Following the success of the inaugural 5 Days of Innovation festival in 2010, the festival is back this May bigger and better. In fact, the festival is so packed full of Innovation it has actually spilt over into a sixth day.
Tasmanian's 5 Days of Innovation Festival will be held for a week at the end of May. Celebrating innovation in all its forms across Northern Tasmania, events will showcase innovative practices in business, art, food, technology and primary industry.
The festival’s aim is to promote innovation and to encourage the spread and adoption of innovative ideas within the Tasmanian business community. The festival focuses on the way innovation can act as a stimulus in times of economic uncertainty by unlocking new income sources and making business practices more efficient.
The 2012 festival highlights include:
Launch Breakfast:
Kick off the 2012 5 Days of Innovation Festival with the Breakfast Launch.
The Key Note speaker for the Breakfast will be:
Dr Graham Mitchell who is the Principal – Foursight Associates
Dr Graham is the Chair of our Science and Research Sector Advisory Committee and a joint Chief Scientist of Victoria.
The Minister for Economic Development David O’Byrne will be present to open the breakfast and speak to the audience.
Held on: Monday the 28th May.
Q and A forum on business growth
Local small business experts will discuss matters relating to innovation for small business growth. This is a must-attend event for all small business owners and will feature live social media feeds and virtual participants and a panel of experts answering all of the hard questions about your business.
Held on: Monday the 28th May.
Mumpreneurs Innovation Event
Run exclusively for women, this seminar talks women through all the ins and outs of creating an innovative microbusiness from home. Covering how to work out if your idea can make money, how to get from idea to sale, using social media effectively to build your brand and how to achieve a harmonious work/life balance. If you are a stay-at-home mum with big ideas this is the seminar for you.
Held on: Wednesday the 30th of May.
Pitch Club
The festival will encompass the long awaited Northern Tasmanian round of Pitch Club. In Pitch Club participants go head-to-head against each other to see who has the best pitch for a new business. Pitch Club aims to connect people with new business ideas to people with business knowledge and potential investors – this is a great opportunity for people with big ideas to test them out in a public forum and gauge potential interest.
Held on: Wednesday the 30th of May.
A special Junior Pitch Club will be held in the afternoon.
Pitch Club will be held in the evening.
The Great Debate: Can the digital future save the current economy?
Participants will vigorously debate the value of technological innovation and whether it is the saviour of business or just another fad. Not to be missed, the debate was one of the most popular events of the last festival, and this one is shaping up to be equally exciting.
Held on: Thursday the 31st May.
Innovation in Dance and Light
Launceston’s own Stompin youth dance group will perform with local photographer Jasper de Seymour to create photography and special lighting effects, a must see for everyone who enjoys the new form of Art.
Held on: Thursday the 31st May
Savour the Harvest Feast-ival
The festival concludes with a celebration of innovation in food and distribution systems. Harvest Launceston farmers market will be the scene of a produce treasure hunt featuring local and national celebrity chefs who will conduct a masterclass using fresh Tasmanian ingredients on site at the markets. This will be followed by a gala lunch under a marquee at the markets.
The festival also features a number of networking events where participants can get together and discuss innovation and all matters business while meeting innovators from all sectors. Other notable events during the festival include: A workshop in unique art-form of light painting, beer and cider brewing and tasting masterclass. For more information, see the 2012 Festival page.