Part of the Central Coast Innovation Festival, the Central Coast Innovation Summit is designed to raise awareness of the imperative of innovation in driving an economy. It provides the opportunity for bringing key note speakers in Innovation to the Coast, showcasing Central Coast innovative businesses and enterprises and promotes the opportunity to collaborate and network.

Organised by the Central Coast Innovation Project, this year's summit on 13 June will explore new business ideas and models that capitalise on the next wave of innovation.

The theme for the summit is Catching the Next Wave of Innovation: A resource efficient Digitally Connected Community.  This theme has been taken from the book The Sixth Wave by James Bradfield Moody and Bianca Nogrady. This popular business book is built around extensive research with predictions and a roadmap to the future and explores how to succeed in a resource-limited world.

Innov8Central has announced that the Deputy Prime Minister, Treasurer Mr Wayne Swan will be attending and speaking at the summit.

The summit will also host internationally renowned speakers from the Climate Institute, Carbon Arts and the University of Newcastle.

Caroline Veldhuizen will present results from her investigations including a major Central Coast business innovation survey. Caroline is a PhD student at the University, focussing on regional innovation systems. She was head researcher conducting the study of the Central Coast Innovation Plan, applying her study to making concrete recommendations for innovation policy in that region.

Dr Anton Kriz, chair of the Central Coast Innovation Strategy and Senior Lecturer at Newcastle Business School, will assess where the region is as a community and where it needs to go given this new level of data and evidence.

Registration for the Central Coast Innovation Summit is now open.

WHEN: 8.30am - 12 noon Thursday, 13 June
WHERE: Mingara Recreation Club
                Mingara Drive, Tumbi Umbi

For more information visit the Central Coast Innovation Project website , email info@innov8central.com.au or phone 02 43494953.