Where innovation thrives
The Sunshine Coast is a tech-savvy region with a reputation for innovation. Businesses are supported by a strong entrepreneurial, collaborative and digitally oriented ecosystem.
The region is recognised as a place where world-first ideas flourish, innovation thrives and startups prosper.
Accelerators, coworking spaces, incubator events and meetups foster a culture of collaboration and partnerships that develop fresh perspectives and solve problems.
Innovation in action
Many businesses on the Sunshine Coast have continued to adapt and innovate despite the challenges and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A major survey of Sunshine Coast innovators found that almost half (46%) introduced new innovations.
The Queensland Regional Innovation Benchmark Report identifies current practices and performance to determine how businesses across the region perform comparatively year on year.
46%
Sunshine Coast businesses say they have implemented new to the firm innovations
46%
Sunshine Coast businesses say they have implemented new to the firm innovations
29%
Sunshine Coast firms introduced new to the industry product innovations
29%
Sunshine Coast firms introduced new to the industry product innovations
90%
Innovators report embracing digital business practices, using an innovation strategy, website and e-commerce
90%
Innovators report embracing digital business practices, using an innovation strategy, website and e-commerce
Source: Queensland Regional Innovation Benchmark Report 2021
Innovation excellence
Top7 Intelligent Communities of the Year
2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019
Smart21 Communities of the Year
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2015 | 2014
Innovation highlights
- The Sunshine Coast has been selected as the location for a new national organisation aimed at protecting the nation against cyber criminals. The Critical Infrastructure – Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (CI-ISAC), has started operations from Maroochydore.
- Australia’s fastest growing food industry group, Food and Agribusiness Network (FAN) connects and grows the region’s food and agriculture businesses by creating a culture of collaboration, accelerating innovation and promoting trade.
- Silicon Coast has almost 2000 members and is the leading representative body for entrepreneurship, innovation and technology on the Sunshine Coast. The group aims to ignite collaboration, facilitate introductions and share knowledge.
- Sunshine Coast Tech Industry Alliance (SCTechIA) has been established to provide ICT businesses with an opportunity to collaboratively drive industry growth and leverage the Sunshine Coast's digital infrastructure.
- Sunshine Coast Creative Alliance connects the dots between creative thinkers, businesses, places, supporters, target markets, audiences and key stakeholders. It supports creative enterprise and artistic expression as catalysts for innovation, culture and regional identity.
Rediroom
A ground-breaking patient isolation technology developed on the Sunshine Coast and helping to save lives across the world was named one of TIME magazine’s Best Inventions of 2022.
Rediroom is a mobile, single patient isolation room that can be installed in five minutes. It addresses a global shortage of healthcare isolation spaces, equipping hospitals to rapidly respond to outbreaks of infectious diseases.