PwC is launching an Open Innovation initiative in Newcastle bringing together government, corporate Australia, academia and the development/start-up community.

Open Innovation Australia will run an event in Newcastle over two days in July at the University of Newcastle to encourage commercially viable solutions to identified industry challenges.

The start-up community is invited to meet and work with four iconic Newcastle businesses, to understand their everyday problems and begin working together to build solutions.

Together with the Greater Building Society, Hunter Valley Coal Chain Coordinator,  nib, Heal for Life and the University of Newcastle, Open Innovation has developed problem statements to be solved to drive innovative and commercially valuable solutions for Newcastle businesses.

Open Innovation is a collaborative process, with PwC working with Digit, Newcastle Innovation and Slingshot to make Open Innovation Newcastle a success.

So if you're an entrepreneur, developer, designer or sales driver interested in being funded to develop innovative solutions, then register your interest to come along to PwC's Open Innovation Newcastle event.

For each of the four most promising solutions there is $15,000 funding for each idea up for grabs in order to develop a minimum viable.

WHEN: Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 July

WHERE: Shortland Building (see campus map for directions)
 The University of Newcastle
 Callaghan Campus

For further information and to register, visit PwC's Digital Pulse websiteand follow them on twitter for updates.