ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø

ThincLab to give ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø start-ups an unfair advantage

Thursday, 6 July 2017

The University of ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø will today launch a major new innovation hub aimed at giving locally based start-up companies the best opportunities to succeed and grow.

Called , the facility will provide a supportive business environment and will drive commercialisation and entrepreneurship opportunities for students, staff and like-minded members of the community, helping to foster innovation in the State.

This month, more than 50 new ventures are moving into the ThincLab headquarters, located in the city of ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø as part of the University's North Terrace campus.

These new ventures feature innovative business solutions that span a range of industry sectors, including: health and exercise, agriculture, aerospace and automotive engineering, environment, energy, digital gaming, science communications, and food and drink.

"ThincLab ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø is an incredibly exciting initiative – not just for the University of ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø but also for the State," says Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Mike Brooks.

"ThincLab represents a boosted commitment to commercialisation and entrepreneurship in South Australia. It reinforces our leadership nationwide of entrepreneurship, and in education and outreach programs aimed at fostering innovation, a leadership position the University of ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø has held for many years.

"The best universities around the world contribute enormously to the economic and social wellbeing of their nations. The University of ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø has a long tradition of translating or applying our research; many of our research strengths have grown into or contributed to highly successful business ventures.

"ThincLab will be a critical part of this culture of innovation, helping to create an environment in which new business ideas can thrive," Professor Brooks says.

ThincLab ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø is located next to the University's and its (ECIC), which runs the nation’s biggest investor-ready program, the Australian eChallenge. The eChallenge now has multiple streams across different sectors and is also being licensed to run overseas. Over the past six months alone, last year’s Australian eChallenge finalists have collectively secured more than $5 million in funding for their start-ups.

"ThincLab ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø builds on the years of success we've achieved with the Australian eChallenge and our suite of educational programs," says , Pro Vice-Chancellor Entrepreneurship at the University of ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø, and Director of ECIC.

"We see ThincLab as a place where unconventional thinkers can give their ideas an unfair advantage. It’s home to creative thinkers, to disrupters, people who are willing to challenge the norm and give new ideas a go. These are the people – from students and staff of the University to business-minded people in our community – who see the world differently. For them, ideas are everything.

"Entrepreneurship is about creating new jobs in industries that might not yet exist. With ThincLab, our goal is to ensure that every student, staff member and start-up in the State has access to the best possible resources and opportunities to support them on that path," Professor Lindsay says.

ThincLab offers start-ups a space in which they have access to a range of tools, resources and networks.

It provides access to the University's brightest academic minds and business mentors, and enables ThincLab tenants to connect with the experts in residence at the University's technology transfer unit, ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Enterprise, as well as ECIC.

ThincLab also includes a state-of-the-art prototyping lab and design studio, housing the latest 3D printers and fabrication technology. These are operated by highly skilled lab technicians to support the rapid development of product designs.

Professor Lindsay says participants in ThincLab ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø will also have the opportunity to develop global experience:

"ThincLab ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø is our local innovation hub headquarters; however, the ThincLab concept is based on a distributed network model – called 'ThincNet' – with ThincLab nodes located in other parts of the University, and with sister ThincLab Innovation Hubs in France and Singapore, which will help to connect our ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø start-ups with the heart of the European and Asian markets," he says.

For more information about ThincLab ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø, visit:

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