About Us

Bentley’s Technology Park is one of Western Australia’s economic success stories; home to over 90 companies employing more than 2,500 people and producing a combined turnover of $500 million per annum.
But the new millennium necessitates new strategies and the stage is now set for growth of an entirely different manner.
Following the success of the Park, the original concept is being expanded to incorporate adjacent organisations and communities to inspire innovation, excellence and cross fertilization between disciplines.
This combination of virtual and physical networks is known as the Technology Precinct of Western Australia.

The Challenge

Creating 21st century innovation is a huge challenge. When globally the vast majority of organizations, nations, states and communities have innovation as their number one priority, it is difficult for Western Australia to authentically and resourcefully compete. Having said this, the question is not will WA be a player in the rush to innovation competitiveness, but how will it do it differently and in a more resilient manner than other bigger and more powerful players?

The answer to this question will not be found through simple answers from the past. It will require new thinking from WA’s best thinkers and innovators and also help from a global knowledge network. The thinking must be drawn from both the mainstream of thinking and also the margins - the new ideas that provoke conventional wisdom and force all sectors of community to think in new ways, compatible with a new future.

Hence the challenge for WA and the Precinct development will be two-fold – to one let the conversation unfold in a manner that allows new thinking to flourish, and two, to embrace and trial new ideas that at first may seem odd and uncomfortable. If you like, to take the first step in out positioning the global competition by being the ’innovator of innovators‘.

Master Planning

As a starting point to realise this opportunity for growth the Department of Industry and Resources (DoIR) is undertaking a master planning process.
This master planning is now moving from the conceptual to the development stage with the commencement of detailed Precinct planning and consultation.
Consultation seeks to facilitate innovation, develop an entrepreneurial culture, engage the surrounding communities in the new Precinct’s operation and attract research groups, ‘start-ups’ and technology-based companies.
The new Precinct will cover an area about 10 times the size of the existing Park and incorporate a number of organisations and communities.
These include educational and recreational facilities, research and development organisations, manufacturing industries, government departments and community organisations. 
Complementing this is the surrounding residential community, which is very diverse in character.

Bringing the Communities Together

A critical element of the Precinct is the diverse array of communities that inhabit it or are impacted through it. To ensure a collaborative base is formed from which new thinking can emerge and a strong innovation foundation is assured, community involvement is vital.
To facilitate this, the planning framework includes four ‘communities of interest’. These communities hinge upon the themes of education, enterprise, research, and community.
The themes will act as rallying points for the Precinct’s constituents, and provide forums for those with similar goals to meet, converse and socialise.
The core opportunity will be to generate synergies within and between these communities of interest, and this in turn hinges upon the development of social capital.
Broadly defined, this is the value of social networks - the ability to honour and form close and interdependent relationships across diverse disciplines, geographies, beliefs, plans, projects and practices.