Queensland Minister for Innovation Leeanne Enoch

Queensland Revving Up As The ‘Startup’ State Of Origin

Victor P Taffa

Queensland is kicking goals towards becoming the ‘entrepreneurial’ State of Origin as it continues to attract successful New South Wales’ companies to Queensland.

Innovation Minister Leeanne Enoch said as the battlelines are drawn for tonight’s State of Origin decider, Queensland is also staking its claim as Australia’s Startup State.

“Queensland is the place to be for entrepreneurs. Interstate rivals recognise we’re harnessing amazing ideas, connecting people and supporting jobs. Queensland is where they need to be if they want to achieve their dreams.” Ms. Enoch said.

“With the Palaszczuk Government’s $420 Million Advance Queensland initiative businesses, large and small, are moving to Queensland for improved opportunities and I’m going to call it! We are cementing our claim as the Startup State our own State of Origin battle.”

Australian Bureau of Statistics data for 2015-16 shows that Brisbane has recorded the highest number of internal migration to an Australian capital city, with Sydney the second largest source of migration to Brisbane.

Ms. Enoch said some of those figures included New South Wales companies that were moving to Queensland and creating job opportunities for Queenslanders.

Former Sydney engineer Peter Ward is among those taking advantage of Queensland’s innovation movement.

Founder of OpenRevs, an electrical motorcycle manufacturing business, Peter left his job as an engineer at the Centre of Excellence for Autonomous Systems at the University of Technology in Sydney to permanently relocate OpenRevs to Brisbane.

OpenRevs aims to produce electric motorcycles of a sustainable design, are affordable, and are an enjoyable means of transport for a wide range of consumers.

Peter, inspired to relocate OpenRevs to Queensland to benefit from the rich entrepreneurial culture, was awarded Advance Queensland Hot DesQ funding to kick-start the business.

“Innovation ecosystem in Queensland is flourishing because people and businesses I’ve met are incredibly enthusiastic.” Mr. Ward said.

“Queenslanders are very friendly and they really collaborate and work together to develop their business ideas. We are really pleased to be living here and OpenRevs is already achieving so many of its business objectives.”

Other companies which have moved to Queensland from New South Wales for the improved innovation ecosystem includes software company Sisa-tech Pty Ltd; child safety app KoalaSafe, and housemate finding app Housemate Ninja.

Advance Queensland is a $420 Million initiative making Queensland a place where entrepreneurs, industry, universities and government collaborate to turn great ideas into commercial products and businesses that create jobs.