Parliamentary Question without notice | Mobile Enterprise Growth Alliance
19/11/2014
The Hon. K.J. MAHER: My question is to the Minister for Science and Information Economy. Given the massive growth of apps and other digital technology, will the minister inform the chamber about options open to South Australian entrepreneurs wanting to develop ideas and products in the digital and online world?
The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) ( 14:47 :02 ): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. The rise of global digital content and applications over the last decade or so is one of the most dynamic industries of our time. Iconic names like Google, Facebook, Twitter and others have, in a very few short years, become global business, turning over many billions of dollars.
The origin of these companies often lies in a kind of high-risk entrepreneurship that is unlike any we have seen in the past, called start-ups. This government is committed to creating a viable start-up culture in South Australia and that is why we have invested in MEGA (the Mobile Enterprise Growth Alliance).
MEGA is a three-month industry designed, led and mentored entrepreneurial program to help creative technical and business participants to develop new products and services for global markets. MEGA brings people and ideas together with the guidance of experts and mentors, and takes them through a process of research, feasibility testing, development and also commercialisation.
Since 2006, the government has contributed $35,000 in funds on an annual basis to deliver the MEGA showcase. This financial year, the government has contracted Majoran, a co-working community organisation that is expert in supporting digital entrepreneurs to take over the delivery of MEGA as part of a package of entrepreneurship programs and support them with overall funding of $100,000 a year over the next four years.
The pro bono contribution from experienced professionals working in related industries is vital, with well over $100,000 worth of their time donated to assist with presenting, mentoring and also helping to assess concepts. Since the program’s inception, there have been over 200 participants, and more than 30 industry mentors and presenters have been involved, many right from the beginning.
There have already been a number of successes that can be closely linked to MEGA. One particularly impressive one is Voxiebox, a futuristic holographic display that produces 3D moving images and interactive content within a physical 3D volume space, as opposed to a flatscreen.
Originally developed by Will Tamblyn and Gavin Smith in a modest shed, I am advised, in Blackwood, Voxiebox has started to take its two inventors on a very steep trajectory upwards. Expressions of interest in the US have already seen Voxiebox demonstrated to NASA, Apple, Disney, Elon Musk of the Teslar electric car fame and Steve Wozniak, one of the founders of Apple, just to name a few.
It is evident that programs like MEGA capitalise on the innovative and creative minds of South Australians and open the door to economic and employment opportunities. In fact, according to the 2013 PricewaterhouseCoopers start-up economic report, Australia’s start-up scene could add $109 billion to the economy and create 540,000 jobs over the next 20 years. That is why this government is committed to unlocking the vast potential of Adelaide’s start-up sector, and it is my hope that MEGA will assist creative, technical and business participants to attract the kind of investment that will see these entrepreneurs develop their ideas into global competitive businesses.
There is a great opportunity to see the next generation of entrepreneurs as these six teams with ground-breaking ideas come together to spruik their concepts from 10am to 4pm tomorrow at MEGA’s pitch day to be held at Uni SA’s City West campus in the Allan Scott auditorium. I encourage members to come along to have a look. There are some amazing concepts to be demonstrated, so come along and support these wonderful entrepreneurs and their endeavours.
The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: I have a supplementary question. I would be interested to know whether MEGA is doing any work promoting the need for and greater use of accessibility: promoting accessibility in mobile apps, accessibility for people with disabilities?
The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers): That is a great idea and, if someone has not thought of it already, I think that should be patented. I cannot cite any specific examples but I know that many of the ideas and concepts that are put forward are about using digital technology that improves access for many people—except of course the digitally illiterate. It is a great concept and, as I said, it should be pushed.
