Ms VAGHELA (Western Metropolitan):
My adjournment is directed to the Honourable Jaala Pulford, MP, the Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business and Minister for Resources. My adjournment matter relates to the minister’s portfolio responsibilities of innovation, medical research and the digital economy.
Minister, the Andrews Labor government is continuing to back Victoria’s ever-growing sports technology industry with a $4 million investment to establish the Australian Sports Innovation Centre for Excellence in Cremorne. The centre will be led by the Australian Sports Technologies Network (ASTN), the nation’s lead industry body for sports tech and innovation, and will be connected to the state’s flagship Digital Hub in Cremorne. This centre not only will further Victoria as the sport state of Australia but will drive the creation of up to 2000 tech jobs in four years by fast-tracking commercialisation of new products and attracting national and international partnership opportunities for Victoria’s growing sports technology sector.
In addition, this centre will provide various benefits for businesses and tech leaders based at the centre, such as trade and strategic leadership opportunities, as well as connections to new industry partnerships and research collaborations. Victoria is already home to more than 65 per cent of Australia’s sports tech companies, with operations like Prahran-headquartered Catapult Sports, a wearable technologies company which holds contracts in internationally renowned major sporting leagues, such as first division sports teams in the United States, Germany, England and more.
This centre will support Australian startups and entrepreneurs, building on the legacy of local companies like Champion Data, Genius Tech Group and Rosterfy, all of which have made contributions to the sports technology industry. ASTN’s network of more than 500 Australian-based sports innovation companies will be connected to the centre and they will continue to help companies develop and expand globally while also serving as a beacon of growth and education.
The action I seek from the minister is to provide me with an update on how businesses and tech leaders in the Western Metropolitan Region can benefit from the Australian Sports Innovation Centre for Excellence.
Reply:
Jaala Pulford MP Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy (7 October 2021):
The Victorian Government is supporting the establishment of the Australian Sports Innovation Centre of Excellence, which will cement Victoria’s position as the leader in SportsTech and innovation.
The Australian Sports Innovation Centre of Excellence will facilitate the creation of up to 2,000 jobs across the sportsech sector including sports, media, AI, entertainment, digital, mobile, stadiums, major events, wearables and esports over four years. This will be done by assisting existing SportsTech companies to scale up, supporting commercialisation of R&D and startups, and attracting national and international partnerships.
The Australian Sports Innovation Centre of Excellence will offer a range of programs and services including:
• industry certified advanced tech courses which will underpin an open ecosystem for Victoria
• support for SportsTech sector collaboration that will underpin R&D, commercialisation and connections between students, interns and researchers with businesses and practitioners
• a co-working space for Australian Sports Technologies Network members and partners
• an immersive SportsTech lab for AR/VR and product development
• corporate partnership space for international and national learning
• a landing place to welcome interstate and international entrepreneurs, founders and experts into Victoria
• SportsTech advocacy to promote Australia’s capability and attract expertise into Victoria
• Delivery of virtual and/or in-person programs such as educational events and industry awards night for Sport Technology in Victoria.
The Australian Sports Innovation Centre of Excellence is a national centre for Australia’s SportsTech sector. Businesses and Digital Technology experts from across the Western Metropolitan Region will have access to the programs and services that will be delivered through the Centre and can also benefit from opportunities to connect with national and international colleagues, across the SportsTech ecosystem.