Premier’s plans to expand innovation facilities in NSW
Over 400 guests heard NSW Premier Mike Baird telling of a trade mission he lead to Israel earlier this year and of his plans to expand NSW’s innovation plans.
Premier Mike Baird at the AICC lunch Photo: Henry Benjamin/J-Wire
The lunch at the Four Points by Sheraton in Sydney was hosted by the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce and Optus the Chamber’s National sponsor and the event partner Gilbert+Tobin, State Sponsor.
At the end of a horror week during which Premier Baird reversed the ban of greyhound racing there was expectation of an enlightening QandA, but a he made an unexpected early departure to attend a funeral.
The Premier opened his address by telling the guests that in the middle of the week his 17-yr-old had texted him saying “Hi Dad…how are you? Hang in there”.
He said: “We march on. How I am incredibly excited about this incredible State. I am so optimistic about the future.”
Talking to his visit to Israel earlier this year.
Mr Baird led a trade delegation, including NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione, NSW Chief Scientist Mary O’Kane and medical cannabis advocate Lucy Haslam, to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
The Premier said of Israel that “It’s not only an incredible country but in their DNA but there is the context of collaboration and its context of innovation and every a student I ran in to said ‘What is my startup me going to be and what ca I contribute and make a difference to the world?'”
He spoke a student had developed technology to help quadriplegics use an eye to lock on the screen. Premier told about start-ups which have produced technology to help quadriplegics enjoy hiking.
Premier Baird said he found Israel to have been invigorating and “I was to bring that DNA here”.
He spoke of the agreements signed included cybersecurity companies mentioning that six of the largest cyber-security companies in the world are in Israel. He said: “Cyber-security is playing a part in controlling of growing costs and risk in business. He said that cybersecurity would place a role in the future areas such as the developing of driverless trains.
The partnership between NSW and the Hebrew University in working together with medical cannabis and with the Weizmann Institute and Sydney’s Garvan Institute and genomes.
The Premier that some of NSW brightest entrepreneurs had visited to a high-tech launching pad in Israel and returned to NSW with refreshed ideas.
Plans in NSW will new technology parks will grow and according Premier Mike Baird will see “NSW will participate in the innovation”.
