Innovation centre maps links to Silicon Valley

The Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Christopher Pyne, has welcomed a partnership struck between the University of Melbourne’s Accelerator Program and a new centre for entrepreneurs in California’s Silicon Valley.

The NASDAQ Centre for Entrepreneurs, launched by the university, will serve as a centre to support students, researchers, and entrepreneurs.

“The centre will provide participants with resources, education, mentorship, and cross-industry networks in Silicon Valley and throughout North America so they can build the next generation of agile and innovation businesses.

“The University of Melbourne is the only non-US university participating and it joins several premier universities including UC Berkeley, Columbia, and Stanford that have all identified that fostering entrepreneurship is essential for the future,” he said.

Mr Pyne said the partnership would enable the next generation of entrepreneurs to connect with industry experts and mentors to leverage their experience, networks and vision.

The exchange would foster relationships to spur the next generation of business opportunities on both sides of the Pacific.

“The Melbourne Accelerator Program (MAP) helps Australian entrepreneurs build scalable and high growth innovative businesses,” Mr Pyne said.

“The program hosts public forums, master classes and the MAP Velocity Series to up-skill and connect budding entrepreneurs, with the top start-ups being awarded access into the MAP Start-up Accelerator.

“Leveraging research excellence, and a rich supply of smart, imaginative and well educated talent, Melbourne is on the ascendancy for entrepreneurship and a vibrant start-up culture,” he said.

Mr Pyne said selection of the University of Melbourne Accelerator Program demonstrated that Australian creativity and hard work was creating a start-up and innovative dynamism on-par with the world’s best.