The Canberra Region Innovation Network is an informal group of organisations and local councils that work together to share knowledge, connections, resources and information to assist the emergence and growth of innovation projects and companies in the broader Canberra Region.

The collaboration has been built on the back of the Canberra Innovation Network’s (CBRIN) Expert in Residence initiative led by Michael Phillips with support of the Department of Industry, innovation and Science’s grant from the Incubator Support program. The collaboration covers:

• Jindabyne and the Snowy Monaro region
• Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council
• Goulburn
• Bega
• Hilltops, and
• Canberra.

The network also includes Canberra based innovation intermediaries and centres that have a regional mandate, including:

• The Mill House Ventures – a collaboration of the University of Canberra, Service One Alliance Bank and CBRIN – who support social enterprises and in general businesses that trade for social, cultural or environmental purpose, and
• Centre for Agri Technologies (CEAT) – led by the Australian National University in collaboration with CSIRO and with support of the ACT Government – who focus on building a strong culture and pipeline of research based entrepreneurial solutions to Australia’s biggest challenges in agriculture.

The collaboration is currently not funded by anyone and is a grassroots bottom up effort of the participating organisations and individuals who care about our shared future that will be built by entrepreneurs and innovators who will launch and grow their ventures on the fabric of our connected regional innovation system.

The group meets now fortnightly in video-conference setting. The meetings are hosted by the Canberra Innovation Network’s CEO Petr Adamek and moderated by Michael Phillips. Our focus is on sharing information on situation, impact, response, recovery and building resilience to the various crises that our region suffers from.

“Possibly the worst drought in Australia’s history continued on into the horrific bushfires of the summer of 2019/20. As the region started to work together on recovery and rebuilding, we were then hit with the Covid-19 pandemic related restrictions to business, trade and life. Our world has changed and the way in which we work together, support each other has too. We need to look for how we can react quickly, find the opportunities and innovation in our businesses and future proof ourselves to turn adversity into opportunities that can drive innovation and growth.”

If you are from the Canberra Region and would like to participate, there are number of options:

• Join Canberra Innovation Community LinkedIn Group to be part of the conversation
• Connect with your representative in your respective region to offer what you can contribute.
• Connect with Michael Phillips who has linkages to Canberra Innovation Network (and everyone else) and ask how you can contribute.
• If you are an entrepreneur, innovator or innovation enthusiast, consider leveraging some of the CBRIN’s programs that are offered for free during this period, including Weekly Innovation Challenge webinar, monthly virtual First Wednesday Connect, or regular virtual coffee chat for Female Founders.
• Sign up for the Canberra Innovation Network Newsletter and for the NSW Department of Industry Newsletter.