In a once-only week-long series of events, over 90 global visitors will be in Perth, and parts of WA, during the last week of June, as part of Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (REAP).
The two-year MIT REAP program takes a cohort of representatives from a regional centre or city through a series of workshops, practical cases and analysis of their own innovative ecosystems, to identify gaps and opportunities for development.
Programs and initiatives are then worked up, specific to the region in question, in order to develop diversification driven economic growth strategies and innovation-driven industry sectors and enterprises.
Western Australia has a team in cohort 9 of the MIT REAP program, and won the right to host the third (of the four) workshop series, and associated events, here in Perth in a week’s time. The other three workshops are held in Boston, Mass, USA.
‘Team WA’ includes representatives from industry (Rio Tinto, Woodside), entrepreneurs (Spacecubed, West Tech Fest, Centre for Entrepreneurial Research and Innovation), investors (Australian Venture Consultants, Malka Foundation), government (Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation; and City of Perth), and university (Curtin University).
Brodie McCulloch, Founder and CEO of Spacecubed, is part of Team WA.
“MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Accelerator program has provided a unique opportunity to bring together the different elements that enable the entrepreneurial ecosystem to work effectively together,” he said.
As a team we have been able to focus on Western Australia’s unique strengths and opportunities as a way to really leverage the insight MIT Professors provide for the benefit of the whole state. It is a huge opportunity to have the other cities and countries along with the MIT Faculty in Perth for the week to share this experience with the whole community.
Brodie McCulloch
As well as the three days of workshops, from Tuesday 27 to Thurs 29 June, other activities are being laid on, including:
- an investor workshop in the Swan Valley;
- launch of a collaboration with Blak Angels, a native American and indigenous angel investing group;
- innovation ecosystem tours, followed by a Welcome Reception at the City of Perth;
- Launch of City of Fremantle Innovation Strategy;
- Gala Dinner, at Frasers;
- Future-proofing the WA innovation ecosystem breakfast;
- MIT Perth Symposium – major public event, Woodside Auditorium; and
- a day visit to Rio Tinto’s Gudai Darri mine site, Newman “the mine of the future”.
The MIT Perth Symposium is the only public event, with tickets selling fast and over 350 people expected. Go to this booking page to get last minute tickets ($95 for the entire day).
This all day event on Fri 30 June will see Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy Stephen Dawson MLC, MIT Professors, WA and US-based startups, deliver presentations and engage in discussions on how to develop WA’s innovation ecosystem further, a pitching event with US and WA startups taking part, and also presentations/panels on how WA can best take advantage of the need to decarbonise its economy.
It’s like having another West Tech Fest in the middle of the year.
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