Working hand-in-hand with the State Government will help drive innovation to benefit the WA community, according to Deputy Premier Roger Cook who addressed UWA’s senior leadership group.

Mr Cook, who is Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade; Tourism; Commerce; and Science, outlined areas where the University and the WA Government could collaborate.

Image: UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Amit Chakma and Deputy Premier Roger Cook.

He highlighted the crucial role universities played in WA reaching a zero carbon diversified economy, which in turn would inform the rest of the country to achieve the same goal.

He also spoke of the importance of working with universities to increase research and development in the space sector, health and medical life sciences and clean energy initiatives.

Making WA a connected economy, which is open for business and keen to engage, is a message the State Government wants to reinforce to the rest of the nation and world, according to the Deputy Premier.

Mr Cook believes universities play an important role in the WA Government’s vision as they drive change, inspire and create the leaders of the future.     

The address was hosted by UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Amit Chakma and facilitated by Professor Peter Quinn, Chairman of the Board of the International Space Centre at UWA.