A five-minute survey could play a key role in shaping how innovation is supported across the Hunter over the next decade.
Hunter iF, known for running the Hunter Innovation Festival, is gathering local input through the Hunter Innovation Survey, open until Friday 8 August. The survey is designed for anyone with a stake in innovation—whether you’re part of a start-up, a research team, local government, or simply a business keen to improve.
Participants are being asked to share what kinds of innovation they’re involved in, which facilities or programs they use, and how they collaborate with others across sectors. Early results show that the most frequent innovators—those with more than half their work involving new ideas or products—are making good use of the ecosystem. Over 60% report using research and development facilities, and 41% use incubators, accelerators, and co-working hubs.
Another emerging insight is the possible link between event participation and cross-sector collaboration. Nearly 30% of respondents said they’d attended six or more innovation-related events or networks in the past year. Of these, more than 60% also reported working across three or more sectors—suggesting that connections made through events may be more influential than the use of formal innovation programs alone.
The data from the survey will help Hunter iF and its partners—Origin Energy, Dantia, and Urbis—build a clearer picture of where innovation is happening, what’s working, and where more support is needed.
This is about more than data collection. It’s about giving local organisations a voice in the region’s future direction. Whether you’re in a growth industry, a sector facing change, or simply have ideas to share, your input is needed.
Completing the survey also puts you in the running to win two tickets to the 2025 Hunter Innovation Festival.
