More than 100 local businesses provided input for Central Queensland innovation projects in 2011, enabling progress to be continued in 2012...

That's according to Dr Susan Kinnear, CQUniversity's Sustainable Regional Development program leader, who was reflecting on completion of a 'CQ Innovation Prospectus' project funded by the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science, Research and Tertiary Education  (DIISRTE). 

Regional leaders have contributed to innovation forums, providing a platform for progress in 2012

"This project provided a range of insights relevant to the innovation and engagement agendas," Dr Kinnear said.

"Local business input enabled us to identify and promote some of the potential CQUni linkages in the region, as well as build a strong evidence base for the ‘Innovation Central' concept." 

CQUniversity recently joined with Capricorn Enterprise and CQ Innovative Regions to launch a concept for an 'Innovation Central' process and campus location.

The University has representatives on a steering group to develop the concept further in 2012, alongside representatives from DIISRTE, Capricorn Enterprise, the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI), the CQ Local Government Association (CQLGA) and local business.

"Innovation Central was conceptualised out of the collaborative project between CQUni and the CQ Innovative Regions centre," Dr Kinnear says.

"IC is a practical way for regional business and industry to collaborate with key regional organisations - to bring forward innovative ideas and convert them into benefits for our region.

"The tagline for IC is 'national objectives, regional value' - referring to the fact that we must find ways for CQ to be recognized as important and productive region at the national scale.

"Just as importantly, though, that development has to be focused on keeping value in the region - making sure our local economy, communities and environment are made stronger. We need both these things together - and we need to innovate together to make it happen."

Dr Kinnear says that if IC can be established it would become a great 'front door' to help local business engage with the University.

The Innovation Central concept involves a process and a physical space at CQUniversity, giving people with innovative ideas a place to gain assistance from valuable government and university resources in making their ideas become a reality.

The IC steering committee will continue to explore how the IC model can become linked with CQUniversity's new CQ Innovation and Research Precinct (CQIRP), which is being established at the former CSIRO labs across the highway from Rockhampton Campus.