World-leading initiatives such as Griffith University’s Institute for Glycomics are crucial to efforts to grow Queensland’s knowledge economy, says the state’s Minister for Science and Innovation, The Honourable Leeanne Enoch MP.

Speaking at the Advance Queensland Forum at Griffith University on the Gold Coast yesterday (November 17), MsEnoch emphasised the importance of collaboration between the research and business sectors for Queensland’s future.

Yesterday’s regional forum was attended by Gold Coast business, industry, entrepreneurial, start-up and university stakeholders. Along with Ms Enoch, guest speakers included Dr Chris Davis, the General Manager of the Institute for Glycomics, and Dr Baden U’Ren, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at Bond University and co-founder of the start-up Ditterich Agriculture.

“We know that business collaboration and innovation is associated with a 70 per cent increase in the likelihood of delivering unique and innovative ideas and products,” said Ms Enoch.

“With so many research and knowledge hubs on the Gold Coast, the region is well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities a knowledge economy will provide.”

Ms Enoch said the Palaszczuk Government’s $180 million Advance Queensland initiative aims to create highly skilled, knowledge-based jobs, and to position Queensland as an attractive investment destination with a strong innovation and entrepreneurial culture.

“Advance Queensland will help position Queensland as a place where innovators, researchers, start-ups, universities, industry and government work collaboratively to translate great ideas into commercial opportunities.”

The Minister added that collaboration was an integral part of the work at the Institute for Glycomics, a unique and world-leading centre in translational biomedical research for the discovery of 21st century drugs and vaccines that address existing and emerging diseases of global impact.

“Dr Davis’s work in a biotechnology start-up and as an innovation and commercial development manager seeking venture capital investment provides him with a wealth of experience that will be of interest to attendees,” she said.