Flinders University’s (NVI) has been recognised again as one of the leading university business accelerators in the latest UBI World Benchmark study, winning a coveted place as one of three entrepreneurial incubators to top the Asia-Pacific region for 2019/20, and the only Australian incubator to feature in the trusted rankings.
The Stockholm-based UBI study is the most extensive ranking exercise for university-linked business incubators and accelerators. It assessed 1,580 different programs across 82 countries this year, revealing those leading the world at the World Incubation Summit held in Doha, Qatar, on 6 November 2019.
The NVI also topped the Asia-Pacific region in last year’s rankings.
Outperforming the top 10% of incubation programs worldwide in the category ‘talent retention and competence development’, the institute also performed well for economy enhancement, access to networks, program attractiveness and post-graduation performance.
“We are extremely proud of this global recognition. It is a credit to the strength of our award-winning business support programs and the hard work of our talented entrepreneurs, university staff, mentors and business networks,” says NVI Director (Acting) Aron Hausler.
“It is humbling to be the only Australian incubator recognised in this year’s awards across 1580 programs in 82 countries. This builds on our 2018 award for overall impact and performance in the Asia-Pacific region.”
Since 2013, the NVI has held more than 12,000 events, trained over 2,000 innovators, and founded, supported and grown 421 startups – an impressive feat for the institute which was only established in 2013.
It supports Flinders University’s broader programs through the co-development of innovation and enterprise topics, that are now available in every Flinders’ program and has contributed to the University’s for entrepreneurial education.
One of the NVI’s greatest strengths is an exceptionally high number of alumni entrepreneurs that remain engaged with the institute and chose to locate their operations alongside it at Adelaide’s Tonsley Innovation District.
Being located at Australia’s first innovation precinct gives NVI students, alumni and clients the opportunity to access world-class research, training and networks in a single multi-use hub, and take full advantage of South Australia’s capabilities in health, renewable energy, technology and mining.
NVI delivers both accredited and non-accredited programs which instil a startup mindset, skill set and tool set plus access to networks to empower participants as entrepreneurs in their own businesses, or valuable ‘intrapreneurs’ in their workplaces and industries.
This year has been pivotal to expanding its contributions, with programs now offered in Adelaide, the Limestone Coast region, Barossa, Yorke Peninsula and Mid North region together with Byron Bay in NSW.
The New Venture Institute is committed to forging new and innovative ways of bringing research and industry together to commercialise new technologies and bolster economic growth and job opportunities.
UBI rankings
