cairns tropical innovation and expertise

Contact us!Economic Development and Innovation

Cairns Regional Council

PO Box 359

Cairns QLD 4870

Australia

Phone: +61 7 4044 3347

Email: [email protected]

CairnsTownsville

Brisbane

Gold Coast

Auckland Sydney

Melbourne Adelaide

Perth

Singapore

Hong Kong

< To UK/Europe

Alice Springs

Ayers Rock

Darwin

Port Moresby

Guam

Narita

Osaka

BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT SUPPORTING TROPICAL INNOVATION & EXPERTISE

CAIRNS TROPICAL INNOVATION AND EXPERTISE

James Cook UniversityTropical R&Dwww.jcu.edu.au

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

BUSINESS & INNOVATION

SUPPORT

COMMERCIALISATION

PROFILING & SHOWCASING

INFORMATION& NETWORKING

EXPORT & MARKET

DEVELOPMENT

INVESTMENT ATTRACTION

START UPS & BUSINESS

DEVELOPMENT

Cairns and TNQSupporting TropicalInnovation Expertise

Troplinkswww.troplinks.com

Exporting tropical expertise

Fast TrackingTropical Business

Assisting Cairns’ businessesTake innovations toTropical markets

QMI Solutionswww.qmisolutions.com.au

CommercialisationAnd business Innovation

in manufacturing

Ideas2Marketwww.science.qld.gov.auProviding advice to take

Ideas to market

AusIndustry – www.ausindustry.gov.au

e

AusTropexTropical industry

Information expertise & researchwww.austropex.com.au

Queensland-wideInnovation Networkwww.science.qld.gov.au

Innovation support networkTropical Innovation Awards

www.tropicalinnovationawards.comShowcasing and promoting

local innovationsto the world

Cairns Regional Council – Economic Development & Innovation Strategywww.investcairns.com.au

Advance Cairns – Tropical North Queensland Regional

Economic Plan –www.advancecairns.com

Queensland Government Department of Employment

Economic Developmentand Innovation – www.deedi.qld.gov.au

Regional Development Australia – FNQ&TS

Road Map – www.rda.gov.au

Australian InstituteOf Commercialisationwww.ausicom.com

Innovation andCommercialisation services

Commercialisation Australiawww.commercialisationaustralia.gov.auSupporting business acceleration

of Australian companies,researchers, entrepreneurs

and inventors

CAIRNSAUSTRALIA

CRC4826_Economic Development Profile_6pp.indd 1 30/3/11 1:33:06 PM

MAYOR’S MESSAGE

Cairns is known for its unique tropical

lifestyle and unparalleled natural beauty.

I always say that these factors help us to

attract large numbers of creative and

innovative people. Whether it be our

distance from capital cities, our turbulent tropical climate or

the inspiration of the world heritage listed reef and rainforest,

Cairns is home to many creators and innovators.

Cairns Regional Council has established an innovation

agenda to help support our local inventors and entrepreneurs

in bringing their products and ideas to market. We are

working to diversify our regional economy by using what

I believe is our greatest asset – the ingenuity of our residents.

I truly believe that fostering creativity and innovative business

ideas is a key part of the diversification process.

We refer to the ideas and ingenuity that comes from living in

our region as “tropical expertise”. We are working to position

ourselves as a world leading region for tropical knowledge,

research and innovation.

This booklet will give you a snapshot of our innovation

agenda and a taste of the tropical expertise that the

Cairns Region has to offer.

Val Schier, Mayor


CEO’S MESSAGE

The Cairns region is blessed with many

advantages including a pristine natural

environment, quality lifestyle and a

diverse, creative community. Smart

initiatives, innovative enterprises and our

proximity to the rapidly expanding Asia

Pacific market make this one of the world’s

most enviable tropical business hubs.

As a leader in economic and community development,

Cairns Regional Council knows why our residents love this

region. We actively look to maintain our great way of life

while also building economic strength, fostering new

industries and attracting investment.

In partnership with our business and industry community,

and world-class educational and research institutions,

we are developing the Cairns region as one that will

become internationally known for innovation and

tropical expertise. We invite you to join us on this journey

into an innovative future.

Lyn Russell PSM, Chief Executive Officer


AWHK & Fisher Adams Kelly - Emerging Innovation

Enviro Fibre, Les Nielsen, their plan to produce market ready

bagasse pulp as a substitute for paper pulp. A by product of

the environmentally sound process is a high quality potash

fertilizer. The locally produced bagasse pulp product replaces

a significant amount of the 350,000 tonnes of pulp imported

into Australia annually.

TropLinks - Tropical Innovation

CoolMe Vest, Dr Glen Deakin with a disposable personal cooling

device designed to limit the effects of heat stress during physical

activity in hot and humid environments. The vest promotes rapid

recovery in heat stress situations and does not require cooling

from an outside source.

Stanwell & ARUP - Eco Innovation Award

Pole Power, Grant Behrendorff & David Smyth Polepower

Energy Innovations triumphed in this category with a world first

application of a solar photovoltaic technology, in a curved

solar module that is designed to be mounted on the north face

conventional power poles. Powerpole is intended to be used on

tens of thousands of power poles in electricity distribution system

feeding clean green energy into networks at every pole.

JCU - Innovation of the Year

The Eco Splash System, Amanda Spelta of Placid Pools for

their tropical water purification system specifically designed

for swimming pools ponds and tropical wetlands. The system

essentially replicates nature in filtering water through controlling

water flow through a natural stone medium, biofilms and

aquatic plants.

AusIndustry - People’s Choice Award

Transportable Aquapax Waterfarms Australia, Martin Anton won

the online vote of the public for the world first cost effective

transport system for micro-filtered premium quality natural spring

water. The octagonal shaped thick cardboard box with an

interior oxygen inner liner barrier bag protects 1000 litres of water

from environmental conditions and prevents it from spoiling.

The system is 98% recyclable.

Tropical innovaTion: 2010 AwArd winners


Cape Tribulation

Cow Bay

Wonga Beach

Newell BeachCooya Beach

Port Douglas

Palm CoveClifton Beach

Trinity BeachYorkeys Knob

Holloways BeachMachans Beach

Smithfield

Redlynch

Babinda BramstonBeach

Miriwinni

Edmonton

Gordonvale

Mossman

Daintree

Diwan

Wujal Wujal

Cairns

The Cairns Region

The Cairns region covers 4135km2 from Bloomfield, located within

the Wet Tropics of the Daintree in the north, to the quaint sugar

village of Miriwinni in the south.

The region extends some 190km from its northern to southern

extremities. The Eastern seaboard boundary is formed by the

Coral Sea coastline abutting the Great Barrier Reef.

The Cairns region is Tropical North Queensland’s major commercial,

industrial, educational, retail and entertainment centre. It provides

a diverse range of professional and business services both locally

and internationally to our rapidly expanding Asia Pacific market.

Tropical Expertise & Innovation

Cairns is making its mark as a leader

in tropical expertise, innovation and

sustainable development. Tropical

expertise and innovation is a major focus

for our growth, trade and investment

strategy for the Cairns region.

CAIRNS AT A GLANCEPopulation: 164,356

Area: 4,135km2

Population growth rate 2.7%

Labour force: 59,797

Gross local product: $8,190 million

Major industries: Retail trade, Tourism and construction

No of businesses: 14,430 businesses

Tourism: Visitors: 2 million (1.4 million holiday visitors)

Visitor expenditure: $2.4 billion

GATEWAY TO THE tRopICAl ZoNE

Cairns

< To UK/Europe

Narita (7)

Osaka

Sydney


KEY tRopICAl ExpERtISE & INNovAtIoN

The global economy is projected to reach US $40 trillion

in 2025 – that’s 20 times greater than Australia’s

estimated economy.

Cairns and Far North Queensland is uniquely placed as one

of the few developed economies in the tropical world. Cairns

businesses have designed and adapted their practices and

products to the tropical environment. This gives Cairns a

competitive edge in selling its expertise to the world. Tropical

expertise cuts across many sectors including tropical health,

environmental management, agribusiness, infrastructure and

building design.

World Class Tropical Research & Expertise

James Cook University

James Cook University is Australia’s leading research university

with a focus on the tropics. JCU in Cairns conducts nationally

significant and internationally recognised research in areas

such as marine sciences, biodiversity, tropical ecosystems,

conservation and climate change, global warming, tourism,

and tropical health, medicine and biosecurity.

www.jcu.edu.au

The Cairns Institute

The Cairns Institute is an international research, consulting

and training hub with a focus on tropical knowledge and

innovation.

www.jcu.edu.au/cairnsinstitute

Tropical Medicine Mosquito Research Facility

Key elements of dengue mosquito control research are

conducted at the Cairns Campus Tropical Medicine Mosquito

Research Facility. Dengue is an enormous global problem,

with over 100 million cases annually across the tropical and

sub-tropical world.

Queensland Tropical Health Alliance (QTHA)

The QTHA is a unique collaboration among Queensland

universities and research institutes, creating a wealth of

tropical health and medical research expertise in the tropics.

Research is focussed on reducing the burden of tropical

diseases in Queensland and other tropical regions.

www.qtha.org.au

Australian Tropical Forest Institute (ATFI)

ATFI is a hub for research, development and

commercialisation opportunities based on the biodiversity

of tropical forests. It facilitates collaboration, colocation and

regional partnerships for the sustainable use, management

and conservation of tropical forest landscapes.

www.jcu.edu.au/atfi

tRopICAl ExpERtISE

The Cairns region provides expertise and innovative solutions for the tropical world – a projected market of 3.3 billion people

Our access to the Asia Pacific region ensures an efficient response

Tropical expertise includes health, education, research, construction, tourism, agriculture and environmental management

In 2008/2009 Tropical expertise exports in Cairns amounted to $6.4million (AUD)

Leading tropical research facilities including Mosquito Research Facility, Australian Tropical Forest Institute, Cairns Institute and Centre for Tropical Agritech Research

Home of the Tropical Innovation Awards


Australian Herbarium

The Herbarium brings together the tropical plant specimen

collections of the Australian National Herbarium, Queensland

Herbarium and the JCU Herbarium to form one of Australia’s

largest and most diverse collection of tropical plant

specimens.

The Australian Stinger Research Unit (TASRU)

The world leading Tropical Australian Stinger Research Unit

has an active medical, biological and scientific research

program, covering many aspects of Box jellyfish ecology

and biology.

www.jcu.edu.au/interest/stingers

Reef and Rainforest Research Centre

The RRRC manages and delivers one of the world’s most

comprehensive tropical environmental research portfolios

through a consortium of fifteen research agencies involving

the work of more than 300 leading tropical scientists.

www.rrrc.org.au

HEAltH

17 public & private hospitals across the region

Largest Royal Flying Doctor Service base in Australia

World-leading fertility centre that applies leading edge technologies

EDUCAtIoN

89 state primary schools, 27 state high schools, 25 private schools including boarding facilities

World class university – James Cook University

Tropical North Queensland Institute of TAFE offering vocational training opportunities

Home to Australia’s newest marine training facility – The Great Barrier Reef International Marine College

World-class aviation training & maintenance facilities

AvIAtIoN

Australia’s leading regional airport, providing air links both domestically & internationally

Workforce approaching 2,300

26 general aviation carriers, utilising the region’s 83 fixed wing & rotor aircraft

86 aviation businesses

MARINE

4,000 people employed in the region’s maritime sector, including 700 in the marine repair & maintenance sector

3 major slipways servicing national & international clients

Home of one of the largest fishing fleets in Australia, with over 400 fishing vessels

1,115 registered commercial vessels in Cairns

300 commercial passenger vessels registered in Cairns – the biggest in Queensland

Cairns is Australia’s most visited port for major cruise ships outside of Sydney

Australia’s premier super yacht destination

Home to the Australian Navy’s North Eastern operational base


Welcome to the 2011 Tropical Innovation Awards!

The Tropical Innovation Awards recognise, reward and

support innovation and invention across the Far North

Queensland region to support economic diversification

and sustainability.

The Tropical Innovation Awards provide an opportunity for local

inventors, innovators and businesses to showcase their inventive

and innovative ideas, projects and processes to potential

investors, mentors, government officials and the public.

It is an opportunity for applicants to realise the potential

commercial value of their invention or innovation and

contribute to the export and employment potential of

the region.

The 2011 Awards have been extended to include participants

from all Tropical Zone Countries, which will provide an

opportunity for applicants to gain international exposure

and support.

Categories

Applicants can apply for one of the following categories:

Emerging Innovation - applicants in the early stages of

development (patented or not patented).

One cash prize of $5,000

Tropical Zone Innovation - applicants invited from all Tropical

Zone Countries. One cash prize of $5,000

Eco Innovation Award - invention/innovation must

demonstrate a positive environmental benefit or long-term

sustainable advantage. One cash prize of $5,000

Business Innovation - the invention/innovation must

demonstrate a positive economic, social or environmental

benefit to enhance the long term sustainability of business

within the Tropical North Queensland region.


Innovation of the Year - overall best invention/innovation

(the winner will be selected from the total pool of applicants).


People’s Choice Award - ten applications will be chosen

from the pool of applicants. One cash prize of $2,000

Entry details:

• Applications open 11 April 2011, close 3pm Thursday

30 June 2011 (Australian Eastern Standard Time).

• Winners of all award categories will be announced

at the gala event on 12 August 2011

• $95.00 entry fee applies

• Judging is conducted by a select panel of industry

ambassadors and professionals

Find out more:

www.tropicalinnovationawards.com

tRopICAl INNovAtIoN AwARDS: PROfiLiNG, CELEbRATiNG ANd GROWiNG TROPiCAL iNNOvATiON


MAYOR’S MESSAGE

Cairns is known for its unique tropical

lifestyle and unparalleled natural beauty.

I always say that these factors help us to

attract large numbers of creative and

innovative people. Whether it be our

distance from capital cities, our turbulent tropical climate or

the inspiration of the world heritage listed reef and rainforest,

Cairns is home to many creators and innovators.

Cairns Regional Council has established an innovation

agenda to help support our local inventors and entrepreneurs

in bringing their products and ideas to market. We are

working to diversify our regional economy by using what

I believe is our greatest asset – the ingenuity of our residents.

I truly believe that fostering creativity and innovative business

ideas is a key part of the diversification process.

We refer to the ideas and ingenuity that comes from living in

our region as “tropical expertise”. We are working to position

ourselves as a world leading region for tropical knowledge,

research and innovation.

This booklet will give you a snapshot of our innovation

agenda and a taste of the tropical expertise that the

Cairns Region has to offer.

Val Schier, Mayor


CEO’S MESSAGE

The Cairns region is blessed with many

advantages including a pristine natural

environment, quality lifestyle and a

diverse, creative community. Smart

initiatives, innovative enterprises and our

proximity to the rapidly expanding Asia

Pacific market make this one of the world’s

most enviable tropical business hubs.

As a leader in economic and community development,

Cairns Regional Council knows why our residents love this

region. We actively look to maintain our great way of life

while also building economic strength, fostering new

industries and attracting investment.

In partnership with our business and industry community,

and world-class educational and research institutions,

we are developing the Cairns region as one that will

become internationally known for innovation and

tropical expertise. We invite you to join us on this journey

into an innovative future.

Lyn Russell PSM, Chief Executive Officer


AWHK & Fisher Adams Kelly - Emerging Innovation

Enviro Fibre, Les Nielsen, their plan to produce market ready

bagasse pulp as a substitute for paper pulp. A by product of

the environmentally sound process is a high quality potash

fertilizer. The locally produced bagasse pulp product replaces

a significant amount of the 350,000 tonnes of pulp imported

into Australia annually.

TropLinks - Tropical Innovation

CoolMe Vest, Dr Glen Deakin with a disposable personal cooling

device designed to limit the effects of heat stress during physical

activity in hot and humid environments. The vest promotes rapid

recovery in heat stress situations and does not require cooling

from an outside source.

Stanwell & ARUP - Eco Innovation Award

Pole Power, Grant Behrendorff & David Smyth Polepower

Energy Innovations triumphed in this category with a world first

application of a solar photovoltaic technology, in a curved

solar module that is designed to be mounted on the north face

conventional power poles. Powerpole is intended to be used on

tens of thousands of power poles in electricity distribution system

feeding clean green energy into networks at every pole.

JCU - Innovation of the Year

The Eco Splash System, Amanda Spelta of Placid Pools for

their tropical water purification system specifically designed

for swimming pools ponds and tropical wetlands. The system

essentially replicates nature in filtering water through controlling

water flow through a natural stone medium, biofilms and

aquatic plants.

AusIndustry - People’s Choice Award

Transportable Aquapax Waterfarms Australia, Martin Anton won

the online vote of the public for the world first cost effective

transport system for micro-filtered premium quality natural spring

water. The octagonal shaped thick cardboard box with an

interior oxygen inner liner barrier bag protects 1000 litres of water

from environmental conditions and prevents it from spoiling.

The system is 98% recyclable.

Tropical innovaTion: 2010 AwArd winners


Contact us!Economic Development and Innovation


PO Box 359

Cairns QLD 4870

Australia

Phone: +61 7 4044 3347

Email: [email protected]

CairnsTownsville

Brisbane

Gold Coast

Auckland Sydney

Melbourne Adelaide

Perth

Singapore

Hong Kong

< To UK/Europe

Alice Springs

Ayers Rock

Darwin

Port Moresby

Guam

Narita

Osaka

BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT SUPPORTING TROPICAL INNOVATION & EXPERTISE

CAIRNS TROPICAL INNOVATION AND EXPERTISE

James Cook UniversityTropical R&Dwww.jcu.edu.au

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

BUSINESS & INNOVATION

SUPPORT

COMMERCIALISATION

PROFILING & SHOWCASING

INFORMATION& NETWORKING

EXPORT & MARKET

DEVELOPMENT

INVESTMENT ATTRACTION

START UPS & BUSINESS

DEVELOPMENT

Cairns and TNQSupporting TropicalInnovation Expertise

Troplinkswww.troplinks.com

Exporting tropical expertise

Fast TrackingTropical Business

Assisting Cairns’ businessesTake innovations toTropical markets

QMI Solutionswww.qmisolutions.com.au

CommercialisationAnd business Innovation

in manufacturing

Ideas2Marketwww.science.qld.gov.auProviding advice to take

Ideas to market

AusIndustry – www.ausindustry.gov.au

e

AusTropexTropical industry

Information expertise & researchwww.austropex.com.au

Queensland-wideInnovation Networkwww.science.qld.gov.au

Innovation support networkTropical Innovation Awards

www.tropicalinnovationawards.comShowcasing and promoting

local innovationsto the world

Cairns Regional Council – Economic Development & Innovation Strategywww.investcairns.com.au

Advance Cairns – Tropical North Queensland Regional

Economic Plan –www.advancecairns.com

Queensland Government Department of Employment

Economic Developmentand Innovation – www.deedi.qld.gov.au

Regional Development Australia – FNQ&TS

Road Map – www.rda.gov.au

Australian InstituteOf Commercialisationwww.ausicom.com

Innovation andCommercialisation services

Commercialisation Australiawww.commercialisationaustralia.gov.auSupporting business acceleration

of Australian companies,researchers, entrepreneurs

and inventors

CAIRNSAUSTRALIA


cairns tropical innovation and expertise

Documents

innovation agenda

tropical knowledge

cairns qld

turbulent tropical climate

unique tropical lifestyle

pmmayors message cairns

regional economy

economic development