ThincLab Canterbury benefits region while thinking globally
Christchurch is already seeing the benefits of a memorandum of understanding between the University of Canterbury (UC) and ChristchurchNZ, through an additional agreement with UC’s Centre for Entrepreneurship (UCE) to deliver various programmes, including ThincLab Canterbury.
ThincLab Canterbury, part of Callaghan Innovation’s National Founder Incubator and ThincLab networks, is one part of the agreement to jointly develop an innovative ecosystem in Christchurch to grow our most ambitious local startups, and the commercialisation of research.
Dr Rachel Wright, Director of UCE and ThincLab Canterbury programme director, says Canterbury is in a unique position to authentically brand itself as a city of innovation and entrepreneurship, and attract talent to power a dynamic ecosystem focussed on the city’s supernode strategy.
“COVID-19 has given us an opportunity to grow jobs and reposition Christchurch as an innovative and agile city ready and able to respond to changes in our business environment,” Dr Wright says.
“Together the partnership will lead to more engagement with our business community, new innovations and build Canterbury’s capability, attracting new business and experts to the region and creating jobs.”