If you’re looking for ways to ease the start-up phase or grow your business through innovation, technology parks and business incubators are a good place to start.
The start-up or early phase of a business can be tough.
Sometimes new kids on the block are isolated from the expertise and resources provided by technology parks and business incubators. Overheads can be overwhelming, particularly when there is a long period between research, development, and commercialising products or services.
Technology parks provide a space to conduct research and development (R&D). Many are attached to universities, which means tenants can draw on the expertise of staff and students and use facilities such as laboratories and libraries. Incubators provide the next step for small or home-based businesses looking for new premises, often providing office space (sometimes for a specific period of time) with rent designed to be more affordable for start-ups. Tenants usually have access to shared facilities, such as meeting rooms, photocopier, fax and receptionist services.
Entry to both is usually via an application process. Technology parks may require entrants to come from a particular industry or field of technology. Entering incubators often involves a consultation with the management to determine if the business is viable.
The benefits to businesses involved with technology parks and incubators include being surrounded by, and learning from, other businesses in similar industries or fields, and assistance with commercialising innovation. There are many business incubators operating around the country in both metropolitan and regional areas. For an extended list, go to Technology Parks and Incubators Australia (www.tpia.org.au) and the Business Innovation and Incubation Australia website www.businessincubation.com.au
Here is a selection of what’s in each state:
NEW SOUTH WALES
Australian Technology Park (ATP) www.atp.com.au
Ranging from solo start-ups to large organisations, ATP has more than 100 tenants in the technology industry.
Macquarie University Research Park www.murp.mq.edu.au
With links to facilities and resources at Macquarie University, this park is located in Sydney’s North Ryde, home to many hi-tech industries. Tenants can benefit from access to university staff for research and consultancy, postgraduate research students, university research facilities and library resources.
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Technology (ANSTO) Park www.ansto.gov.au/info/orgatlh.html
ANSTO is Australia’s national nuclear organisation and the centre of Australian nuclear expertise. As well as the work done by ANSTO, the precinct includes a technology park and home for R&D organisations.
Sutherland Shire Hub for Economic Development (SSHED) www.sshed.com.au
Designed for helping small business grow, SSHED was named the 2005 Incubator of the Year by Business Innovation and Incubation Australia (BIIA). Businesses can rent a desk-space (called ‘hot-desking’) or a fully-equipped office on site.
Hunter Region Business Enterprise Centre www.lowerhunterbec.com.au/incubator.jsp
There are many Business Enterprise Centres operating around the country, offering advice and services for small business. This one also offers office space and tenancy for up to three years.
VICTORIA
The LaTrobe Research and Development Park www.latrobe.edu.au/techpark
Attached to LaTrobe University, this R&D park has a technology and science base, fostering three-stage development: incubation, maturation and relocation.
Ballarat Technology Park www.ballarattechnologypark.com
Located within the University of Ballarat, the park’s Global Innovation Centre helps companies in the areas of IT, biotechnology, and agricultural and environmental technologies to commercialise their business. Also in the park, the Greenhill Enterprise Centre is specifically designed to help small and medium IT companies, R&D units and short-term project teams.
Geelong Technology Precinct www.deakin.edu.au/gtp
Affiliated with Deakin University, the precinct supports research and work in biotechnology, nanotechnology, prototyping and wine science.
MiniFAB www.minifab.com.au
R&D for hi-tech businesses and emerging technology companies in the fields of micro, bio and nano technologies looking for customised product development and manufacturing assistance.
DDC Centre www.ddcprogram.com
The newly-opened DDC Centre is an extension of the DDC program run by MAP Venture Partners, which is designed to assist technology start-ups, and has a key focus on commercialisation and protecting intellectual property. The centre also draws on partnerships with businesses in areas such as legal and design to help tenants.
Fashion Incubator www.fashionincubator.com.au
Located within the Melbourne Central shopping centre in Melbourne’s CBD, the Fashion Incubator was created to help designers develop small business enterprises.
QUEENSLAND
Brisbane Technology Park Queensland (BTP) www.brisbanetechnologypark.com.au
An initiative of the Queensland Government, BTP aims to promote the state’s business, economic and scientific skills, and stimulate growth and employment in technology sectors. Current tenants include both emerging and established businesses. It also offers virtual office space, which provides businesses with a mailing address and access to a range of services, such as receptionist service and meeting rooms, without needing to rent on-site office space.
i.lab www.ilab.com.au
With room for up to 100 people and resources to support up to 15 emerging companies (with tenancies of two years), i.lab also has a virtual option, allowing businesses off-site access to various benefits and services in the park. It has been designed to promote the development of hi-tech businesses in Queensland, and encourages the involvement of entrepreneurs and investors.
Innovation Centre, Sunshine Coast www.innovation-centre.com.au
Since opening in early 2002, the innovation centre’s business incubator has helped 15 new businesses to grow. The centre places importance on networking, building a large entrepreneurial network its members can tap into.
Bundaberg Enterprise Centre www.bundabergbec.org.au
Last year’s BIIA Regional Incubator of the Year, this primarily operates as a business information centre. It also functions as an incubator, with 27 business units available for start-ups, home-based businesses looking to expand and not-for-profit organisations.
North Queensland Business Development Centre www.thuringowa.qld.gov.au/investment/small_business
The only business incubator in north Queensland, the centre was established by Thuringowa City Council and the Federal government. A diverse range of tenants include light industry, manufacturing, service providers, science and retail.
TASMANIA
Tasmanian Technopark www.development.tas.gov.au/technopark
The centre places importance on export as well as innovation. Businesses in the park now export to around 50 countries and have shown an annual growth of 30 percent. Many tenants are involved in technology, capitalising on Tasmania’s location and resources, such as agriculture, aquaculture, and proximity to Antarctica and the southern oceans.
In-tellinc www.in-tellinc.com.au
In-tellinc is an incubator for ICT companies and is part of Tasmania’s Intelligent Island program, a $40 million venture from the Federal government, designed to promote sustained growth in the state’s ICT industry. The incubator has already seen a huge growth in the revenue and export success of its tenants.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Technology Park, Bentley www.techparkwa.org.au
Already firmly established in the park are industry sectors such as ICT, resources and energy, environment and biotechnology. In 2005 the park celebrated its 20th birthday, and is ranked as one of Australia’s top technology parks.
Kwinana Technology Business Centre (KTBC) www.ktbc.com.au
Supporting businesses in the IT and communications field, KTBC prides itself on its IT technical services and business support for tenants.
Coastal Business Centre www.vianet.net.au/~coastal
Built on the heritage-listed site of Fremantle Prison, the centre is capable of holding up to 100 businesses, and offers business management assistance and shared secretarial assistance to tenants.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Adelaide City Business www.adelaidecitybusiness.com
Tenants come from a wide range of industries, including software and business consulting. Business advisers and mentors work for the centre to guide new businesses as they start out, and all tenants have access to the centre’s Business Development Program.
Adelaide University Research Park www.adelaide.edu.au/OIL/thebarton
With a variety of research centres and connections with various departments within the university, the park also includes a business incubator, with tenants from the university’s Business Entrepreneur Program as well as from outside the university.
Technology Park, Adelaide www.techpark.sa.gov.au
This is Australia’s first technology park where networking and business clustering plays a big part in the life of the park’s tenants. The close proximity of the University of South Australia means R&D and graduate expertise is close at hand.
Todd Street Business Chambers, Port Adelaide www.wabec.com.au
Part of the Western Area Business Enterprise Centre, the Todd
Street Business Chambers not only offers office space, but studio space for designers, photographers and artists.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Top End Business Development Centres www.becnt.com.au/incubator.htm
Two incubators, in Palmerston and Winnellie, offer tenants advice on all areas of business, such as taxation, marketing and management. A mentoring service is also under development for the future.
Desert Knowledge Australia www.desertknowledge.com.au
Desert Knowledge Australia was conceived to fully understand desert economies. The program involves research into the economic and social development of communities in desert lands, and encouraging business networks and innovation to sustain and develop such communities. Stage one of the project is due for completion mid-2006.
