Entrepreneurs in roundtable meeting at ECU for Global Entrepreneurship Week

ECU’s centre for innovative practice hosted a workshop on small to medium enterprises and innovation in Joondalup and Wanneroo on November 16.

The roundtable event was attended by researchers, staff, Joondalup MLA Jan Norberger, and representatives from the Commerce Department, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA, the cities of Joondalup and Wanneroo and West Coast Institute.

Representatives from the Business Station, Joondalup Business Association, Wanneroo Business Association, District 32 and Northern Networkers also attended.

Denise Gengatharen is currently leading a research project at the centre into the relationship between consulting or training and innovation in businesses in Joondalup and Wanneroo.

“To build an innovation eco-system that can support and sustain entrepreneurship in Joondalup and Wanneroo, we need stakeholders working collaboratively on a number of fronts,” centre director Professor Craig Standing said.

“Collaborative research is one of the areas.”

Mr Norberger said it was important to grow an innovation culture for the region.

“Coming together in an event such as this to share what everyone is currently doing to support entrepreneurship and innovation in SMEs is important, as we then get a clear picture of where we are as a region,” he said.

“The stakeholders can then work together as a collective moving forward to realise that goal of creating a knowledge region where innovation and entrepreneurship thrive.”

The Commerce Department’s Sandra Draper said all conversation around innovation and the multiple views from various levels of government and business were important in driving innovation agendas.

“Encouraging both private and public sector innovation is essential to support ongoing economic growth and the development of new technologies, industries and jobs in WA,” she said.

ECU’s office of innovation and research hosted other events during the week, such as master classes on capital-raising strategies and intellectual property and commercialisation.

Also read: Entrepreneurs meet.