‘Smart’ cricket balls to hit the market for six

A Gold Coast company that has developed a cricket ball which records speed and spin will be launched in time for Christmas is one of 70 companies that will receive a grant as part of more than $8.3 million in Palaszczuk Government innovation funding.

Assistant Tourism Industry Development Minister and Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon today announced Jetson Industries would receive a $100,000 grant in the latest round of Ignite Ideas funding.

“We’re committed to investing in innovation to create the jobs of the future on the Gold Coast,” she said.

“Jetson Industries has a great product with wide appeal. That’s why we’ve invested to help them scale-up their operation and ultimately create more jobs in Queensland,” she said.

Innovation Minister Kate Jones said Ignite Ideas was about supporting entrepreneurs from across Queensland to grow their businesses and employ more staff.

“These companies will use the funds to ramp up market development and expand their workforce,” she said.

“Through a highly competitive, independently assessed process they showed they have an innovative product, the talent and the right mindset to take their business to new levels and new markets.

“The Palaszczuk Government has now supported 271 Queensland businesses through $34.65 million (four rounds) of Ignite Ideas, driving more than one thousand new jobs.”

The Jetson smart balls use tiny electronic sensors built into the ball that do not affect the ball’s performance but can record movement data such as ball speed, bounce, spin, distance, location and more.

Jetson Industries managing director Ben Tattersfield said his company had signed a multi-year
deal with a world leading sports retail brand for global distribution of the smart ball.

Mr Tattersfield said sensors in the device captured data about the play, which could be shared immediately with players, coaches and fans.

“All you need is a smartphone or laptop and our ball to determine the distance, speed, spin, trajectory and location. This information can be used for training or for fun and can be shared across the internet,” he said.

“We’ve received support from both the University of Queensland as well as Cricket Australia in the research and development stages, and we’re excited to see commercial opportunities start to open in all levels of the sport from grass roots right up to international elite competition.

“The great part about this technology is that it works in loads of other sports as well.

“We are in discussions with one of the world’s leading golf brands, the US Olympic Committee has shown interest and we recently completed a roadshow in India where hockey is looking like a great opportunity.

“If any one of these deals came together the need to expand the team could see us employ anywhere from 10-15 people within the next 12 months.

“There will be four jobs created through this project initially, and a further 14 within three years.”

Mr Tattersfield said Jetson Industries has a patent for the device pending in more than a dozen countries and, with a new deal in the wind, they are expecting to employ up to 10 new staff in the next 12 months.

Queensland’s Chief Entrepreneur Steve Baxter said the Ignite Ideas funding would help the 70 businesses take their next big step forward.

“Access to capital is one of the key challenges for early stage startups. The Ignite Ideas grants provide a source of funding that can take these businesses to the next level, helping them commercialise quickly.”

Ignite Ideas is part of the Palaszczuk Government’s $650 million Advance Queensland initiative.