• Three new projects buoyed by funding from the Regional New Industries Fund
• Election commitment to drive jobs and innovation in the Great Southern through Creative Albany delivered
• $4.5 million Regional New Industries Fund supports innovation and job creation in Western Australia

Three new projects have been awarded Regional New Industries Fund (RNIF) funding, as part of the McGowan Government's commitment to support and accelerate new and emerging businesses that create jobs in the regions through innovation.

The RNIF is designed to support projects that build entrepreneurship, innovation and commercialisation to accelerate venture creation and economic diversification.

Not-for-profit Creative Albany will utilise a $340,000 grant in its Design and Innovation Great Southern (DIGS) Hub to encourage innovation and creativity by providing designers, community organisations and businesses with virtual and physical spaces to meet, work, learn, collaborate and thrive in the Great Southern region.

This delivers on the McGowan Government's election commitment to drive innovation and start-ups in Albany.

The Aquaculture Council of WA will use a $270,000 grant for a cross-region project, Rock Oyster Cluster, which will bring together proponents currently exploring rock oyster aquaculture feasibility in WA and trial various oyster species to determine the optimum species and gear for each location.

MeshPoints has been awarded $250,000 in support of its Building Capacity project, which involves 20 facilitators running regionally based incubators to build networks of technology providers and business enterprises and share expertise, intellectual property and technology to build new regional innovation capabilities.

Comments attributed to Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:

"The McGowan Government is delivering on its commitment to generate jobs and growth by supporting new business ventures, and accelerating small to medium enterprise growth and seed innovation.

"The premise behind the Regional New Industries Fund approach is that regions with strong links between business and innovation stakeholders create more technology, innovation and commercialisation.

"The DIGS Hub project is focused on creative business development, the Rock Oyster Cluster will deliver on research and development prospects and the Building Capacity project will foster entrepreneurship, all benefiting the Great Southern."

Comments attributed to Innovation and ICT Minister Dave Kelly:

"The Regional New Industries Fund continues to capitalise on Western Australia's competitiveness by building innovation and commercialisation capabilities in the regions.

"The successful projects demonstrate the ingenuity and entrepreneurial culture that continues to flourish in regional WA. The McGowan Government is committed to building WA's reputation for high-quality products and services across our State."

Comments attributed to Albany MLA Peter Watson:

"Creative Albany does fantastic local work to encourage innovation and create opportunities in the creative industries.

"This funding will allow Creative Albany to move to the next level, providing a hub for innovation and job creation in Albany."

Regional Development Minister's office - 6552 6200

Innovation and ICT Minister's office - 6552 6100