Innovation hub in Joondalup gets cyber security funding boost | Community News

INNOVATION and cyber security in Joondalup have been given a funding boost.

The State Government yesterday announced it would provide $200,000 to the WA AustCyber Innovation Hub to help advise start-ups and small and medium businesses on cyber security.

Joondalup MLA Emily Hamilton welcomed the announcement.

“The WA AustCyber Innovation Hub here in Joondalup is a cutting edge local facility doing some great work to diversify the WA economy and create innovation jobs,” she said.

“With demand for more and more online sales due to COVID-19 restrictions, a lot of local businesses need to boost their cyber security and this funding can help more businesses to do just that.”

The funding was part of the government’s $800,000 advancement from the $16.7 million New Industries Fund.

This advancement will also help support the Innovation Vouchers Program to help small and medium businesses access professional skills, services or knowledge to advance their ideas and commercial activities, and the X-TEND WA Program for education and mentoring programs.

The WA Data Science Innovation Hub will also receive $200,000.

Innovation Minister Dave Kelly said this funding would help guide businesses through the COVID-19 recovery period.

“Helping innovative start-ups and small and medium enterprises during the State’s economic recovery period is critical to both preserving existing jobs, while ensuring these organisations are well-positioned to create new viable businesses and as a result, additional jobs,” he said.