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This newsletter provides current news and events on the programs and activities the Business and Industry Development Branch of the Chief Minister’s Department delivers to the ACT business community.

 

BUSINESS IN FOCUS MONTH ‘Business In Focus Month’ has commenced.         For a full program of events happening during the month of September, click: Here.

SMALL AND MICRO BUSINESS FORUM

The ACT Government is hosting an open forum for small and micro business owners and operators in Canberra this month.

The Forum is an opportunity for Canberra’s small business owners to be heard and to put their ideas on the Government’s radar.

The Forum will be facilitated by Jenny Brockie from the SBS ‘Insight’ program—who will guide business owners through a conversation on the issues and challenges they are facing, and hopefully issues the ACT Government can help address.

The Forum will also provide an opportunity for small business owners to engage with government representatives responsible for programs and services that assist small businesses.

The Canberra Small and Micro Business Forum will be held at 4.30 pm on 16 September 2009 at the Hotel Realm as part of Business in Focus Month.

To register your attendance phone 1800 244 650 or go to the online registration form, by clicking: Here.

Registrations close on 9 September 2009.

ACT CHIEF MINISTER'S EXPORT AWARDS LUNCHEON

Winners of the ACT Chief Minister's Export Awards will be announced at the Awards luncheon on 22 September 2009.

These awards are the Territory's most prestigious business awards for exporters acknowledging the innovation, hard work and success of businesses, large and small, in accessing offshore markets.

The Awards recognise the important contribution that ACT businesses make to the local economy through job creation and increased prosperity in the community.

For further information on the luncheon or to purchase tickets, visit the Canberra Business Council’s website by clicking: Here.

Winners progress to the 47th Australian Export Awards as national finalists and compete for an opportunity to win the coveted Prime Minister's Australian Exporter of the Year Award.

SCREENACT PROJECT FUND OPEN

ScreenACT’s third project funding round is now open.

Funding of $50,000 (maximum of $10,000 per project) is available to support projects that are focused around the screen medium (film, video production, digital media).

Applications close on 18 September 2009 with successful applications announced at the end of October.

A number of projects supported in previous funding rounds are demonstrating significant commercial potential—including the locally filmed and produced feature, The Dinner Party, which has just been selected as one of around 50 films (from over 20,000) to be screened at London’s prestigious Raindance Film Festival in October 2009.

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUSTRALIA (RDA) ACT

Key next steps have been taken for the establishment of RDA ACT.

Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development, Maxine McKew, opened an induction session for members of the Board of RDA ACT on 17 August 2009.

The meeting addressed the governance documents relevant to the conduct of the Board’s business including the national RDA Charter, the roles and responsibilities of the RDA and the roles of the Chair and Deputy Chair.

Other key issues discussed included: budget and financial management; the development of a business plan; establishment of linkages with RDAs in surrounding New South Wales; and communication with stakeholders.

TELSTRA BUSINESS AWARDS

Canberra based Point Project Management has won the Telstra ACT Business of the Year Award, the Sensis Social Responsibility Award and, in the Telstra National Awards, the Panasonic Australia Medium Business Award.

The awards were announced on 20 August 2009 at the 37^th Telstra ACT Awards ceremony and then at the national awards event.

Point Project Management is a client-side project management consultancy specialising in building and property.

It has grown to become one of Australia’s largest specialist project management consultancies with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth as well as Canberra.

Point Project Management won the ACT Sensis Social Responsibility Award having raised nearly $100,000 to help an employee receive treatment for cancer.

Other ACT award winners: PSI Asia Pacific Pty Ltd (MYOB Small Business Award); and Succeed Personal Development (News Ltd Business Owner Micro-Business Award).

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope congratulated all winners saying the ACT Telstra Business Awards are a great opportunity to recognise outstanding and innovative businesses in the Territory.

AN INVITATION TO MEMBERS OF THE CANBERRA BUSINESS COMMUNITY

Members of the Canberra business community are invited to work with the ACT’s key educational institutions to introduce final year students studying in the fields of accounting, ICT and electronics engineering to the ACT workplace through the StudentConnect program.

StudentConnect is an initiative of the ACT Government which aims to introduce selected international students to employers in Canberra through a formalised internship program.

StudentConnect was designed in response to a clear need to provide opportunities for quality international students to connect with Canberra‑based employers in their field of study.

By taking part in StudentConnect, employers benefit from early access to highly capable students with excellent communication skills, international perspectives and the desire to remain in Canberra after graduation.

For further information contact: Karyn Walker via email at kwalker@economicfutures.com.au; or visit http://www.iesolutions.com.au/studentconnect/index.html.

INNOVATIONACT—STUDENT ENTREPRENEURS

Prizes have been awarded to ANU and UC winning students in the InnovationACT Commercialisation and Business Planning Competition.

Eighty students were involved in the formation of 20 ‘business’ teams in the competition conceived and driven by a group of PhD students as a way of enabling the flow of information and resources between academia and industry.

Twelve finalists were selected after three months of seminars and mentoring with a high quality expert panel judging the finalists on their business plan and a 10 minute pitch.

The ACT Government, through the Business and Industry Development Branch, provided funding to assist in further developing the competition website which helped promote the competition and more broadly engage the ACT innovation community.

CANBERRA CONVENTION BUREAU (CCB) PROMOTED IN SYDNEY

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope took part in a CCB function in Sydney focused on promoting Canberra as a location for business conferences and events.

‘Tourism is a significant contributor to the ACT economy and plays a crucial role in defining our national and international image,’ said Mr Stanhope.

Mr Stanhope reiterated the ACT Government’s strong support of the business tourism sector through its investment in refurbishing Canberra’s National Convention Centre and in its continued support for the Canberra Convention Bureau—a not-for-profit organisation with the charter to promote Canberra as a business events destination.

‘Business tourism is particularly important. It creates local economic benefits including transport, hotel room nights and meals.

‘It also creates networking and linkage opportunities for local businesses and exposes our business community to a national and international audience,’ Mr Stanhope said.

The Government has also committed to further investigate a location for a new convention centre in cooperation with the Canberra Business Council, the Australian Government and the tourism industry.

The CCB estimates that business tourism generates more than one-third of all visitations to Canberra and is valued at $990 million a year.

MINISTERIAL COUNCIL ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope attended the Ministerial Council on International Trade in Brisbane on 7 August 2009.

The Ministerial Council dealt with a range of issues ranging from cooperative approaches to Free Trade Agreements to improving coordination between the Commonwealth, States and Territories in attracting international investment.

SHANGHAI EXPO 2010

The Canberra Business Council has conducted a focus group meeting to seek input from local businesses in relation to their involvement in the ACT's business program during the Shanghai Expo 2010.

It brought together about 30 ACT businesses across several key sectors, including education, science, legal and creative services.

RIESLING CHALLENGE ATTRACTS RECORD ENTRIES

The ACT's reputation as a centre of wine appreciation and production continues to grow, with organisers of the Canberra International Riesling Challenge attracting a record number of entries for this year's event.

The 10th Canberra International Riesling Challenge has attracted a record 550 entries from 11 countries including wines from Argentina and Chile for the first time.

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said the level of interest is proof that this Canberra-based, international wine competition is now regarded as one of this nation's most prestigious wine-making competitions.

‘I am also pleased to see a strong local showing with 32 entries from our own Canberra Region amongst the 352 Australian entries.

‘We can now proudly boast the biggest international wine competition of this type staged in the Southern Hemisphere,’ said Mr Stanhope.

The ACT Government is a sponsor of the Canberra International Riesling Challenge, which will take place in Canberra from 12-17 October 2009.

Winners will be announced at a gala dinner at the Hyatt Hotel on 16 October 2009 and public tastings will be held at the Albert Hall on 17 October 2009.

GIANT MAGELLAN TELESCOPE PROJECT

Local and national company involvement in the development of the Giant Magellan Telescope Project—the largest telescope project ever—was discussed on 17 August 2009 at a meeting between the Business and Industry Development Branch and leaders of the ANU development team involved.

It is anticipated that the Business and Industry Development Branch’s Industry Capability Network program will have a key role in identifying local and national suppliers to contribute to this project.

A call for expressions of interest will be made later in the year following an information session for interested parties.

CONSTRUCTION STARTS ON NEW UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA CENTRE

The first sod was turned last month to mark construction of an $11 million facility at the University of Canberra's NATSEM International Microsimulation Centre.

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said funding for the centre has been provided from the Australian Government's Education Investment Fund.

It will enable NATSEM to establish itself as one of the world's leading microsimulation institutions.

‘The Centre will allow NATSEM to boost its research capacity, to build on its existing export markets and to forge new research collaborations around the world.

‘In its 16 year history, NATSEM has developed an international reputation for its ground breaking research, data analysis and construction of microsimulation models,’ Mr Stanhope said.

Microsimulation creates highly sophisticated models and databases which allow policy makers to better assess the impact on society of current and proposed policies.

‘NATSEM has steered microsimulation modelling beyond its traditional areas of tax and social security,’ said Mr Stanhope. ‘The new Centre will place the University of Canberra at the hub of a regional and worldwide network of microsimulation.’

COMMONWEALTH COMMERCIALISATION INSTITUTE (CCI)

The Business and Industry Development Branch is actively involved in scoping discussions with the Australian Government on the establishment of the Commonwealth Commercialisation Institute (CCI).

The CCI will be established to commercialise the ideas developed by universities and public funded organisations as well as supporting innovative firms to take their ideas to market.

The proposed model under development covers the areas of mentoring, funding for proof of concept and early stage commercialisation.

I-AMP HEARING LOOPS LAUNCH

GPT Designs Pty Ltd, a Canberra based international induction loop manufacturer, has commenced an awareness campaign for their I-AMP induction loop product and a limited free design service.

GPT Designs will be conducting an ACT based community project with the free installation of an induction loop system at Mawson Primary School.

All products are designed and built in Canberra and are exported throughout Australia and New Zealand.

GPT Designs has received innovation development support under the ACT Government’s InnovationConnect program.

LOCAL SOFTWARE DEVELOPER CUBBYHOLE PTY LTD HIGHLIGHTED ON TV

An ACT Government InnovationConnect and TradeConnect grant recipient, Cubbyhole Pty Ltd, appeared on Channel Nine's A Current Affair on Thursday 13 August 2009.

Their appearance provided an opportunity for Cubbyhole to promote their Perkler product, which the ACT Government's InnovationConnect grant program has assisted to commercialisation.

Cubbyhole Pty Ltd also received national recognition recently when they were ranked 55^th out of 100 in Australia’s SMART 100 index.

SUCCESSFUL LOCAL BUSINESS ACKNOWLEDGES ITS CLIENTS

A Canberra business operating here for more than 40 years has established its own awards to recognise the work of its local clients and industry colleagues.

Canberra Blinds and Awnings held their First Gala Recognition and Awards event at BG’s Restaurant, Rydges Lakeside on Saturday 15 August 2009.

Awards were presented to local and regional businesses in the blind and awning industry in a number of categories including Greatest Growth, New Business and Retailer of the Year.

Member for Brindabella Joy Burch MLA said it is was rewarding to see how the company had grown to become such a recognised local business and was now acknowledging the participation and support provided by other local businesses.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information on any of the above news items, please contact us by—

• Phone: 1800 244 650; or
• Email: business.mailbox@act.gov.au

A full description of the Business and Industry Development Branch’s programs can be viewed at: www.business.act.gov.au 

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