The Innovation Centre environment can provide a competitive edge to businesses in many sectors, the three sectors below are of particular interest:

1. Information Communications Technology (ICT)

Queensland has a rapidly growing ICT sector. The Innovation Centre provides a base to develop a competitive business in areas such as e-business, e-learning, software development, multimedia, games, open source and wireless.

The Centre has high-speed connectivity with fibre access (155Mb bearer) to serve the needs of a growing web based community.

The Innovation Centre’s campus location also helps businesses to tap in to talent with a growing base of students in undergraduate programs such as ICT, Software Engineering and Design with courses in animation, 3D modelling and multimedia design.

The Queensland Government’s ICT Learning Innovation Centre – sponsored by Microsoft – is also based on the University campus; pioneering new uses of ICT to support learning across the State’s schools.

2. Sustainable industries 

South East Queensland is one of Australia’s fastest growing regions and many of businesses in the infrastructure sector are developing innovative and sustainable products and services.

The Innovation Centre has already been home to businesses in the areas of sustainable water and renewable energy. Other emerging areas of interest include sub-tropical architecture, sustainable and affordable housing and building materials design.

The Innovation Centre is working towards becoming the 'Green Tech' capital of Australia as suggested by Swedish innovation expert Sven Thore-Holm.

For businesses wishing to tap into university talent, the University of the Sunshine Coast is now offering a Bachelor of Engineering (Construction Management) and a Bachelor of Engineering (Water and Sustainable Resource Management).

3. Sports, health and wellbeing

Sport and health are big business. The Innovation Centre’s campus location provides and attractive environment and a competitive edge for businesses in these sectors.

The USC School of Health and Sport Science has several world class researchers, offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, and provides sports science services to international sporting teams including the New Zealand All Blacks, Swimming Australia and the Australian Paralympic Team.

The campus includes an IAAF-standard athletics track, an indoor sports stadium, outdoor hard courts for tennis, basketball and netball, playing fields and a five-storey health and sports centre is under construction beside the stadium. A 50m swimming pool is also planned.

This combination of on-campus office location, the ability to tap into university talent, sporting facilities and an attractive lifestyle and climate will be attractive for businesses involved in the design and testing of sports equipment, apparel, footwear and accessories or in sports event management or training.

Similar opportunities also exist in the health sector, where the University has – or is planning - degree programs and related facilities for Nursing, Paramedics and Occupational Therapy.

Opportunities also exist relating to productive ageing.  USC has a close relationship with the National Seniors Productive Ageing Centre which undertakes research and related activities into the needs of seniors in retirement, focusing on ageing and the productivity of seniors in the community.

The Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast is also a member of the Sports Business Sunshine Coast.