May 19, 2014

VC joins Premier, Minister and Lord Mayor to promote city

From well-trained graduates to world-class research, the University of Wollongong is at the heart of Wollongong’s economic transformation from a steel city to a University City with significant advantages for businesses looking to establish or expand their operations, Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings told attendees of the Advantage Wollongong function recently.

Professor Wellings joined forces with NSW Premier Mike Baird, Member for the Illawarra John Ajaka and Wollongong  Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery to promote Wollongong to potential business and industry investors at NSW Parliament House on 15 May.

Mr Baird spoke of his affection for the beauty of the Illawarra coastline, saying it "stands on the top of the hill for beauty", and congratulated Wollongong on its resilience and its unified approach to business promotion.

"Locals understand how fantastic a city Wollongong is, but you need to sell that message to Australia and the rest of the world," Mr Baird told the audience of more than 200 people. "I believe in Wollongong and the Illawarra region ... and you can count on me as Premier as a friend of the Illawarra."

Mr Ajaka spoke about how Wollongong had reinvented itself from a manufacturing centre to one that had strong growth in ICT, tertiary education, tourism and aged and disability care.

Lord Mayor Mayor Bradbery used the occasion to launch the Wollongong Investor Prospectus, which showcase Wollongong's economic features and advantages to potential investors.

Professor Wellings spoke about UOW’s prominent position in national and international rankings, and its role as an economic driver for the region, with the University’s iAccelerate business incubator providing a new face and direction for the region’s economy.

He said iAccelerate, currently under construction at UOW’s Innovation Campus after the NSW Government contributed $16.5 million to the project, will provide space for up to 280 start-up entrepreneurs when it opens in 2015, with up to 500 people working there.

“iAccelerate represents the new face and direction of the Illawarra economy – one of innovation, growth and self-determination. As such, it will help fulfil a vital part of the original vision for the Innovation Campus, which was that it would help the Illawarra transform to the knowledge economy in the 21^st century,” Professor Wellings said.

The Vice-Chancellor referred to an economic impact study released in 2013 that showed UOW generates $2 billion in economic activity, with most of it spent in Wollongong and the surrounding region.

“We directly employ over 2000 people and our activities generate 8000 jobs and $607 million in household income, so it is very clear that we are one of the city’s main economic drivers,” Professor Wellings said.

“In short, Wollongong is now a University City. That gives Wollongong significant advantages if you are thinking about establishing a business in our city.”

Professor Wellings said the advantages included well-trained graduates who could be future employees, and even eventually running the company.

World-class research institutes with a strong history of industry collaborations can help develop new products and processes.

Added benefits come through international connections via overseas students and the University’s research partnerships with leading institutions around the world.

Business growth could be assisted through further education and training opportunities including specially tailored programs in everything from business administration to IT, Professor Wellings said.

NSW Treasurer Andrew Constance, Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson and State MPs Gareth Ward (Kiama), Lee Evans (Heathcote), Ryan Park (Keira) and Noreen Hay also attended the Advantage Wollongong function.

Report: Nick Hartgerink