NSW Government Backs Smart Jobs for Newcastle





NSW Government Backs Smart Jobs for Newcastle

25 October 2016

The NSW Government’s Jobs for NSW initiative has awarded $300,000 to a Newcastle-based business incubator to help fast-track the development of smart and sustainable technology in the Hunter region.

Minister for Industry, Resources and Energy Anthony Roberts said the grant will help not-for-profit incubator Eighteen04 expand from the CSIRO Energy Centre in Mayfield to a 40-seat facility in Newcastle West’s digital precinct and create 218 new jobs.

“With this investment in Eighteen04, the NSW Government is helping to deliver innovative and sustainable environmental solutions for NSW at the same time as creating jobs for the future.

“This exciting new facility in the heart of Newcastle’s digital precinct will offer tech start-up businesses a range of accelerator programs and mentoring opportunities to help them boost their commercial viability”.

Mr Roberts said support for start-ups in areas like cleantech, renewable energy and smart cities is a clear focus for Jobs for NSW – a private sector-led and NSW Government initiative with the aim of delivering jobs.

Cleantech or clean technology start-ups are focused on reducing environmental impacts through more efficient and sustainable processes, products and services.

Smart cities are productive, accessible, livable cities that attract talent, encourage innovation and create jobs and growth to succeed in the 21st Century economy.

“This investment will enable meaningful jobs growth in a region experiencing significant labour transition from more traditional sectors to the industries and jobs of the future”.

Eighteen04 is named after the year the former settlement called Coal River was renamed Newcastle. It has an esteemed board of directors including Chair Dr Gunilla Burrowes, whose vision is to expand to a 100-seat facility and become the Asia-Pacific home for cleantech and smart city start-ups.

Dr Burrowes said: “Our visions are aligned to drive growth in the Hunter and for the NSW economy by delivering jobs and developing new and innovative industries for our future and we would like to thank Jobs for NSW and the NSW Government for their support”.


 














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