METS Ignited and the Queensland Government, along with Startup Toowoomba and Canvas Coworking have launched METS Innovators Regional Accelerator (MIRA) Darling Downs, a new program to drive the commercial acceleration of mining equipment, technology and services (METS) SMEs, Scaleups and Startups in regional Queensland.
The program follows the successful Igniting METS accelerator pilot – an initiative of METS Ignited and the Queensland Government – with a dedicated focus on startups, scale-ups and small-to-medium enterprises in regional Queensland. MIRA Darling Downs is a pre-accelerator intended to help these businesses improve and accelerate their commercial outcomes including increasing competitiveness, gaining traction in the market with their solutions and establishing robust and sustainable businesses.
Startup Toowoomba Director David Masefield commented, “We are really excited to be launching the METS Innovators Regional Accelerator Darling Downs right here at Canvas Coworking in Toowoomba. We are looking forward to working with innovative entrepreneurs and experienced industry experts to develop and commercialise new and creative products and services that will help position the Queensland METS sector as a centre of innovation globally”.
METS Ignited Acting CEO Dr Ian Dover said METS Innovators Regional Accelerator Darling Downs would support new and growing METS companies in regional areas to access the program – usually only available in metropolitan areas – which provides training, coaching and mentoring and allows them access to industry leaders from the mining, METS and energy resources sectors. “The regional accelerators are here to help innovators all around the stage, from SMEs to Scaleups to Startups to accelerate their industry connections and business growth opportunities,” said Dr Dover.
The MIRA Darling Downs program will focus on the key elements of identifying and addressing business capability gaps, as well as less formal coaching, and mentoring from qualified and experienced partners from industry.
Joy Taylor, Startup Toowoomba’s Program Director for MIRA Darling Downs, said, “MIRA has been developed to suit the needs of SMEs, Scaleups and Startups in regional areas, with content tailored to the needs of early-stage and scale-up founders. Our mentors have experience across a wide range of fields both within and outside the mining and technology sectors, which will support the acceleration of each of the entrepreneurs on their journey to develop a viable business that supports the METS sector in Queensland and globally”.
Applications for MIRA Darling Downs are now open online.
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