ThincLab Chalons provides launch pad for start-ups in Europe

Friday, 16 February 2018

Australian business start-ups wanting to gain a foot-hold in the European market will benefit from the assistance of a new University of Adelaide business incubator located in the heart of the Champagne region in France. 

The University of Adelaide’s ThincLab Châlons has been officially opened overnight in the French city of Châlons-en-Champagne.

The new ThincLab Châlons builds on ThincLab Adelaide’s success of guiding business start-ups from its offices at the University’s North Terrace campus since 2017, and prior to that with its history of building connections state-wide.

The Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation and Innovation Centre (ECIC) at University of Adelaide, which manages both ThincLabs, has gained invaluable expertise in assisting entrepreneurs in South Australia.

This expertise will now be exported to France where ThincLab Châlons will become a launch pad for Australian companies cutting their teeth in Europe.

Located one hour by train from Paris, ThincLab Châlons provides an opportunity for Australian businesses to launch into the European market with a generous five-year tax-free period.

“We are excited about this partnership, which will bring entrepreneurial expertise from the University of Adelaide directly into France, creating a dynamic incubator and business accelerator facility. This is the first business incubator of its kind in the city of Châlons-en-Champagne,” says University of Adelaide’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic), Professor Pascale Quester.

“Through the University of Adelaide’s work in the region, this incubator will promote economic development, attract investment in entrepreneurial ideas, and provide a structured, supported launch pad for new ventures.

“While it is yet another example of the University of Adelaide demonstrating its expertise on a global level, this collaboration with Châlons is a further opportunity to develop strong, innovative links between South Australia and France,” says Professor Quester.

Professor Noel Lindsay, Pro Vice Chancellor (Entrepreneurship) and Director of the ECIC, says: “Australian businesses entering ThincLab Châlons have exclusive access to a range of local and international experts and mentors, to help promote and support businesses so that they can rapidly enter the global market.”

“Through individualised mentoring programs and tailored workshops, businesses will benefit from regular networking events, forums and opportunities.

“The space at ThincLab Châlons also creates unique opportunities for businesses to interact with each other and seek out synergistic connections, as well as providing state-of-the-art office spaces, meeting rooms, private work stations and hot desks, with access to all necessary connectivity,” says Professor Lindsay.

At least five Australian businesses will be selected each year to be a part of ThincLab Châlons.

One such business is Brisbane-based emerging future-tech powerhouse, Real Serious Games which has grabbed the opportunity for European expansion presented by the new site in France.

“We’ve built our business around large, enterprise-wide virtual, augmented and mixed reality solutions, and the biggest markets for these are in Europe and the US,” says Director Karen Sanders.

“Consequently, we set up an office in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) 12 months ago with the intention of ‘fanning out’ from there. But when we became aware of the ThincLab opportunity in France we couldn’t pass it up.

“The structure it provides for expanding businesses is the best we’ve seen,” says Ms Sanders.

Australian entrepreneurs from all industries are welcome to apply to be part of ThincLab Châlons. Please visit www.adelaide.edu.au/thinclab/chalons, contact Zrinka Tokic at zrinka.tokic@adelaide.edu.au or phone +61 (0)8 8313 7131 for more information.

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