Advance Queensland

800+ minds. 80+ speakers. Endless ideas on the future of government.

BiiG 2026 delivered - bringing together public sector leaders, innovators and partners for a high-energy few days of insight, connection and real-world application. From AI and emerging tech to leadership, systems thinking and collaboration, one message came through loud and clear: real innovation starts with people, not just technology.

Some standout takeaways:
🔹 Solve the right problem - start with context, not solutions
🔹 Collaboration is everything - across agencies, sectors and communities
🔹 Do less, better - prioritise what truly delivers impact
🔹 Practical tools and real examples matter most - turning ideas into action

The impact speaks for itself: 96% positive experience and 93% would recommend BiiG to a colleague, reinforcing its place as a flagship event for capability building and cross-sector collaboration.

Energising, inspiring and packed with practical takeaways - BiiG 2026 left attendees better connected and ready to drive meaningful change where it matters most.

It was great to see the momentum building through 2026 in Mackay last month, bringing together innovators, industry, and government to accelerate tech-enabled, innovation driven enterprises (IDEs) across regional Queensland.

The event reinforced a critical shift: technology isn’t something happening elsewhere, it’s being built, adopted, and scaled locally.

From startups and established businesses alike, the opportunity is clear:
➕Connect across Queensland, Australia and globally without leaving your region
➕Build capability and confidence in new technologies
➕Translate ideas into practical outcomes that drive jobs and growth

The strength of Tech Verge lies in collaboration with industry, ecosystem, and government working together to:
➕support IDEs to scale
➕help businesses adopt emerging technologies
➕ensure regional communities can participate in and benefit from innovation

Insights from the two days highlighted strong demand for practical digital capability support, AI adoption programs, and trusted implementation approaches. While many organisations are already exploring or using digital tools, challenges remain around time, capacity, access to trusted advice, and turning intent into action.

The Queensland Government is proud to support Greater Whitsunday Innovation through the Regional Enablers Program, enabling the delivery of targeted initiatives that connect businesses with expertise, build local capability, and create ongoing opportunities for business growth and innovation across the Greater Whitsunday region.

For business, the message is clear: Greater Whitsunday already has the tools, talent, and networks to innovate, and Tech Verge helps connect businesses to practical, implementable they can adopt now.

Take flight this National Science Week on the Sunshine Coast 🚀

We’re excited to share an early look at something special coming this August…
✈️ Future Flight Science Fair
📅 Saturday, 15 August 2026
📍 Warana (Sunshine Coast)
🕙 10am–4pm
🎟️ Free, family-friendly (registration required)

This one-day, street-fair-style event will transform local carparks into a hands-on celebration of the science of flight—led by the incredible eVTOL student team.

💡 What to expect:
➕ Design, 3D print and fly your own glider
➕ VR flight simulator experiences
➕ Live demos of student-built aircraft
➕ Robots, drones and emerging tech
➕ Real conversations with engineering students and industry professionals
➕ Food trucks, activities and all-day family fun

✈️ About the eVTOL Student Team
This event is powered by the Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) Student Team, an initiative we’ve helped fund and develop in partnership with industry and education providers. Backed by a $200,000 Queensland Government investment, the program has already generated more than $1.26 million in social and economic value while creating real-world pathways for more than 30 students into engineering, aerospace and advanced manufacturing careers.

Led by Manufacturing Excellence Forum Sunshine Coast alongside UniSC, Sunshine Coast Makerspace, Javelin Aerospace and FAIT Corporation, the team is working toward an ambitious goal: designing, building and flying a full-scale electric aircraft by 203b ... right here on the coast. Along the way, they’re building critical skills, strengthening local industry capability and inspiring the next generation of aerospace innovators.

This event is all about inspiring the next generation ... showing young people, students and families the exciting career pathways in STEM that exist in our region.

More details to come soon ... stay tuned!

Calling industry and innovators: scale up your tech to protect the Great Barrier Reef with innovation 👏

Applications now open for the $24M Great Barrier Reef Urban Technology and Innovation Fund, a joint initiative by the Queensland and Australian governments to tackle urban water pollution.

This Fund supports the trial and commercialisation of affordable, cutting-edge technologies to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution in wastewater, stormwater and urban run-off flowing to the Great Barrier Reef.

💧 Wastewater Grant Program
• Tier 1: Up to $4M for large-scale trials of innovative wastewater treatment systems.
• Tier 2: Up to $200K to commercialise promising wastewater technologies.
Applications close: 10am on Monday, 17 August 2026

🌱 Stormwater Challenge
The Stormwater Challenge aims to tackle urban water run-off pollution before it impacts the Great Barrier Reef. We’re seeking councils, industry, researchers, innovators, developers, and experts to create practical, affordable, and scalable solutions.

With over $7M in funding available, this is your chance to help shape the solution. Register today!

🔗 Learn more and apply: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/coasts-waterways/reef/reef-program/urban-technology-innovation-fund

Is your innovation precinct ready to grow world-class infrastructure to position Queensland precincts to reach their full potential?

SEQ Innovation Economy Fund is open for Round 2 applications 🙌 (But hurry, applications close in one week!) 🏃‍♂️

The fund will support capital projects to accelerate SEQ’s innovation precincts, paving the way for new knowledge-intensive jobs and supercharging the region’s innovation economy 🚀

Eligible local governments, industry, public and private entities can apply for funding ranging from $500,000 to $5.2 million.

This initiative, part of the SEQ City Deal—a partnership between the Australian Government, Queensland Government, and the Council of Mayors (SEQ)—aims to create lasting benefits for one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions.

Learn more and apply here 👉 https://bit.ly/3QnWClv

🚀 Queensland’s innovation ecosystem has a digital home – are you on it yet?

Dealroom Queensland is your go-to platform to connect with startups, scaleups, investors, hubs, and accelerators – all in one place.

Whether you're a founder, funder, researcher or policymaker, Dealroom makes it easier to discover opportunities, unlock insights, and grow your impact.

🔎 Explore Queensland’s innovation landscape
🌏 Get discovered by global investors
📍 Find hubs, precincts, and programs
📣 Claim your free profile to boost visibility and attract new connections

Don’t just be in the ecosystem – be seen in it.
👉 queensland.dealroom.co

We’re proud to celebrate Clarissa Yates, CEO & Co‑Founder of Ketim Technologies, and a former recipient of the Female Founders Co‑Investment Fund! 🎉

Clarissa’s journey is nothing short of remarkable. After experiencing postpartum depression (PPD) herself, she turned her lived experience into purpose - relocating from Perth to Brisbane to pursue a PhD in Neuroscience and deepen her understanding of depression. From that drive, Ketim Technologies was born.

Today, Ketim is leading the way in maternal health innovation. Their groundbreaking work has resulted in the world’s first blood-based diagnostic test for postpartum depression, using patented protein biomarkers and AI/ML-enabled risk scoring to predict a mother’s risk as early as 24 weeks into pregnancy, with 94% accuracy.

The impact is profound:
✅ Earlier identification and support for mothers
✅ Objective tools for clinicians
✅ Better outcomes and reduced strain on health systems

Since receiving support through the Female Founders Co‑Investment Fund, Ketim Technologies has continued to go from strength to strength, progressing its commercialisation pathway, securing key partnerships with a leading U.S. life sciences company, and raising $1.2 million in pre-seed funding.

Clarissa’s vision, backed by science and driven by purpose, is improving the lives of millions of women worldwide - and helping reshape the future of maternal healthcare.

Congratulations, Clarissa, on everything you and the Ketim team have achieved. We’re proud to have supported you on this journey and look forward to what’s ahead!

Learn more: www.ketim.com.au

JASHIE 2026 Delegation to Japan – EOIs Now Open

Join the Japan Australia Sports & Health Innovation Exchange (JASHIE) 2026 Delegation from 9–13 November 2026.

This five-day program will take participants to Tokyo, Osaka and Awaji Island, connecting Australian organisations with leading Japanese innovators across sport, health, technology and beyond.

Gain direct access to industry leaders, curated networking, and business matching opportunities - building partnerships ahead of Brisbane 2032.

⚠️ Places are limited.
📅 EOIs close: 5:00pm, Friday 10 July 2026
👉 Apply now: https://bit.ly/4uWmeVU

Is your innovation precinct ready to grow world-class infrastructure to position Queensland precincts to reach their full potential?

SEQ Innovation Economy Fund is open for Round 2 applications 🙌

The fund will support capital projects to accelerate SEQ’s innovation precincts, paving the way for new knowledge-intensive jobs and supercharging the region’s innovation economy 🚀

Eligible local governments, industry, public and private entities can apply for funding ranging from $500,000 to $5.2 million.

This initiative, part of the SEQ City Deal—a partnership between the Australian Government, Queensland Government, and the Council of Mayors (SEQ)—aims to create lasting benefits for one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions.

Learn more and apply here 👉 https://bit.ly/3QnWClv

AutoRFP.ai is proof that with the right support, Queensland innovation can thrive on the global stage.

We’re proud to support the state’s brightest minds and most ambitious startups through the Ignite Ideas Fund. One standout success story from the 2024 funding round is AutoRFP.ai, a Brisbane-based AI platform that has achieved extraordinary growth and international recognition in just a few short years.

With the support of Ignite Ideas funding, AutoRFP.ai has:
1. Grown from a two-founder startup to a team of over 20 employees.
2. Achieved an impressive 700% revenue growth over the past three years.
3. Expanded globally, establishing teams in Vancouver and Stockholm, alongside a rapidly growing presence in Brisbane.

The funding enabled AutoRFP.ai to deliver more impactful sales demonstrations and campaigns. These initiatives directly delivered over $1.3 million contributing towards the rapid annual recurring revenue growth and helped win enterprise clients across 44 countries. Today, the platform is trusted by leading global enterprises, including Fortune 500 companies and a Silicon Valley unicorn.

AutoRFP.ai’s achievements are a testament to the power of innovation and the strength of Queensland’s startup ecosystem. Some of their recent accolades include:

🏆 Winner of the “AI Startup of the Year” category at the 2024 Queensland AI Awards hosted by the Queensland AI Hub.
🌟 Featured in The Courier-Mail article “Seven new QLD tech start-ups that are breaking new ground,” profiling emerging Queensland startups.
📈 Ranked #5 in the Rising Star category of Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 Australia 2025, achieving 734% revenue growth over three years.
🌍 Recognised in G2’s 2026 Growth Rankings – Ranked #44 in G2’s 2026 Fastest Growing Products list, placing it among the top-ranked products within that category on G2.

AutoRFP.ai’s success story underscores the incredible potential of Queensland’s innovation ecosystem. By supporting startups through initiatives like the Ignite Ideas Fund, we’re helping to create jobs, drive economic growth, and position Queensland as a global leader in technology and innovation.

Congratulations to the entire AutoRFP.ai team on their remarkable achievements 👏 We’re excited to see what the future holds for this homegrown success story and look forward to supporting more Queensland innovators on their journey to global impact.

📸 At the 2024 Ai Hub award: Jasper Cooper, Co-Founder, Louis Lloyd-Besson, Co-Founder