Business innovation and growth

Driving growth through research, skills and collaboration

At Adelaide University, we unite South Australia’s leading innovation and entrepreneurship hubs – ThincLab, the Innovation & Collaboration Centre, and the Australian Centre for Business Growth – to turn ideas into impact, to drive economic diversity, and to scale small and medium-sized businesses. Together, we support students, startups, researchers, entrepreneurs and established businesses to innovate, grow and lead. From student entrepreneur programs like the Australian eChallenge and Tech eChallenge, to accelerator programs like Venture Catalyst and executive growth programs like Growth Ramp, Adelaide University provides pathways, mentoring and expertise to take ventures from early concepts to global success. By connecting education, research and industry, we’re building a dynamic community where innovation thrives and South Australia’s next generation of leaders and enterprises can flourish.

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Explore our innovation hubs

ThincLab

Empowering students, alumni, staff and startups to innovate, launch ventures, access mentorship and investment, and bring ideas to market through programs including the Australian eChallenge, Tech eChallenge, ThincSeed and ThincHer.

Explore ThincLab

Innovation & Collaboration Centre

A startup incubator that connects entrepreneurs, researchers and industry with the networks, expertise and facilities to develop innovations and grow businesses through programs such as Venture Catalyst.

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Australian Centre for Business Growth

A national leader providing award-winning, proven business growth programs that equip CEOs and leaders of small and medium enterprises with the knowledge, tools and confidence to scale sustainably.

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Discover innovation case studies

Hear from Ben Tyler 2022 Growth Ramp participant

“The biggest takeaway is thinking about growth all the time, about scalability and doing it ethically ensuring Indigenous food and culture is respected as well as people and country. And thinking this from the start rather than later on, which many businesses find more difficult to navigate at a later stage when growth happens. So, from the outset you’re actually planning to scale and grow. How do you sustain your business for growth and grow it without it failing? It’s a huge difference in mindset and has been invaluable.”

Ben Tyler
Founder, Kakadu Kitchen
Growth Ramp 2022 participant, Australian Centre for Business Growth

Hear from Zrinka Tokic at ThincLab

“At ThincLab, we help students, staff, and alumni turn their ideas into real businesses. We provide support, guidance, and community so innovators can launch, grow, and scale with confidence — while fostering an entrepreneurial mindset that inspires creativity, resilience, and impact. We empower our community to become investment-ready, employer-ready, and equipped for success in any path they choose."

Zrinka Tokic
Senior Manager Entrepreneurship, ThincLab

Hear from Dr Sean Pickersgill 2024 Venture Catalyst participant

“The Venture Catalyst program has given us the opportunity to focus on taking our tools outside of the university and into the community, helping solve a critical problem in Australian society today. Having the time and the expert advice of persons on hand allows us to build a product and platform that matches industry needs. For our team this has been an invaluable learning curve in understanding how to build a company, and how to ensure our research can directly impact real-world problems.”

Dr Sean Pickersgill
Founder, SiteSeer
Venture Catalyst 2024 participant, Innovation & Collaboration Centre

Hear from Fiona Goodsite 2023 eChallenge Winner

“Every part of my founder story is tied to ThincLab, from starting in the Tech eChallenge and eChallenge to growing through their accelerator programs. The office, the mentoring, the workshops, and the networks have been everything a young founder could dream of. It’s a place that makes you feel supported, inspired, and never alone. Thanks to the ThincLab team and community, I’ve learned resilience, found so many new friends and supporters, and built memories that will stay with me forever.”

Fiona Goodsite
Co-Founder & CEO, Tutbob
eChallenge Winner 2023, ThincLab

Hear from Harrison Box 2023 Venture Catalyst Space participant

“Since the start of the program, we’ve been introduced to nearly the entire space community in Australia which is fantastic. I’ve been able to meet with some of the people I’ve looked up to most of my life. This program turns what you have as an idea, into something tangible and real. It is novel and different, providing the support and clear steps needed to have something tangible for investors with an unbelievable support network.”

Harrison Box
Founder, Paladin Space
Venture Catalyst Space 2023 participant, Innovation & Collaboration Centre

Hear from Duane Rivett 2020 Growth Modules participant

“The nature of Fivecast already makes it a competitive and unique business. However, we wanted to engage the Australian Centre for Business Growth to fast track our expansion and learn from the experts in business growth. What we took away was far more than what our team had imagined ‘business growth’ to be, and as a result, Fivecast’s day-to-day operations have been changed forever.”

Duane Rivett
Co-Founder and VP Strategic Growth, Fivecast
Growth Modules 2020 participant, Australian Centre for Business Growth

Contact us

Get in touch to explore how Adelaide University can support your business goals. Make an enquiry online or call us to discuss partnership opportunities.

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Please contact our partner enquiries team via the enquiry form.

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You can also contact the partner enquiries team by phone on +61 8 8302 3482

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