Innovation Incubator to open at UniSC’s Moreton Bay Campus

Published 30 March 2023

Start-ups, entrepreneurs, and innovators looking to launch a business in Moreton Bay will be able to use a new co-op space at UniSC’s campus thanks to a new agreement with Council.

Establishing an incubator space was unanimously supported at today’s Council meeting, and should be operational and available for hire at UniSC’s Moreton Bay campus within four months.

Mayor Peter Flannery said this sent a clear signal to investors that Moreton Bay means business.

“The office space at UniSC will provide spaces to enable businesses looking to set-up within The Mill at Moreton Bay precinct - which is our region’s premier knowledge and innovation hub,” Mayor Flannery said.

“Think of this space as a ‘landing pad’ for companies entering the market. Council officers have been supporting two New Zealand companies looking to establish in South-East Queensland and this is the perfect environment for them.
“Currently there are limited opportunities in Moreton Bay for potential investors to establish themselves in a temporary capacity, this initiative removes that barrier to engagement in our region.

“By co-locating the space at UniSC, it will also enable businesses to connect with their future workforce, UniSC students and graduates, as part of their start-up phase and create additional opportunities for researchers  to collaborate with industry.

“As the saying goes: From little things big things grow. I’m certainly hoping that by providing businesses with a space where they can have an initial small presence, that this will translate into those businesses looking for a permanent presence and larger office footprint in our region and the buildings to come at The Mill precinct.”

UniSC Vice Chancellor and President Professor Helen Bartlett welcomed the agreement, and said demand had surged beyond even the most optimistic expectations since the Moreton Bay campus opened in 2020.

“Our enrolments have exceeded expectation, largely due to pent-up demand before a university campus arrived, which is why we are seeing such a high number of non-school leavers enrolling,” Professor Bartlett said.

“We have not only been able to partner with businesses in the region to meet their needs and support rapid workforce, but also to invite businesses to co-locate with us at The Mill site in Petrie, a Priority Development Area.

“National and international companies are moving to the region and telling us that they need skills and talent as soon as possible, so we are aiming to get students into the workforce during their university programs, to earn while they learn.

“The benefit will be two-fold. Businesses can establish and expand with confidence at our Innovation Incubator and this in turn contributes to the prosperity of our growing region.”

In 2022, 73.5% of students were Moreton Bay residents, 41.2% of students were first in their family to attend university and 3.8% of students identified as Indigenous.

University participation in the Moreton Bay region is currently at 11.4 percent. If it were at the Queensland average of 14.2 percent, there would be 20,000 students at the UniSC Moreton Bay campus.

To register your interest in this new space please email: economic@moretonbay.qld.gov.au