Impact Innovation Group Newsletter December 2020

December 2020 Newsletter.

Innovation news, research, opportunities, and insights from Impact Innovation Group.

Informed

‎NEWS

The CSIRO Value of Science and Technology Report identified five key barriers preventing Australian researchers from realising value from innovation. Read More

IIG Managing Director, Brian Ruddle, responded to the CSIRO report saying it’s not our researchers holding us back – it’s the system. He outlines the important changes we need to make to our research system to overcome these barriers to commercialisation. Read More

The home-grown innovation stopping Australian sewers from going to waste. Read More

A Japanese company has made a sweater with material that comes from a bioreactor, not an animal. The new material—’Brewed Protein’—was originally developed as a biotech version of spider silk, and is made by putting microbes, sugars, and minerals in large tanks, drying them into a fiber, and then spinning that into yarn. Read More

Small business trends for 2021 include two-way communication, empathy and shopping local. Read More

‘Courageous’ investment means New Zealand innovation stays in New Zealand, and is not sold off overseas. Can it work? Read More

Luck or leverage? How Australian manufacturers can use innovation and incentives to make local products more attractive to export markets. Read More

Who cares about university research? The answer depends on its impacts. Read More

BOOKS

The Creator Mindset: 92 Tools to Unlock the Secrets to Innovation, Growth, and Sustainability. Book by Nir Bashan, released 27 July 2020. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by vague advice to “think outside the box,” this book can help put you on a proven track to harnessing your best, most creative ideas.

Inspired

“It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong than to be always right by having no ideas at all.”
– Edward de Bono

Influential

Sabiene Heindl
Executive Director at The Energy Charter

This month we spoke to Sabiene Heindl, Executive Director at The Energy Charter. Sabiene’s career has spanned numerous industries including law, music, telecommunications, and now energy – with innovation her constant focus. Sabiene shares her three tips for stimulating creative thinking, describes the important role yoga and meditation play in her everyday life, and explains why it’s important to talk about failure. Read More

Involved

AFR Innovation Summit (Online, 7 December). The Australian Financial Review brings together the leading lights of the R&D, technology, and start-up communities to explore what Australian businesses and research organisations can do to develop their capacity for successful innovation.

Disrupt to Thrive (Brisbane Business Hub, 7 December). A free workshop to help business owners prepare their teams for a future where disruption and uncertainty are the norm. Delivered by Libby Marshall, founder of Steam Capital at the Brisbane Business Hub.

HR Innovation and Tech Fest (Online, 7-11 December) Five days of learning and innovation on HR tech and digital transformation. Join the difference-makers and disruptors as they celebrate the talent, technology and ideas transforming the future of work.

The AI Sports Challenge 2020 (Online, 11-18 December). This is a virtual event for developers of all levels with an interest in AI to test their programming and problem-solving skills. Code your own bot to compete in an online multiplayer game, and be the last bot standing.

Launch of the James Cook University Ideas Lab (Smithfield Campus, Cairns, 16 December). The JCU Ideas Lab will support the development of the innovation ecosystem in Far North Queensland by enabling regional digital transformation. Celebrate the launch and expand your networks.

AgriFutures Emerging Industries Program Round 5 Open Call – (Online, submissions close 18 December) $50,000 to $500,000 in funding is available to support the development of new and emerging rural industries. Applicants should be aiming to grow their industry by applying RD&E to overcome technical, market, supply chain, and biological constraints.

Intrigued

Turn anything into tongs! Perfect for your upcoming festive meals, this kitchen gadget is designed to turn your existing cutlery into tongs. The Anytongs are smaller than regular tongs, saving space in your kitchen drawers. You can also use them for anything from grilling and flipping to serving. Get creative and make your own customized tongs, with a combination of any cutlery of your choice. Want one?

Impact

Impact Innovation worked with Unitywater to provide training and ideation workshops for 27 innovation champions embedded across different departments, as well as install an engaging and effective innovation system that would allow the momentum to remain strong. Read More

Innovate Queensland ventured into the Outback to support local regional business owners in Mt Isa, Cloncurry, Julia Creek, and Hughenden this week. Read More

Congratulations to the Ideas to Outcomes class(es) of 2020 – Graduates receive a Certificate IV in Small Business Management from TAFE Queensland. Read More

Female Founders held their first few face-to-face events after more than six months of delivering events online. There are still places available for the Female Founders Mentor Match program – you can find out more and apply here: Read More

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