy technology ecosystem. For too long, young Queensland innovation has been the ‘quiet achiever’. This initiative will have a real and long-lasting impact,” declared Maree Adshead, Queensland Chair of
Australian Information Industries Association, and co-founder of a young, award-winning tech start-up in Brisbane.
QMIC was launched in partnership with Microsoft’s network of investment, accelerator and incubation partners in Queensland and Australia. Launch partners include
Lean Market Research,
QUT Innovation Space,
IdeaNetwork, River City Labs, Sales Monkey and Australian Capital Investment.
Colin Kinner is Innovation Evangelist at River City Labs, a startup co-working space in Fortitude Valley, and Managing Director of Spike Innovation, a specialist advisor to startups and government in the technology sector. Excited by the QMIC launch, he said, "The innovation ecosystem in Queensland will only flourish if there is a blend of technology expertise, commercial guidance and early stage capital. I'm looking forward to seeing Microsoft leverage its global network to help the next batch of local entrepreneurs make it on the world stage.”
The Innovation Center builds on Microsoft’s
BizSpark Program in Australia, with the Queensland centre becoming its hub. The QMIC is another milestone in Microsoft’s ongoing mission to supporting innovation in Australia, in conjunction with other initiatives like the
BizSpark Plus program, which includes the following partners:
Angel Cube,
Blue Chilli,
Fishburners, Founders Institute,
Push Start,
StartPad,
Start Mate, Startup Weekend and
York Butter Factory.
Microsoft’s Schoenborn concluded, “The centre will act as a hub of innovation for start-up’s, partners, developers and students to exchange ideas, build on each other’s strengths and translate those assets into greater business success.”