AEDA invests $3.6 million in six game-changing partnerships
The Adelaide Economic Development Agency (AEDA) has awarded six organisations a share of $3.6 million as part of a funding program to support job creation, innovation and business activity across the city.
AEDA invests in external organisations through its Strategic Partnerships Program, on behalf of the City of Adelaide, to deliver initiatives aimed at boosting economic activity across the city.
Successful 2025/26 Strategic Partnerships Program partners are:
AEDA General Manager Greg Ratsch says the Program is an important commitment to Adelaide’s economic future.
“These agreements reflect a shared strategic vision, not just funding – they are collaborations designed to generate jobs, attract new businesses, activate our precincts, and deepen our city’s global reputation across key industries,” Mr Ratsch says.
“From growing our business events sector, strengthening our life sciences credentials to reducing shopfront vacancies and supercharging our start-up ecosystem, each partnership is a strategic investment in the city’s future.
“Together, we can all demonstrate the power of collaboration between industry, education, and government to build a city that is vibrant, future-focused, and open for business,” he says.
“This is the kind of ambition that will drive Adelaide forward - confidently, creatively, and competitively.
A renewed way of thinking
Potty Mouth, Grote Street
Renew Adelaide will support the commencement of more than 50 new businesses in the city and North Adelaide.
Through the investment, approximately 160 jobs will be created and at least 19 events, such as business launches, information sessions, and advice masterclasses, will be held.
Renew Adelaide aims to support the city's sustainable, social, and economic growth by supporting small businesses and entrepreneurial activity.
The organisation launched 15 new businesses per year through 2023/24 Strategic Partnerships Program funding, creating more than 50 jobs and activating more than 4,000 sq m of vacant space.
Renew Adelaide revitalises underutilised shopfronts and office space in the city to support the commencement of new businesses without expensive overheads.
Picture: Renew Adelaide launch party of a city venture. Picture supplied via Renew Adelaide.
Business events attracting visitors to Adelaide
Business Events Adelaide plans to attract more national and international business events, which are set to inject more than $300 million into the local economy.
It will promote Adelaide at international trade shows, hold tours where organisers can scope Adelaide for events and submit at least 150 bids to host events.
Global business events aligned to South Australia’s growth sectors would be specifically targeted, increasing Adelaide’s international visibility.
It would also run popular showcases such as Connect Adelaide and Destination SA.
Business Events Adelaide forecasts that more than 53,000 delegates will travel to Adelaide, creating more than 3,200 jobs.
In 2023/24 alone, 163 events chose Adelaide as the best place to host business events.
Picture: Business Events Adelaide event, Picture supplied via Business Events Adelaide.
Connecting global innovation with local impact
Attracting international talent, investors and businesses to Adelaide across the MedTech, Biotech and Pharma sectors is at the heart of MTPConnect’s plan for its Strategic Partnerships Program funding.
MTPConnect accelerates the growth of the medical technology, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical sectors in Adelaide, fostering collaborations between researchers, industry, and government.
Through the Strategic Partnerships Program, the organisation will position the city as a leader in the sector by hosting inbound and outbound delegations, delivering investor education, strengthening clinical trial capabilities, and building a global brand for Adelaide Life Sciences.
In the 2023/24 funding round, MTPConnect delivered its Global Market Navigator Program to 10 healthcare businesses, providing access to an exclusive network of global industry experts and Healthtech networking opportunities in SA, nationally, and beyond.
Picture: iStock photo of medical industry professional.
Elevating Adelaide’s global education profile
Attracting international students and demonstrating the benefits of life in Adelaide are at the heart of StudyAdelaide’s plan for its Strategic Partnerships Program funding.
It will strengthen its Global Familiarisation Program for 2026-28, hosting additional education agents from emerging and diverse markets to broaden international connections.
The importance of this activity is underscored by the reliance that international students have on education agents to recommend study destinations. By increasing the knowledge of those agents, Adelaide is more competitively placed to grow this sector further.
Picture: Students involved in Study Adelaide programs. Picture supplied via Study Adelaide.
The Festival State of opportunities
Creating tools to strengthen Adelaide’s reputation as the nation’s capital for major festivals will become a reality for Festival City Adelaide off the back of its Strategic Partnerships Program funding.
Festival City Adelaide plans to develop a ‘do-it-yourself’ interactive platform to guide event organisers through critical event planning, impact reporting and compliance steps.
A best-practice playbook for upskilling operators, who may not be expert event organisers, has also been flagged for development. This will help the viability of new events, create efficiencies for existing events and assist in the sector’s longer-term sustainability.
During the 2023/24 round of funding, Festival City Adelaide delivered the Concierge Network Program, the Welcome to Festival City ADL and launched a crew and supplier directory through its Festival HQ program.
Picture: Adelaide Fringe Festival
Start-ups that work up economic benefit
The ThincSeed Program, an initiative by the University of Adelaide's ThincLab, aims to enhance the sophistication of Adelaide's CBD startup ecosystem.
By providing tailored accelerator and pre-accelerator programs, the initiative supports high-potential startups to become investor-ready and fosters connections with the investment community.
ThincSeed plans to use Strategic Partnerships Program funding to support 18 accelerator participants and 70 pre-accelerator participants over multiple rounds.
The initiative will also host pitch events and foster connections between startups and potential investors.
Anticipated outcomes include strengthened collaboration with universities to accelerate research commercialisation, a rise in the number of CBD start-ups, and growth in both the volume and value of funding deals secured by Adelaide-based companies.
ThincSeed partnered with AEDA for its 2023/24 Strategic Partnerships Program round, supporting 16 Adelaide-based businesses to raise early-stage seed capital.
The participants later had direct access to private equity investors.