Innovation agenda as Prime Minister visits Western Sydney University
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Vice-Chancellor Barney Glover
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has met with education, government and business leaders at Western Sydney University as part of a roundtable to discuss unlocking the region's potential by generating new jobs in innovation-driven industries.
Hosted at the Werrington Park Corporate Centre (opens in a new window) at the University's Penrith campus, the Prime Minister was joined by Christopher Pyne, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science; Wyatt Roy, Assistant Minister for Innovation; Karen Andrews, Assistant Minister for Science; Arthur Sinodinos, Cabinet Secretary; and Fiona Scott MP, Federal Member for Lindsay.
They were met by Vice-Chancellor, Professor Barney Glover, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development) Professor Scott Holmes, who both took part in the roundtable.
Bringing together business, government and academic leaders, the discussion focussed on ways to invest in research, skills training and business support to supercharge Australia's economy in the digital age.
During the visit, Mr Turnbull toured the University's LAUNCH PAD (opens in a new window) initiative at the Werrington Park Corporate Centre, where he met with a number of Western Sydney's budding entrepreneurs who are receiving support to develop their innovative new businesses.
The LAUNCH PAD Smart Business Centres are business incubators bringing together government, corporate and university experts to provide mentorship and support to early stage businesses in Western Sydney.
Professor Glover says start-ups are the drivers of Australia's new knowledge economy.
"As one of Australia's fastest growing regions, Western Sydney has the entrepreneurial spirit and capacity to become a global technology hub, able to drive new industries and create much-needed new jobs to replace traditional industries," he says.
"Our LAUNCH PAD initiative is a great example of how corporate and government support can help local start-ups make the leap from great idea to commercial success."
Western Sydney University is developing LAUNCH PAD business incubators across Western Sydney in Penrith, Parramatta, Liverpool, and Oran Park.
Ends
16 October 2015
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