• Minister for Innovation and ICT to host Innovation Consortium today
• Leaders from the innovation community to focus on how innovation can create WA jobs
• High growth small-to-medium enterprises generally represent six per cent of an economy but create 54 per cent of all new jobs

Innovation and ICT Minister Dave Kelly will today host leaders from across the innovation sector at an Innovation Consortium.
 
The consortium will focus on how innovation can create jobs in Western Australia with invitees drawn from across the sector representing start-ups, innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and established businesses.
 
Start-ups and high growth small and medium-sized enterprises have a significant role to play in job creation and economic diversification.
 
The consortium will explore how to strengthen the innovation environment and identify ways to build on WA's competitive advantages to further grow jobs.
 
Outcomes from the consortium will feed into future government decision-making in this area.
 
As part of its Plan for Jobs, the McGowan Government has committed to establishing a New Industries Fund to support and accelerate new and emerging businesses and create WA jobs in the burgeoning high-tech sector.
 
Comments attributed to Innovation and ICT Minister Dave Kelly:
 
"As Minister for Innovation and ICT, I am keen to ensure that our Government meaningfully engages with participants within the innovation sector.
 
"This Innovation Consortium is a vital tool to build a collaborative working partnership between all stakeholders, both public and private, in the years ahead.
 
"Primarily, our discussion will focus on how innovation can deliver Western Australian jobs, as we seek to grow and diversify the State's economy.
 
"A study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development found high growth small-to-medium enterprises generally represent six per cent of an economy but create 54 per cent of all new jobs."