Larry Lopez

Time is money, but research takes time. It’s the paradox facing innovative entrepreneurs across the state attempting to source capital to commercialise their ideas.

MORE than two years after the federal government axed its Commercial Ready program, the innovation sector is still waiting for stability and certainty of government support.

WHAT makes a group of venture capital investors from California travel halfway around the globe to a mining town in their search for technology opportunities?

A University of Western Australia research team has been awarded this year’s WA Innovator of the Year award, for its development of a gene technology that greatly improves the quality of life of people suffering from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Perth’s entrepreneurial community needs a success story if it’s to secure venture capital, particularly from major players overseas.

Prominent players in WA’s innovation sector acknowledge the need for start-ups to be sustainable, but have urged continued state support.

Australia is at significant risk of a digital ‘invasion’ by overseas tech companies keen to disrupt the economic status quo.

Blue chip mineral sands miner Iluka Resources and small biotech Sun Biomedical are as different as chalk and cheese; but what they share, apart from a Perth base, is a willingness to invest in Western Australia’s emerging technology ‘accelerator’ programs.

WA business is well positioned to bring forward a new era of research and development in technology, but hurdles remain.

Perth-based software firm APE Mobile has raised $2 million through private equity fund managers Jolimont Global and Viburnum Funds.

The call is clear – government and angel investors need to do more to help startup businesses.

THE innovation and diversification of Californian businesses, and the rapid growth they have driven, hold valuable lessons for Western Australia’s economic development, according to some of the state’s leading policy minds.

Saybubble has been named Techboard’s highest trending company for this fortnight, following strong international news coverage and social media engagement.

Now in its sixth year, the annual OzApp Awards concluded last night announcing the 2016 winner as Townsville-based Safety Culture, selected from five grand finalists which included Perth-based Formalytics, Melbourne’s Law Advisor and Reword, and Shippit (Sydney).