The Hunter Innovation Festival is back for 2021, kicking off on Monday 3rd of May, until Sunday the 16th, with this year’s festival theme ‘Innovate to Regenerate.’

Made up of more than 40 events, the festival aims to connect, inspire, educate and promote a culture of innovation throughout the Hunter.

The events will range from interactive workshops, to information sessions on how to secure funding for new ventures, tech play for all ages, tours of local businesses achieving great things, business lunches, inspirational talks and more.

The festival is to create connectivity across community, business and industry, government and education, which is reflected, in the diverse range of events in the festival line-up.

It will focus on making innovation accessible through hybrid and virtual events, as well as relevant and connective live events across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and all the way up to Scone.

The Hunter is the leading regional economy in Australia, and in order to maintain that position, occasions like the festival are needed to connect people, ideas and capabilities to continue fostering innovation.  It plays a big part in connecting emerging and experienced innovators and entrepreneurs through a number of events including ‘Startup Stories’.

Growth in the innovation eco-system provides the greatest economic opportunities for the region’s future, holding the key to solving social and environmental challenges. Innovation is vital to the creation of a circular economy, and a vibrant future for the Hunter Valley Region.

AusIndustry, who instigated the first Innovation Festival back in 2002, actively supports the Innovation Festival.

Natalie Gillam, AusIndustry Hunter Regional Manager, sees the festival as a valuable way to bring innovation awareness to the entire Hunter.

With such a passionate, dedicated team of sponsors and volunteers, the Innovation Festival will bring short and long-term gains to the entire Hunter Region.