September 6, 2024

UOW iAccelerate a runner-up at the Asia-Pacific Triple E Awards

Awards recognise entrepreneurship excellence in higher education

The University of Wollongong’s iAccelerate was named a runner-up for the 2024 prestigious Innovation and Entrepreneurship Activators award yesterday (4 September) at the Triple E Asia-Pacific Awards. 

Since 2016, iAccelerate has provided entrepreneurs paths and opportunities for successful invention journeys including education programs, expert residences, seed funding and more. 

iAccelerate also supports students through entrepreneurship events, modules, subjects, internships and has a researcher pathway helping PhD students and Academics’ spinouts.

iAccelerate Director Dr Tamantha Stutchbury said iAccelerate is where UOW students and Illawarra residents create and invent for positive global impact.

“iAccelerate is thrilled to be recognised at the prestigious Triple E awards, reflecting the huge impact our team makes,” Dr Stutchbury said.

“As a regional university we continue to build entrepreneurship and innovation opportunities for the people in our region.

“We are a lightning rod for innovation, providing a unique end-to-end offering that is a leader across the Asia-Pacific and globally. Our values of inclusivity, excellence, curiosity, empowerment underpin all we do.

“Central to our values is the belief that anyone can be an entrepreneur. We actively support underrepresented groups in entrepreneurship, with 52 per cent of companies having at least one active female founder. Regional entrepreneurs from across Australia, as well as First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse entrepreneurs are also supported through our programs.

“We are a small team that delivers a big impact. At its core, the iAccelerate team strives for and finds joy in the success of our entrepreneurs and startups.”

iAccelerate continues to grow and assist its community, in 2023 alone it supported 69 startups, employed 322 full-time, part- time and casual workers and iAccelerate secured $28.3M investment from equity capital, debt capital and grants.

UOW Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research and Sustainable Futures) Professor David Currow said the Asia-Pacific Triple E Awards recognition was testament to the hard work and dedication of the iAccelerate team and the vibrant entrepreneurial community it has built.

“Since 2016, iAccelerate has been engaging academics, students and community members with its unique end-to-end offering of education programs and lively startup community. In the process it has become one of the largest and most established innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems in Australia, transforming lives and local economies in our region,” Professor Currow said.

“iAccelerate’s unique approach, including its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the development of new courses, has significantly shaped the entrepreneurial culture at UOW.”

The Triple E Awards are a global recognition of efforts towards the quest for entrepreneurship and engagement in higher education. The Awards aim to foster change in universities and to emphasize their role in their communities and ecosystems.