Turning Challenges into Opportunities
Federal University VIce Chancellor Duncan Bentley
MEDIA RELEASE
Businesses of all sorts and sizes across the food and fibre sector in Gippsland are encouraged to get involved in the What’s Your Food or Fibre Challenge, Gippsland? program, launched last Friday at the Morwell Innovation Centre.
The program, funded by the Victorian Government’s Gippsland Regional Partnership, puts food and fibre businesses in a prime position to turn challenges into opportunities, to collaborate with industry experts and develop innovative solutions to what could be holding back future business growth.
Aimed at established businesses who have been in operation for at least two years, in this program all ideas are welcomed, and in this introduction phase, it is just two simple steps to get involved.
Step one is getting your idea or challenge out of your head or off the shelf and on paper in the Expression of Interest form, which you can download from foodandfibregippsland.com.au/whats-your-challenge
Step two is put the 20th of April in the diary to attend the Challenge Bootcamp in person at the Morwell Innovation Centre, where you will join a room full of other businesses and people for a huge day of thinking, collaborating, sharing and building. It will be a learning, networking and information event not to be missed.
After attending the Challenge Bootcamp, businesses will be better equipped to pull together their full application and be confidently ready to pitch their challenge to the program challenge panel in mid-May. The panel will be on the look out for projects that can contribute to growth and sustainability for Gippsland, and even lead the way for the food and fibre industry nationally and globally.
There is capacity for up to ten projects, and those selected will receive comprehensive research and innovation support, funding and collaboration from experts and leaders in business, science, and the food and fibre industry.
Speaking at the launch of the program on Friday, Federation University Vice Chancellor, Professor Duncan Bentley was passionate about the opportunities this program can begin to create for Gippsland.
“As a regional university specializing in innovation and technology, we’re excited about working with business and industry to develop world leading solutions to challenges in the food and fibre sector – and I want to make sure that people all over the world are talking about what we are doing and wanting to know more“ he said.
Food & Fibre Gippsland CEO, Nicola Pero is already hearing of some impressive ideas that small and large businesses are planning to bring to the challenge table.
“This program really offers such a unique and valuable opportunity – so don’t be shy, get your ideas to us, and let’s see how they can grow and move forward” she said.
What’s your Food or Fibre Challenge Gippsland is being delivered by Federation University and Food & Fibre Gippsland, with partnership and support provided by Regional Development Victoria, Food Agility CRC, Food Innovation Australia Limited, Latrobe Valley Authority and TAFE Gippsland.If you have questions or need some support with the next steps – contact Program Manager, Kate Foster
