SPARK, Wyndham City Council’s Innovation Hub, has been established as a collaborative space to support and mentor digital, tech start-ups and entrepreneurs, to scale up their concepts and products, to commercialisation.
SPARK, an integral part of Wyndham City’s Economic Development and Smart City Strategies, focuses on developing an innovative and entrepreneurial based ecosystem within, strengthening of the knowledge economy, and increasing employment, in the region.
Located within the East Werribee Employment Precinct, at 600 Sneydes Road, the Hub includes 25 ergonomic workstations across shared offices and open space configurations, meeting rooms, collaboration and maker spaces, and function spaces.
The aim of SPARK is to create a vibrant hub where member businesses are embedded in an inclusive, collaborative environment that fosters active participation in initiatives which enable accelerated growth. Member businesses will have access to business training and mentoring opportunities, relevant state and federal government services, key industry organisations and a dedicated Council officer who will be available to provide support and advice.
A profile of SPARK Member Businesses
As an overarching theme, Spark Members (individuals and small businesses) demonstrate high impact potential, innovation and a capacity to address scalable markets, in digital technology sectors.
These businesses range from start-ups, to early-stage companies or in some circumstances mature enterprises who are seeking to pivot and adapt innovative solutions that deliver exponential growth.
Member businesses demonstrate a high level of digital literacy, utilising and enhancing existing technologies, as well as creating or adapting new technology to drive market share and revenue.
Current SPARK Member businesses vary from software developers and application developers, to hardware developers, and specialists in design, robotics, virtual and augmented reality. The sectors their products and services support, range from education, construction, freight and logistics, retail, legal, sport and recreation, accommodation, professional services, medical, emergency services and aged care.
Become a SPARK Member Business
To become a SPARK Member, individuals and small businesses participate in an expression of interest (EOI) process, including an interview with those individuals and small businesses felt suitable from their EOI submission, to be considered for Spark Membership. Successful applicants are offered a twelve month Member’s residency period, with an option of a further twelve month period at the discretion of Council.
If you have any questions about SPARK, or the EOI process, please email the SPARK Coordinator at spark@wyndham.vic.gov.au
Innovation Hub EOI Terms and Conditions
Innovation Hub EOI Terms and Conditions
By submitting an EOI to participate in Council’s Innovation Hub, you agree to be bound by these terms
and conditions.
These terms and conditions should be read in conjunction with other documents and information relating
to the Innovation Hub, including your EOI and the information made available on Council’s website.
1. ELIGIBILITY
1.1 To be eligible to submit an EOI, you must be the owner of a business that:
(a) has a current active ABN with the registered business address being in Wyndham; and
(b) does not have any electronic gaming machines at its premises.
1.2 Council staff, Councillors and their immediate family members are not eligible to apply.
2. SUBMISSION OF EOIS
2.1 To submit an EOI, you must submit a properly completed SPARK Innovation Hub Expression of
Interest form (the part of the document preceding these Terms and Conditions).
2.2 You agree to immediately notify Council of any changes to your EOI, including the request to
withdraw your EOI, by email to spark@wyndham.vic.gov.au.
2.3 Council accepts no responsibility for late, lost, incomplete, invalid or corrupt EOIs.
3. ASSESSMENT OF EOIs
3.1 EOIs will be assessed by a Council officers based on the following assessment criteria:
(a) cultural fit and willingness to participate in Innovation Hub programs;
(b) evidence of a sound business model;
(c) evidence of previous investment to support business development and growth;
(d) evidence that the business has potential for accelerated growth and commercial scalability;
(e) evidence that the business’s technology is new, or significantly enhanced, or adaptive to meet
existing market or new market needs; and
(f) alignment with Council’s economic development strategy including capacity to develop
business innovation and entrepreneurial capacity.
3.2 Council may contact applicants and require them to participate in an interview, time and date
to be agreed.
3.3 Following the conclusion of interviews (if any), Council will determine the successful applicants
to participate in the Innovation Hub.
3.4 Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by Council.
3.5 Applicants acknowledge and agree that Council is not bound to accept any EOI.
4. SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS
Successful applicants acknowledge and agree that:
4.1 prior to occupying the Innovation Hub, they must enter into a licence with Council and comply
with its terms, including payment of the licence fee, participating in programs and events offered
by Council and occupying the licensed area for at least 24 hours per week during their licence
term;
4.2 Council will grant a maximum of 25 licences for the Innovation Hub at any one time; and
4.3 the maximum term for a licence granted to a successful applicant will be 24 months.
5. INSURANCE
5.1 Council recommends that successful applicants hold and maintain public liability insurance in
a minimum sum of $10 million per single event for the term of their licence.
5.2 Successful applicants acknowledge and agree that if they do not hold the recommended
public liability insurance specified in condition 5.1, that they may only occupy the licenced area
between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm on Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)
during the term of their licence. Successful applicants further acknowledge and agree that if they
do hold the recommended public liability insurance, they may request and negotiate extended
hours of occupation to the licensed area during the term of their licence.
6. LIABILITY
6.1 You acknowledge and agree that you submit an EOI at your own risk and that you are entirely
responsible for determining whether participating in the Innovation Hub is right for you.
6.2 Council makes no representation about the level of business growth you may enjoy as a result
of participating in the Innovation Hub.
7. GENERAL
7.1 Nothing in these terms and conditions or in the conduct of Council and an applicant will
create a relationship of agency, partnership, employer and employee or joint venture between the
applicant and Council.
7.2 Council reserves the right to change or modify these terms and conditions at any time.
7.3 Council’s decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.