Company History
The Industry Development Centre (Hunter) Ltd (IDC) is a not-for-profit business services organisation established in 1992 to assist industry development in the Hunter Region and thereby create employment opportunities. Originally funded through a Federal Government initiative the IDC is now funded through fee-for-service activities, delivery of NSW State Government innovation initiatives, a well established conference centre, and tenancy and business services.
The IDC Vision is:
‘Creating business opportunities by connecting Hunter businesses to each other and to the world.’
The delivery of this vision has evolved over the life of the IDC to meet the changing needs of business and has now extended beyond the Hunter to service the needs of innovative businesses throughout Australia. The range of services, programs and initiatives delivered by the IDC since establishment include (but is not limited to) the following.
1995 to present - Innovation Advisory Service
Under the auspice of the New South Wales Department of State and Regional Development (DSRD) the IDC established an Innovation Advisory Service based in the Hunter, which has now been extended to regional NSW. The role of the service is to assist inventors and innovative small businesses take their ideas to market through a process of education, evaluation and commercialisation. The service ranks as the most successful in New South Wales and constantly delivers the following outcomes:
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Service more than 1000 innovation clients per year;
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Deliver a range of seminars and workshops on commercialising innovation/s;
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Develop and implement commercialisation plans with, and for clients;
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Provide linkages through an effective network of industry, professional and government agencies;
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Connect qualified clients with programs such as COMET, R&D Tax Concessions, Australian Technology Showcase; and
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Deliver a Regional Innovation Advisory Service program to regional areas. This seminar and consultation series presents advice on Commercialisation, Intellectual Property and Grants and Support (AusIndustry and NSW Department of State and Regional Development). Previous series have been delivered in Albury, Queanbeyan, Wollongong, Tamworth, Orange, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Tweed Heads, Ballina and Lismore.
Current initiatives include:
Hunter Founders Forum
Founders Forum is an angel investor network devoted to assisting early-stage investment opportunities. Members from throughout the Hunter invest, sit on boards, make introductions, consult and share their experiences with other angels and business associates. IDC's Executive Officer, Darrell Nicholls is a Nominated Advisor (NOMAD) for the Hunter Founders Forum.
Hunter Entrepreneur’s Program
The Hunter Entrepreneur’s Program is aimed at young entrepreneurs with an innovative service, product or process that are ready and committed to grow their business. It is designed to help your business develop skills to grow and/or become investment ready. IDC sits on the panel of experts, providing mentor services to Hunter Entrepreneur’s Program participants.
2000 to present - Innovation Cluster Programs
Building on the previous work with clusters the IDC delivers a successful Innovation Cluster program funded by NSW DSRD. Current cluster programs managed by the IDC include:
- Building and Construction Cluster - This cluster is now entering its fourth year and continues to deliver technology awareness, business practice improvement and networking to a range of SMEs in the industry (45 firms as members); and
- Advanced Manufacturing Cluster - The need for this cluster was identified through research into the Textile, Clothing and Footwear industry in the Hunter. The focus has been extended to provide support to a range of manufacturing SMEs in latest technology and business practices. This program targets a minimum of 30 member firms.
2006 to present – Australian Patent Attorney Directory
IDC launched the Australian Patent Attorney Directory in April 2006 in aim of providing a leading referral point for inventors and innovative small business seeking patent attorney services. The Directory was launched as part of the Australian Innovation Festival and coincided with World IP Day.
2002 to present – IDC Commercialisation Products and Services
IDC’s commercialisation arm founded – in consultation with inventors and innovative small businesses, IDC’s dedicated innovation services team develop range of highly specialised commercialisation products and services, helping innovators take their new ideas from ‘concept-to-commercialisation’.
2001- 2002 - Business Builders Program
Through the Building and Construction cluster the IDC secured funding under the Federal Government “Business Builder Program” and delivered a successful trade mission for the building products and services related industries into the Pacific Islands market region. Some 30 firms were involved in the program which culminated in the group attending a trade show in Fiji and securing a number of export orders for group members.
2000 – Research and Development (R&D) Grants
IDC facilitated a number of Hunter based businesses access to R&D Grants. In particular the success of Sensational Foods in 2000 receiving the then highest R&D Start program in the Hunter.
1998 - Business Networks Program
IDC was the host organisation for the Federal Government Business Networks Program. Eight Feasibility and Business Plan studies were completed over the three year program. The Business Network Program involved identifying and recruiting individual businesses to come together to form a hard network to achieve outcomes that they would not have been able to achieve on their own. Often these member businesses would be competitors in the business world but the process enabled the development of trust leading to feasibility plans for the network and eventually business plans supporting the ongoing network. Networks were established in Wine, Sustainable Industries, Water Pipeline and Glass Pressure Chamber.
As a result of the Water Pipeline Network the IDC provided initial support for the Pokolbin pipeline project which combined private sector and Government funding that drought proofed the Pokolbin Region through a Private Irrigation District (PID).
1998 – Industry Capability Network (ICN)
IDC provided underwriting sponsorship to enable the establishment of an Industrial Supplies Office (now ICN) in the Hunter. This service is now well established and provides an invaluable resource to the Region.
1996 - Bizlink Program
IDC established expert advice and support in the delivery of information through the Federal Government Bizlink program. This was a crucial service at the time in Newcastle with the wind down of BHP and the growth of the individual contractor sector. The program provided the link between SMEs and the various Government initiatives at the time.
1996 – Cluster Mapping Program
In association with the Hunter Regional Development Organisation (HURDO), IDC undertook an extensive Cluster Mapping Program which culminated in the first draft publication of the Hunter Economic Development Strategy – Hunter Advantage in 1996. Cluster mapping studies were completed on the following industries within the Hunter:
- Equine;
- Engineering;
- Community Education and Training;
- Surf;
- IT;
- Defence;
- Sustainable Industries;
- Wine;
- Arts; and
- Mining.
As a result of this program the IDC provided enabling funding and support to establish clusters with average memberships of 25 businesses in:
1992 – IDC Established
The IDC, a not-for-profit business services organisation was established - funded through a Federal Government initiative to assist industry development in the Hunter region and thereby create employment opportunities.
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