Energy Innovation Hub

Friday, 5 September 2014

The NSW Government today welcomed the establishment of the first of a series of industry-led NSW Knowledge Hubs set to boost competitiveness in key sectors with better access to world class research, information sharing and collaboration.

NSW Energy Knowledge Hub Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Stoner and Minister for Resources and Energy Anthony Roberts said the NSW Energy Innovation Knowledge Hub, based at the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER), would further leverage the State's innovative strengths in the sector.

"The NSW energy industry makes a major contribution to the State's economy in terms of business activity, investment, regional development, job creation and export revenue," Mr Stoner said.

"The new NSW Energy Innovation Knowledge Hub will seek to leverage the sector's strengths and develop a new market for smaller scale energy efficiency technologies that provide significant opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs)."

Mr Roberts said the new Hub would bring major research organisations and key energy industry players together.

"SMEs in the energy innovation sector will also help drive productivity and competitiveness with greater collaboration and knowledge sharing," Mr Roberts said.

NIER Director Dr Alan Broadfoot said the establishment of a Hunter-based Energy Innovation Knowledge hub within the University of Newcastle's NIER precinct would address local industry challenges, by creating new opportunities and market access for clean and efficient energy technologies.

"The Hub will serve as a vehicle to further enhance those opportunities, and NIER is proud to play a key role in driving collaboration and innovation across the sector," Dr Broadfoot said.

"The Newcastle Hub will foster a new energy sector in the Hunter, with the potential for NSW to help meet global needs through the exportation of innovative, newly developed technologies."

As part of its efforts to position the NSW economy for long-term economic and jobs growth, the NSW Government is working with industry to develop industry-led Knowledge Hubs in five key sectors, including Creative Digital; Energy; Financial Services; MedTech; Transport, Logistics & Rail.

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