Innovation Minister Kate Jones has today hosted the first Advance Queensland regional round table in Toowoomba as part of the government’s comprehensive review into the state’s innovation system.
Ms Jones said ‘agtech’ took centre stage, with Queensland’s agriculture sector now worth around $20 billion.
"Toowoomba’s agricultural output generates around $900 million for Queensland every year," she said.
"There is a huge opportunity for Toowoomba to be the hub for tech advancements in agriculture.
"Businesses in places like Toowoomba often lead the way when it comes to developing innovation.
"I’ve launched this review to make sure we’re doing everything possible to diversify our economy and support businesses around the state to create sustainable jobs in the wake of the resources boom.
"Today’s roundtable is about ensuring our record investment in supporting innovation will create jobs in Toowoomba.
Ms Jones said the ‘Our Innovation Future’ review was announced alongside the CSIRO’s Data61 report ‘the Innovation Imperative’ which identifies the technology, emerging global markets, demographics and other megatrends that will reshape Queensland and the state’s jobs market in the next 20 years.
"Through the Advance Queensland initiative, we’re investing more than half-a-billion dollars to create the jobs of the future in our state," Ms Jones said.
"’The Innovation Imperative’ confirms what we’ve known for a long time – Queensland’s workforce is rapidly changing.
"Innovation will enable Queensland, and Queenslanders, to be in the best position to embrace the challenges of the next 20 years."
The Toowoomba round table was delivered in partnership with Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise.
Ms Jones will host further round table events in Cairns and Townsville in coming months as part of the review.
