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Aiming to unleash the potential of sport through technology, the Australian Sports Technologies Network (ASTN) will host its inaugural National Conference on Friday 2nd November 2012 in Geelong.

For the first time in Australia, the ASTN will bring together leaders from across the sports tech 'eco-system' on one day - with delegates and speakers from the sporting goods industry, national sporting organisations, sports tech researchers, sports practitioners, sports tech businesses and investors. Sports enthusiasts, students and researchers are also welcome to attend.

The Conference will provide a hub for knowledge sharing and partnership building amongst our industry's leaders. There will be more than 20 keynote speakers presenting on the day including Federal Minister for Sport Kate Lundy, John Bertrand, and leaders from IMG, Nike, AFL and the Australian Institute of Sport.

Launched in April, the ASTN is a national collaborative network focused on developing Australia's sports technologies industry, aimed at driving the commercialisation of sports technologies in Australia.
Introducing the ASTN, Senator Lundy explained "this new network has the potential to unearth a new wave of Australian made sports technologies ... growing this industry in Australia could lead to great economic opportunities and thousands of jobs."

One of the highlights of the day will be Australia's first ever Sports Tech Investment Pitching Competition. The Competition is designed to uncover new sports technologies and assist entrepreneurs to commercialise these ideas, concepts, start-ups and early stage projects. There are more than $15,000 of prizes that will be awarded to the two entries with the most commercial potential, including cash and mentoring to assist in the commercialisation process.

Sessions for the conference include:

Session 1: Official Launch of the ASTN Conference Senator Kate Lundy (Federal Minister for Sport & Minister Assisting Industry & Innovation)
Session 2: Commercialising our Sports Technology Smarts: Findings from the first ever Study into the Australian Sports Technologies Industry
Session 3: Leading High Performance and Technology Innovation in Sport - John Bertrand AM (Australian Sporting Legend, businessman and philanthropist)
Session 4: National Sporting Organisations & their technology needs
Session 5: The Sporting Goods Industry & sports consumer trends
Session 6: Australia's Sports Technology research expertise: Insights from our universities and research centres
Session 7: Sports Technologies and business: What it takes to be successful
Session 8: ASTN's inaugural Sports Tech Investment Pitching Competition

The ASTN will also be hosting a Sports Tech Innovation Bootcamp on 1st November in Geelong, exclusive to its members.

The Bootcamp will focus on educating ASTN members on sports technologies innovation, commercialisation and entrepreneurship. It will be facilitated by leading technology innovation experts including Prof Jerry Engel, Founder of the Center for Entrepreneurship, University of Californnia Berkeley; Prof Danny Samson, Faculty of Management University of Melbourne and James Demetriou, ASTN Chair and a Director of Australian Sports Technology Ventures a sports technology venture capotal and commercialisation organisation.

Conference Sponsors include the Australian Sports Commission, IMG Sports Technology Group, Sporting Pulse and the City of Greater Geelong.

For conference information and ASTN membership inquiries contact ASTN Executive Director Craig Hill on 0408 390 930, E: craig.hill@astn.com.au

For more information on the Conference program go to www.astn.squarespace.com/storage/documents/ASTN_Conference.pdf

26th April 2012 - AUSTRALIA GOVERNMENT PLAN TO LEAD THE WORLD IN SPORTS TECHNOLOGY

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