Central Queensland University is involved in some of Europe’s top business innovation projects and its Rockhampton Campus is starting to attract research students from overseas who are specialising in that area.

The latest batch of visitors includes Astrid Heidemann Lassen from Denmark (radical business innovation), Judith Nahuis from The Netherlands (new product development) and Mario Ferrer from Colombia (supply chain management).

They have come to Rockhampton thanks to CQU’s links to international initiatives like the Patterns in New Product Development project and the Continuous Innovation Network.

CQU is linked to these global networks via academics including Professor Paul Hyland, Claudine Soosay, Karen Becker, Kieren Jamieson and Phil Bretherton.

The University has received several visits from leading European experts on continuous improvement and innovation in recent years, with the next scheduled visit of author, governmental advisor and researcher Professor John Bessant in July. Professor Bessant is based at 1 of England’s top-ranked universities, Imperial College London.

Meanwhile, CQU academics are regular visitors to business innovation events and centres overseas.

Professor Hyland visited England in March this year to work on a bilateral project that will establish innovation clubs in Queensland and Australia, extending a concept developed by Professor Bessant in the UK, Denmark and Germany.

Photos: Professor Paul Hyland (blue shirt) with Judith Nahuis (left) and Astrid Heidemann Lassen; and with Mario Ferrer (below).