Newcastle Creatives Unite: The Hunter Central Coast Innovation Festival Has Launched!

by Brooke Murphy on May 11, 2011

The fourth Hunter Central Coast Innovation Festival has launched and will run until Tuesday, 24 May exhibiting new technologies and innovations from the Newcastle, Hunter & Central Coast areas. Hunter and Central Coast businesses, innovators and creatives are holding a range of events in the hope of finding solutions for challenges faced in working towards a sustainable economy. The festival recognises Newcastle, the Hunter and the Central Coast as hubs of innovation. Make sure that you don’t miss out on this unique festival and the new and exciting initiatives on show!

The festival showcases the Newcastle & Central Coast regions’ skills in research and development, energy technology, health and medical research, science and engineering. The Hunter Valley Research Foundation, University of Newcastle, AusIndustry, Central Coast NSW Business Chamber, RDA Central Coast, Gosford Council and Wyong Council, Hunter Business Chamber, Engineers Australia and Hunter TAFE are all taking part in the festival.

Mr Todd Williams, CEO of festival host Regional Development Australia, supports the festival in its vision to encourage innovative culture in Newcastle; “Innovation and creativity is a key priority for RDA Hunter. The HCCIF is a great platform to increase public awareness about the importance of innovation for the Hunter and Central Coast’s future.”

The launch took place last Friday, 6 May at Merewether High School and showcased the winning design of the Living Green Designer Homes Competition, the Rosie’s School of Rock Au:Sum music program and the Smart Grid Smart City Trial developed by Newcastle Innovation.

Over the course of the festival, events such as a straw tower competition, clean innovation workshop, discussion on social media and workshops on new business practices will be held. Make sure you check out the schedule and discover the creativity our region has to offer.

The final event of the festival will showcase the work of the finalists of ifactor, a competition for students in years 7-12 to develop a multimedia marketing campaign for the Central Coast. This will be held on Tuesday 24^th of May at the Business Incubator, Ourimbah Campus, University of Newcastle.