Expressions of interest are now open for Victorian-based businesses to participate in SummerTech LIVE 2023-24 - an innovative program helping businesses improve their overall competitiveness by growing their digital capabilities with the assistance of local technology students and recent graduates.
The SummerTech LIVE program matches small-to-medium Victorian businesses with tertiary students and graduates in ICT to solve digital challenges and deliver much-needed digital skills to the host business, while providing the students with an opportunity to kickstart their careers.
One of the businesses helped by the program, Ballarat-based product management company Journey2 needed a platform that could visually demonstrate how an individual’s contribution adds value to a company. Bigya Paudyal was a SummerTech LIVE student who led the development of the software that delivers an easy-to-read demonstration to Journey2’s clients.
Thanks to her work on the project, Bigya is now a Senior Developer at Journey2, where she helps transform ideas and concepts into production-ready digital technology and has since also drawn on her own experience to mentor a new intake of SummerTech LIVE students.
Since its establishment in 2017, the program has matched around 300 businesses with more than 500 students from 16 Victorian tertiary institutions on technology-related projects. Students work on their projects over a 10 to 12-week paid studentship during the summer months.
This year, the program is increasing the number of cyber-related projects, strengthening businesses cyber capability while growing the pipeline of local cyber talent. Other projects areas include, AI and machine learning, web development, software engineering, programming, data analytics, app development, and augmented and virtual reality.
The SummerTech LIVE program is one of many Victorian State Government initiatives aimed at boosting digital talent and capability to drive innovation in businesses.
The Victorian State Government is also providing $5 million for LaunchVic’s Alice Anderson Fund in 2023/24 to support more women-led startups and $15 million to incentivise local business to increase their R&D activity through the Made in Victoria – Industry R&D Infrastructure Fund.
More information about the SummerTech LIVE program can be found here.
Learn about other incentives, grants and programs available to investors, or contact our team to discuss opportunities for investing in Victoria.
