Advance Queensland program set to ignite ideas

| March 28, 2018

Queensland startups and small businesses can apply for up to $250,000 funding to advance their innovative products and services under Round 4 of the Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas fund which opened for applications on March 27.

Innovation Minister Kate Jones said the Ignite Ideas fund had supported more than 200 Queensland businesses to date, through $26.5 million and three rounds of Ignite Ideas funding, creating more than 1000 new jobs.

“Through three rounds of funding the Ignite Ideas program has supported hundreds of Queensland companies,” Ms Jones said.

“Ignite Ideas funding has supported applicants from diverse range of sectors including tourism, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, engineering, renewable energy, information technology, virtual reality, safety and construction.

“Through this Advance Queensland program, the Queensland Government is providing innovative businesses with opportunities to take their ready-to-market idea to the next level”.

Airway Medical Innovations Director Dr Julio Alonso, a Brisbane doctor turned startup entrepreneur and innovator, received $250,000 through Round 3 of the Ignite Ideas fund to help him commercialise and globalise an invention that will make it safer, easier and faster for doctors to perform endotracheal intubation.

“The funding has been a tremendous boost and has allowed me to continue towards the commercialisation of the device,” Dr Alonso said.

“The Ignite Ideas funding has helped with the costs of obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals for the technology and with my first clinical user program.”

North Burnett-based Eidsvold Siltstone Pty Ltd received more than $55,000 from the Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas Fund to work with QUT researchers in determining how the fine talc-like powder produced from sawing sandstone into blocks could be turned into metakaolin, a cement strengthener commonly used in Europe and the United States of America.

Eidsvold Siltstone Managing Director Michael Whitty said the Ignite Ideas funding had helped him identify the optimal minute particle size the dust needed to be reduced to and the temperature needed in the kiln to produce the most reactive metakaolin.

“My immediate task is to develop this metakaolin to a point that satisfies our potential export market,” Mr Whitty said.

“We can lead the way in Australia and try and keep up with a growing international trend in the geopolymer cement market.”

Innovation Minister Kate Jones said the Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas program targets businesses with fewer than 200 staff that have a suitable working prototype that is ready to be turned into commercial reality.

“Advance Queensland is the Palaszczuk Government’s $518 million initiative to diversify Queensland’s economy, create the jobs of the future and build Queensland’s reputation as a global innovation and investment destination,” she said.

More information on the program is available on the Advance Queensland website.

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