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R.M.Williams and Acler are among 50 companies participating in The South Australian National Innovation Games.

As reported earlier this week, the event brings together experts and leaders from academia, government and the fashion and textile industry to develop solutions to build a circular economy for the industry in Australia.

Through a series of professionally facilitated design sprints, 20 innovation teams including more than 150 diverse participants from across the complete fashion and textile ecosystem will collaborate over 25 and 26 May 2022.

Together, they will develop practical, scalable and easily implementable ideas and solution spanning the product lifecycle, from material selection and design, certification and product sourcing to manufacturing processes, supply chain management, use behaviours and waste or product end of life.

Funded by the Australian Government, the National Innovation Games are delivered by Paddl Co. – a startup developing new ways to better prepare organisations, employees, practitioners and talent for the future of work – through the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia (COSBOA).

Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Dr Susan Close MP said consumers are increasingly wanting to know exactly where and how their clothing is made and that it’s crucial the local fashion industry responds to this.

“It is absolutely vital that the industry is able to respond to this increased demand for sustainable solutions if they are to remain attractive and profitable. That is why it is wonderful to host an event like the National Innovation Games in Adelaide
where diverse groups can meet, brainstorm and begin to develop ideas in this space.

“Globally, textile, clothing and footwear production accounts for 8 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, and 20 per cent of water waste. We want South Australia to be part of the solution—rather than a contributor—to this global concern.”

The National Innovation Games format

● The National Innovation Games bring together businesses, experts, and government with emerging talent to solve real-life, practical business issues.

● Each of the National Innovation Games includes 10-20+ teams, comprising business owners and employees, emerging talent and representatives from corporate partners and sponsors.

● Each team is professionally facilitated and works on an innovation project aligned with a locally relevant challenge identified by the co-sponsor/s and the participating businesses.

● Team members collaborate in three design sprints: problem framing & ideation; concept design & development; and storytelling & solution tuning.

● Innovation labs are staffed by the corporate partners/sponsors/PhD researchers to help team members access expert advice throughout the day.

● At the end of the Games, each team presents their ideas and solutions to a judging panel in a competition to win prizes.

● Participants can book a 15-minute mentoring session with an experienced employee.

● The National Innovation Games provide a unique opportunity for employers to observe emerging talent that have been shortlisted for employment with their business, throughout the day, before then meeting with the applicant at an Employer Booth to conduct a formal interview.

Paddl Co has assembled various vendors to create a virtual platform on which the National Innovation Games can run, enabling a COVID safe solution and one which also provides equality of access across Australia.

Participants and attendees can join from anywhere with an internet connection using a device with a camera and sound.

The organisations and businesses represented on 25 & 26 May 2022 include:

1. Acler
2. Adobe
3. Apelle apparel
4. AusIndustry
5. Australian National Fabrication Facility Ltd
6. Better Together Pre-loved Fashion
7. Bring Back Australia
8. Cinch Textiles
9. City of Adelaide
10. Couture Love Madness
11. Crestwell brands
12. Cul-de-sac
13. CV Rajasa Mas Jaya
14. Deakin University
15. Elevate Your Look
16. Flinders University
17. Green Industries SA
18. Greenaround
19. Griffith University
20. Holiday Trading
21. Hunter Made
22. Huntress Design
23. IMAGEWORKS Consulting
24. Iris and Wool
25. Kangaroo Island Wool
26. Karl Chehade Dry Cleaning
27. Katya Komarova
28. Liz Haywood
29. Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board
30. Office of the Industry Advocate
31. Play it On
32. R.M.Williams
33. SA Department for Environment and Water
34. SA Department for Innovation and Skills
35. Silver Fleece
36. Solomon Street
37. Stephanie Chehade Australia
38. Sunset Lover (Crestwell Brands
39. Sustainable Clothing Co
40. TAFE SA
41. The Drapery
42. The WOD Life
43. University of Adelaide
44. University of Tasmania
45. UNSW
46. Walkers HQ
47. Weaving Waves
48. WRAP Asia Pacific
49. Katya Komarova.com
50. Liz Haywood.com.au

Innovation Labs

Innovation Labs provide participants with access to expert advice throughout the day (think –‘phone a friend’) to tease out and validate ideas and solutions, and format pitches.

The Labs on 25 & 26 May 2022 include:

1. Artesian Venture Capital, Managing Director, Shane Masters
2. Entrepreneurship Board - Office of SA Chief Entrepreneur, Advisory Board Member,
Moira Were
3. Green Industries SA, Adviser Business Sustainability, Savini Tennakoon,
4. Paddl Co, VP Product & Growth, John Collins

Mentoring Booths

Mentoring Booths offer participants a 15-minute one-on-one informal chat with representatives from industry and government. Business and industry participants may use the opportunity to recruit talent for open roles and even conduct interviews.

The Booths on 25 & 26 May 2022 include:

1. UNSW, Industry Engagement Officer, Bianca Greig
2. Elevate Your Look, Style Coach, Jo Puplett
3. Council of Small Business Organisastions Australia, Stakeholder Engagement Lead,
Catherine Donnan
4. Department of Environment & Water, Policy Officer Climate Change, Tania Panfilo
5. Tonsley Park, Flinders University, MBA Director, Carla Dias Wadewitz

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