Far North businesses given chance to show off innovative ideas

AN awards program that showcases innovation and forward thinking is open to businesses across the Far North.

The Tropical North Queensland Innovation Awards (TNQIA) were launched in Cairns yesterday, with eight awards up for grabs.

Mayor Bob Manning was joined by Queensland Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy and Minister for Small Business Leeanne Enoch to open the awards program at Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome.

The minister said Cairns batted well above its weight in terms of the number of start-ups the city produced.

“Cairns is an absolute standout in Queensland,” she said.

Cr Manning said the awards would showcase inventive and innovative ideas, projects and processes. “There are more than 23,000 locally owned businesses in the TNQ region, and these generate $12 billion gross regional product annually,” he said.

“We know there are some extremely talented individuals within that business community who are developing some great new ideas. These awards are about recognising that creative thinking and the business success to which it can lead.”

Newly created award categories recognise the importance of the planning process in the development of a new product or service.

Entries close on August 8. Awards will be presented during Global Entrepreneurship Week in November.

The awards are open to individuals and businesses from across the FNQ region.

For a full list of eligible council areas and more information on the awards and how to enter, visit www.innovatetnq.com.au/