Global Innovation Centre

Founded in early 2000, the Global Innovation Centre had its genesis in 1991 with the establishment of InterTech Management, one of the first technology management practices in Australia. Between 1991 and 1999, InterTech conducted a large number of consultancies for a diverse range of public and private sector clients.

To better capitalise on InterTech's success and growing network gained through its lengthy exposure to the technology marketplace and an increasingly international clientale, the Global Innovation Centre was established as a new vehicle focused on the innovation and commercialisation processes itself and the application of those processes in different environments utilising a network of highly experienced practitioners at the forefront of developments in global innovation.

The Centre acts as a business gateway and utilizes an extensive number of strategic contacts in Australia, US, China and Singapore. Through established alliances in these countries, the organisation is in a position to immediately react to international and national opportunities.

GIC Services

Linked services offered by GIC include:

• Application of innovation models to support regional and community development. These models recognise that there are a number of interlinked strategies that need to be employed in a region to stimulate its growth taking into account both economic and non-economic factors. Commencing from a foundation of an accessible and affordable communications infrastructure, other factors such as the establishment of clusters, portal development, new education delivery technologies, technology commercialisation, managerial competence and flexible planning approaches are integral to innovation growth in regions
• Technology commercialisation, including early market identification and evaluation of commercialisation possibilities. Through its "Pathway to Commercialisation" model, the Centre project manages and shortens the entire commercialisation process for selected products and projects - from technology assessment, to market research, to intellectual property protection, to business planning, to accessing pre-seed, seed and venture capital funding
• New economy marketing and communications, helping organisations gain competitive advantage in the new economy through innovative online communications, marketing and web strategies.
• World Wide Working. Often called e-work, WWWk is a new way of working in which face to face contact in the workplace is replaced by virtual interaction between employees and firms using information and communication technologies (ICTs) to communicate and coordinate activities. As a result, employees don't have to be located in the same office, nor do service firms have to be located near clients. Instead, work can be carried out independent of location with employees and firms collaborating on tasks across long distances

The Centre adopts a holistic approach to any assignment. The methodology established for the client recognises that each task performed must be interdependent with all other tasks necessary to achieve a successful commercial outcome. The focus of the Centre is on the establishment of long-term commercial relationships based on trust and integrity. Only the most experienced practitioners are engaged on assignments. If the specific expertise is not available in the Centre, it will access its network to bring in the capability on a sub-consultancy basis.

Track Record

Examples of past consultancies carried out by GIC and its senior staff include:

• Advisor to a range of start-up companies in the advanced technology area, including submission of grant proposals to government funding bodies and preparation of Business Plans.
• Preparation of a Business Plan for the establishment of a commercial environment industry organisation for Queensland.
• Operational review of Scientific Services section of Queensland Rail, in partnership with the (former) Coopers and Lybrand.
• Formulation of a proposal for the establishment of an International Training Centre for the Griffith University
  New Economy Marketing & Communications.
• Market research and useability testing for Northern Territory Government's Department of Mines and Energy.
• Management and development of marketing and communications collateral for a range of private and public sector companies.
• Web site implementation and management.
• Formulation of Information Technology, Telecommunications and Electronics marketing profiles for the Queensland Government (each year) 1993-1997.
• As a consortium member, conduct of the first Queensland ICT survey and development of a product/service catalogue for Queensland ICT industries.
• Provision of an assessment of the communications environment for the study of the communications infrastructure, QUESTnet Stage 3.
• Advisor to Dascom Technology Pty Ltd (ICT Company) - Hong Kong and China.
• Business Consultant for the broad range of technologies produced by the Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation in Sydney (1991 - 1997).
• Market research & marketing of supercomputers for a Boston-based US company (5 years).
• International business advisory role for companies in the (i) construction industry and (ii) waste management and pollution control (in Singapore).
• Preparation of a strategy for the Queensland Government to attract telecommunications-based organisations to Queensland particularly from Hong Kong & Singapore.
• Providision of background information to the Bond University in relation to the attraction of major ICT-based investment to the Bond Research Park.

Contact Details

John Humphreys - Managing Director
Email: john@globalinnovation.com.au
Tel: 61+ 7 3831 1636
Fax: 61+ 7 3831 2944

Street Address:
Suite 1, 290 Boundary, Spring Hill, Brisbane Qld 4000 Australia
Postal Address:
GPO Box 2395 Brisbane Qld 4001, Australia