Media releases

Federation University’s new Morwell Innovation Centre has been designed to facilitate a thriving regional ecosystem that will help transition the local economy.

The Centre will be the central hub for business and industry to collaborate and explore new opportunities for the local economy through education and research.

Federation University has partnered with Runway to support the development of skills and capabilities of local business through the delivery of innovation programs and mentoring.

Runway will deliver both face to face accelerator programs, a virtual innovation platform for business and provide mentoring to help local business.

The Centre, located at the Hi-Tech Precinct Gippsland on Monash Way, Morwell is also set to welcome its latest tenants, Australian Paper, which will be the home base for the energy from waste team, and business advocate group Committee for Gippsland.

It will host university research teams and industry teams looking at transformative projects, as well as private sector commercial tenants, including Alinta Energy, which announced in January, its plans to establish customer service operations at the Hub, creating more than 230 jobs for the Latrobe Valley.

Federation’s Master of Business Administration program, where students from a range of local industries tackle real-world challenges facing their organisations, will also call the Innovation Centre home.

Funded with $17 million from the Victorian Government, the Hub will play an important role in supporting the expansion of Gippsland’s key industries, including health, food and fibre, advanced manufacturing and new energy.

Quotes attributable to Federation University Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Duncan Bentley

“Driving technology and innovation are key to our success in supporting the Gippsland community to create new economic foundations and build a stronger future together.”

“Regions like this one in Gippsland are charting their path forward with strategic partnerships with key stakeholders and technology is driving transformational change.”

“This Centre will be a lighthouse for innovation for the region, hosting events, accelerator programs and start-up business programs as they collectively seek to create new economic opportunities for our regional economy.”