Northern Tasmania is to get its own Internet of Things accelerator focused on the energy sector following the state government pitching in $150,000 to support the project.
Run by not for profit group, EnergyLab, the project aims to support the region's start-ups and take their concepts to market, along with establishing the state as a leader in the clean and renewable energy fields.
"We're excited to be expanding to Launceston with support from the Tasmanian Government", said EnergyLab CEO, James Tilbury.
"The program we've designed in partnership with Definium is unlike anything else in Australia and we think it will have a big impact on the startups who are selected and the Tasmanian energy sector."
EnergyLab was appointed after the Tasmanian government called for Expressions of Interest to provide a Launceston based accelerator last year.
The government funding is part of a the state govrnment's $900,000 startup plan launched two years ago to attract new talent and hi-tech startups to Tasmania while helping boost the founding of new local businesses.
Sectors targeted in the Tasmanian govenment's three year plan include agritech, IoT, marinetech and renewable energy.
EnergyLab is backed by energy sector organisations including Origin Energy, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Federal government's Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
Other supporters of EnergyLab include Climate KIC Australia, UTS Sydney, Freshwater Group, Yurika Pty Ltd and KPMG.
The acclerator will also look to capitalise on EnergyLab’s international energy and business networks to attract global talent, partner and collaborate with local entrepreneurs, along with mentoring to help new Tasmanian businesses establish themselves in the clean energy marketplace.