The NextGen Incubator, a new three-year student entrepreneurship program, is set to launch in the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct in 2025, following the recent funding announcement by the Queensland Government.

The student incubator will support entrepreneurial pathways for students and young innovators on the Gold Coast, tailored to bridge the gap between formal education and real-world entrepreneurship.

Craig Rowsell, Director of the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct welcomed the new initiative, which will be delivered by CoSpaces in the Precinct’s Cohort space, in collaboration with Griffith University.

“This initiative will ensure that the next generation of entrepreneurs have the support they need to commercialise their ideas and create new businesses in the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct,” Craig said.

“Cohort is the perfect place for young innovators to start their business journey – the co-working space, located in the heart of the Precinct, already supports a new generation of innovators, and is a launchpad for health and technology start-ups.

“The students will have the chance to meet and learn from some of the top talent who work in the Precinct, providing them with a solid foundation to chase their entrepreneurial dreams.”

The NextGen Incubator will offer hands-on workshops, coaching, a pre-accelerator program, 1:1 mentoring, and networking opportunities with industry leaders and investors. Participants will also gain access to events such as pitch nights, hackathons, and expert panels.

CoSpaces CEO Ben Howe said the team had identified a strong need for a program of this kind on the Gold Coast.

“The incubator will not only benefit young people and students, but many other regional stakeholders including startups, academia and the ecosystem organisations,” Ben said.

“By accelerating student and youth pathways into entrepreneurship, the incubator will foster collaboration between students and industry, provide mentorship to bring innovative new products to commercialisation stage, and accelerate the regional adoption of entrepreneurship on the Gold Coast.”

The NextGen Incubator project has received $300,000 funding under the Queensland Government’s Advance Queensland’s Regional Enablers Program (REP) and will run from 2025 to 2028. Information on how to apply to be part of the program will be released in the coming months.