Not-for-profit business advisory group, Business Foundations, headed by Phil Kemp, has been appointed to operate the Innovation Centre WA at Bentley’s Technology Park.
Science and Innovation Minister John Day said Business Foundations would make it simpler for individuals and businesses to access information, skills and investment needed to commercialise new products and services.
Business Foundations executive director Phil Kemp said there were many synergies between the services already offered by the organisation and those provided by the Innovation Centre.
“People tend to think of start-ups as the smart guy making millions of dollars working from a computer in their garage and, while there are cases like this, what is more common is a researcher, scientist or an industry expert with a cutting-edge idea and absolutely no idea how to test the market, secure the intellectual property, commercialise the innovation, develop the network that will support the venture and find the commercial backing to make it a reality,” Mr Kemp said.
“The team we are bringing together at the WA Innovation Centre have the contacts, expertise and hands-on experience to help innovators turn their ideas into commercially viable enterprises or products.”
Mr Kemp said he and the foundation planned to expand links between the United States and Western Australia, with US-based funds representing about 27 per cent of offshore investment into Australia.
Business Foundations also operates the Small Business Centre South West Metro and Enterprise Connect, with offices in Perth, Fremantle, Kwinana and Rockingham.