Every great festival has a comprehensive gig guide, so here’s a snapshot of some of the action you won’t want to miss at Melbourne Connect’s inaugural Innovation Week, a five-day festival delivered by the community who call this precinct home. 

Innovation Week is a chance to discover the people, projects, and possibilities making Melbourne Connect a place for curious conversations and bringing together the most brilliant minds to tackle some of the most pressing problems facing our society.

Connect with a community of researchers, industry, startups, SME’s, government, students, artists and the new Science Gallery Melbourne, with over 30 events to choose from ranging from panels to pitches, exhibits to entrepreneurial expos, it’s going to be an action packed week and below are some of the highlights.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK

Let’s start with this year’s Menzies Oration delivered by one of the most renowned social innovation minds on the planet Professor Paul Tracey (Professor of Innovation & Organisation and Co-Director of the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation at Cambridge University). Paul’s oration will focus on the progression of ‘Agenda 2030’ – the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and be followed by a global panel discussion on the important role impact investment must play in reaching these goals. The ticket response reflects the quality of this talent, expect wisdom bombs to be dropping regularly with this one.

Next, take the chance to step behind-the-curtain with The Conversation and discover what being part of a live-editorial newsroom really feels like, and then stick around for a discussion on the impact of technology on meditation practices and later that day sit back to be part of an emerging tech pitch night with some of Melbourne’s best startup talent.

Explore the new Telstra Creator Space with a 30 minute virtual tour of this state-of-the art maker space at Melbourne Connect. Spread over two floors and filled with 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, and power tools, it’s one of the most exciting parts of the precinct and the perfect place to turn ideas into prototypes.

There’s plenty for the tech heads, with an expert panel exploring how to harness AI to transform your business. Whilst the following day there’s a chance to speed date a founder, offering access to some of the most exciting emerging entrepreneurial talent from one of Australia’s leading startup accelerators. 

If stories are your passion, hear how specialist Maxillofacial consultant Dr George Dimitroulis has built Australia’s first 3D printed TMJ medical device and made MAXONIQ a leader in this field, or come by and discover how Associate Professor Nick Thieberger has built 50 Words, an interactive digital display enabling students to learn 50 words from every Indigenous language in Australia.

Keep your finger on the pulse of the biggest challenges and opportunities for innovation in aging, with a Fireside chat with the Founder of Aging 2.0 Stephen Johnson joined by Kyall Walker, Head of Venturing BUPA ANZ and local startup supporter Marc Niemes, or make time to mingle with the next wave of student talent at this meetup event, with a focus on networking and getting to know your neighbours these really are the best and brightest in the country and are all too eager to be part of the Melbourne Connect community.

On top of all this we’ve got a placemaking symposium from internationally renowned architects ClarkeHopkinsClarke, as well as important discussions on the role of scientific research and education, and the challenges universities face in delivering both – and so much more.

We hope to see you at Innovation Week 2021.