29 January 2024
Southland Innovation Centre: A leap forward for business, community growth
Through strategic partnerships with local and national entities, the Innovation Centre aims to create an environment rich in collaboration, resource sharing, and growth opportunities.
The Southland Business Chamber has opened a new Southland Innovation Centre.
The initiative has been backed by the Murihiku Rūnaka and Rio Tinto/NZAS Community Development Fund.
The facility sits within the within the Chamber’s Business Hub at 25 on Don in Invercargill and is being viewed as becoming a powerhouse for fostering innovation, nurturing entrepreneurship, and driving economic growth in the region.
NZAS’s CEO Chris Blenkiron said: “Together with Ngāi Tahu, we are really pleased to support this innovation hub for Southland and know it will make a real difference in how Southland businesses prepare for the future.
“We know in our own business just how impactful encouraging innovative thinking in our teams has been, and our annual Tiwai Excellence Awards are testament to the opportunities that can be unleashed, if you let people put on their thinking caps.”
More than just a space, the Centre is a vibrant ecosystem where businesses, entrepreneurs, and students collaborate and innovate. It’s dedicated to offering programs that sharpen skills in entrepreneurship, innovation methodologies, and design thinking, catering to both emerging and established businesses.
Notably, the Centre will house Southland’s new Engineering & Manufacturing Cluster, providing a collaborative forum to share ideas and spur technological progress, solidifying Southland’s position as a leader in industrial innovation.
COIN South, a key resident of the Centre, continues to be instrumental in nurturing a dynamic start-up ecosystem, and also now driving innovation across established businesses.
Through strategic partnerships with local and national entities, the Centre aims to create an environment rich in collaboration, resource sharing, and growth opportunities.
Chamber CEO Sheree Carey stated: “The Centre’s true measure of success lies in the tangible outcomes and engagement it fosters, from the participation in our programs to the collaborative ventures it incubates, reflecting its profound impact on the local economy and community.”
As the Southland Innovation Centre embarks on its mission, it signifies a major leap towards a future of prosperity and innovation for the region. The Southland Business Chamber is immensely grateful to its partners, particularly Murihiku Rūnaka and Rio Tinto/NZAS Community Development Fund, for turning this ambitious vision into reality.
Source: The Southern Tribune – 29 January 2024