Meadowbrook is about to be home to start-up and scale-up businesses aimed at making a difference to the world.
The innovation platform, launched by Griffith University, merges the work of an incubator – to help businesses get a start – and accelerator to help fast-track success.
It will focus heavily on helping migrant and minority groups who are involved with working with their communities.
The developers are keen that the launch of Homebase, those responsible for its launch hope they’ll be able to develop new knowledge that ripples across Australia and beyond.
In other words, the process to help who contribute to smart and sustainable economies will be innovative in itself.
Professor of practice and co-director of The Yunus Centre, Alex Hannant said impact-led businesses created both social and economic benefits to communities.
“This is a really exciting project with the potential to strengthen community connections and cohesion and improve livelihoods, health and security of people in Logan,” Professor Hannant said.
“On top of that local impact we’ll also be developing new knowledge and testing innovation approaches that can ripple across Australia and beyond.
“Impact-led businesses contribute to smart and sustainable economies at the local, regional, national, and global levels.
“Homebase will be inclusive, designed for, and with, entrepreneurs and organisations who reflect the rich diversity of the Logan region.”
The incubator is being jointly funded by parties including City of Logan and Griffith University.
Deputy mayor Jon Raven, said Homebase was a fantastic addition to the city’s innovation ecosystem.
“Council is focused on strengthening the city’s innovation capability, and we recently launched our coLab Growth Hub at Underwood to help businesses scale-up nationally and internationally,” Cr Raven said.
“Homebase complements the work we’re doing in the innovation sphere to stimulate economic development in our city and we’re excited to collaborate with Griffith University to support migrants and minority groups to get involved.”
Professor Hannant said the incubator will offer three tiers of development support, including educational programs like events and workshops, intensive programs for those with early-stage ideas and residencies for high-potential businesses.
“The Yunus Centre will harness expertise from across the University, especially Griffith’s Regional Innovation Data Lab (RIDL) based at Logan, and the Innovation and Entrepreneurship group, within the Department of Business Strategy and Innovation,” he said.
