Some of the world's most creative, influential and inspiring entrepreneurs will descend on Brisbane next month to help Australian startups mine their innovation.
Here for the annual Creative3 Forum September 18-19, they will arm participants with some powerful messages about backing the future power sectors of the Australian and global economy, and not resting on the resources and traditional industries that fuelled pre-GFC boom times.
Creative3 is designed to equip business leaders, entrepreneurs and startups with the latest thinking on new technology, business tools, creative intelligence, industry insights and design-led innovation.
Curator Anna Rooke said Australia had a unique opportunity to build on its creative, innovation and technology industries, worth more than $90 billion to the Australian economy in revenue alone.
"Competing and succeeding in the global landscape requires a continuous innovation approach to stay ahead in a rapidly changing world," Ms Rooke said.
"Many organisations are now reaping the benefits of developing innovative products and services, accessing emerging markets or applying innovative approaches to traditional sectors.
"We're giving startups and entrepreneurs an opportunity to challenge themselves, be inspired and gain business insights from leading game-changers and industry experts and, fundamentally, to back this important sector which is currently not recognised as a major driver of Australian economic growth."
An initiative of QUT Creative Enterprise Australia, the forum is now in its fifth year.
The 2014 event focuses largely on new and disruptive business models and applications.
The program involves a series of dynamic presentations from the world's leading creative visionaries offering real-world insights into creativity, enterprise and investment. It includes interactive sessions, keynote addresses, workshops, networking opportunities and an investor pitch event.
Speakers include:
•David Briskin, Chairman of sass & bide
•Jonathan Chippindale, CEO and co-founder of augmented retail provider Holition (UK)
•Simon Moss, CEO and founder of Imagebrief (USA),
•Alexandra Keating, Co-founder and CEO of DWNLD Media
•Ben Fogarty, Founder and CEO of Shorthand.
Ms Rooke said Creative3 will show Australian startups what is possible with a smart, scalable business venture.
"We have a thriving local startup community that is being fostered by incubators and coworking spaces but we need to mature our innovation ecosystem significantly to compete globally," she said.
"Creative³ is a meeting place for hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs and creative professionals, and helps in getting their ideas to market through concept development, business matching, and direct access to a global network."
A commercial company owned by QUT Enterprise Holdings, QUT Creative Enterprise Australia (CEA) is Australia's only dedicated creative industries incubator and investment fund, helping to develop, grow and establish creative companies.
CEA established Australia's first dedicated Investment Fund for early ventures in 2013.
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Media contacts:
•Anna Rooke, Creative3 Curator and CEA CEO, anna.rooke@qut.edu.au, 0 7 3337 7803, 0438 991 263.
•(For interviews with forum speakers), Clare Treston, Creative3 Communications and Content Manager, clare.treston@qut.edu.au, 07 3337 7805, 0423 170 046.
•Kate Haggman, QUT Media Unit, kate.haggman@qut.edu.au, 07 3138 0358.
