FB IDEAs fosters innovation and experimentation to support economic development and urban renewal in Fishermans Bend.
We build collaborative networks between industry, startups, entrepreneurs, academia, government, landowners, developers and community - joining the dots to bring innovative ideas to life.
Since 2023, we have supported a diverse range of businesses and projects to establish and grow in Fishermans Bend through grant funding, partnerships, in-kind support, networking and showcase events.
Grounded in place, we contribute to the broader renewal of Fishermans Bend, working with landowners and developers to unlock and activate vacant or underutilised sites and build momentum towards the long-term vision.
Our Site Activations
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FB IDEAs Incubator and Innovation Hub
The FB IDEAs Hub is a place for ideas, industry connections and emerging businesses to grow in Fishermans Bend - offering free co-working space and a vibrant community.
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Circular Design Collective
Bringing together innovators and creative practitioners to incubate and collaborate on circular economy design initiatives
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The Gladstone Artist in Residence Space
Artist in Residence and Gallery engaging Fishermans Bend residents and nurturing creative connections and collaborations
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Construction Futures Cluster
Showcasing innovative prototypes and solutions to support more sustainable futures in the construction and built environment sectors.
Latest News
Over the last few weeks Shane Hunt from Hapterra Design has been busy finalising the production of a series of habitats that will be deployed at Lorimer Beach to support biodiversity found across the site.
Last week we hosted a special event to screen the Weaving Three Stories documentary film and explore why fostering human connections is a key part of our shared reconciliation journey in Fishermans Bend, and beyond.
Last week we launched two new projects at the Construction Futures Cluster site on Lorimer Street - the Hivepod by Organica Engineering and Plug-n-Play Power by Equoia. It was great to be joined by City of Melbourne Councillor Andrew Rowse, our partners at the Victoria Department of Transport and Planning, staff from Vaughan Constructions, FB IDEAs Hub members and other collaborators from the Fishermans Bend ecosystem.
Last week ELIoT Energy, a Hub member and project partner, presented the outcomes of their smart battery trials which enabled the startup to prototype solutions and connected businesses in Fishermans Bend to reduce both carbon emissions and costs.
The lunch & learn with HYPSO explained who is who of federal government agencies and entities, where contract opportunities arise, what to be prepared for - and highlighted the Commonwealth’s equivalent of a cheat sheet.
Medtech innovators came together to join in on Octive Consulting’s lunch & learn session on how to de-risk medtch using the GAITS framework.
Farmers2Founders joined FB IDEAs and invited innovators and entrepreneurs to explore AgTech opportunities on a day full of knowledge exchange and networking.
Port Melbourne Secondary College are once again looking for local mentors to support their upcoming student innovation programs.
Celebrating business success with Hub member Upsol - Recent deployments proving the concept of running a social enterprise as a business!
The City of Melbourne is currently reviewing and updating parking across the city, including parts of Fishermans Bend - and they want your feedback!
To wrap up the year and celebrate the achievements of the pilot, FB IDEAs hosted a Showcase event at the FB IDEAs Hub. It was an opportunity to showcase some of the projects and innovators we have supported throughout the pilot, but it also showcased the ethos of FB IDEAs and our role in Fishermans Bend: seeding innovation + activating place + fostering collaboration + building momentum.
The Circular Design Collective opened its doors for it’s Open Day on Sunday 16 November for the last time to celebrate National Recycling Week. Led by FB IDEAs in collaboration with Gamuda Land Australia, what began as a short term activation has shown how sustainability, creativity and community can coexist as a lived reality in Fishermans Bend.
Looking back at a full year in the FB IDEAs Hub - filled with innovation, collaboration and a growing community.
Dr. Yakov Elgart from ESI presented the FB IDEAs supported study on thermal performance improvements in existing buildings. Modelling retrofitted window inserts, ESI showed significant reductions in heat loss and energy use.
Systems thinking and functional digital twins not only for hybrid and prototype electric vehicles were presented by Hub member PCO engineering in a captivating lunch & learn session - with a view of how they can be relevant and scaled for startups.
Project we have supported
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Smart Batteries for Fishermans Bend cafe refrigerators
Trialling energy-shifting battery devices that optimize green energy usage in point-of-sale cooling appliances
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Quokka Quantum
Supporting quantum literacy in Fishermans Bend and by bringing the International Quantum Game Jam, this project puts quantum computing in the palm of your hands.
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Regenerative Fuel Cells for Aircraft Proof of Concept
Exploring the transition to zero-emissions aircrafts through innovative “dual use” business models.
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VICWORX
Bringing together defence SMEs, research institutions, and strategic partners to support Victoria's growth in advanced manufacturing and defence technologies.
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Circular Threads
Innovating textile recovery and advancing circular economy solutions for textile waste.
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Startup Factory
Startup Factory is a new kind incubator: a place for people to connect, ideate solutions, develop prototypes and commercialise physical products and technologies.
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Hivepod 3D Building Printing Demonstration
Showcasing advanced technologies and innovative approaches to upcycle waste streams to reduce carbon footprint in construction.
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Novel Acquatic Habitats
Reimagining how design can create new ecological relationships and improve biodiversity in modified environments like the lower Birrarung (Yarra River).
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Mira Solar Flower
Bridging the gap between creative and engineering industries, this project is a collaboration between Pelican Studios and Siemens Mobility.
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PowerMOVE
Prototyping a kinetic dancefloor that transforms human energy into energy for more sustainable events
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FB IDEAs Incubator and Innovation Hub
The FB IDEAs Hub is a place for ideas, industry connections and emerging businesses to grow in Fishermans Bend - offering free co-working space and a vibrant community.
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Plug-n-Play Off-Grid Power
Reimagining mobile renewable energy to create cleaner, more resilient ways to live, work, and power the world.
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Circular Design Collective
Bringing together innovators and creative practitioners to incubate and collaborate on circular economy design initiatives
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Construction Futures Cluster
Showcasing innovative prototypes and solutions to support more sustainable futures in the construction and built environment sectors.
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Romulus Folio Gallery & Dynamic Arts Space
Artist in Residence and Gallery engaging Fishermans Bend residents and nurturing creative connections and collaborations
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Re:Cultivate
An Artist in Residence program unlocking collaboration between art, science and technology to foster new knowledge, ideas and emerging modes of multidisciplinary practice.
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Weaving Three Stories
Nurturing a sense of belonging, inclusion and welcoming from First Peoples to strengthen intercultural engagement.
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Piano Transformation Challenge
Creating new instruments and progressing the circular economy one piano at a time.
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More-than-Human Urban Design
Exploring new forms of architecture and urban design which are beyond our existing human-centred approaches to demonstrate how to foreground biodiversity repair and regeneration in Fishermans Bend.
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eMicromobility Trial
NTRO and microFleet are partnering to trial a small fleet of eMicromobility to support more sustainable, efficient and enjoyable journeys to, from and within Fishermans Bend.
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The Leftovers
Inspiring others to rethink waste by showing how art and sustainability can intersect to make a positive impact.
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Precious Plastic Melbourne
Empowering communities and sparking a generation of changemakers towards a circular future.
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Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer in Built Environment Study
Exploring the feasibility of reducing HVAC costs within the built environment by integrating new technology solutions to improve thermodynamics.
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[RE]Maker
Advancing the concept of material circularity in architecture by exploring methods and prototyping sustainable design solutions that upcycle surplus and waste materials for use in temporary fitouts and interior activations.
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Remix Raingarden 2.0
Building on the success of the Remix Raingarden pilot, this project uses stormwater and rooftop water runoff, combined with additional elements to create a network that support urban ecology and enhance biodiversity.
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No Bull Cause
Turning the clothes that people don’t want into something they do.
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UNTOLD
UNTOLD will be a series of gatherings and Indigenous-led conversations that celebrate art, design, innovation, culture and Country in Fishermans Bend.
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Cleantech PowerOn Incubator & Showcase
The Victorian CleanTech Cluster (VCC) is delivering Victoria’s first dedicated clean technology incubator. and hosting the VCC’s annual Cleantech Showcase in Fishermans Bend.
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The Plus Prototype
The Plus Prototype is a physical example of a future net-zero building code. It’s a plus energy, zero carbon construction prototype to show what’s possible for the future of Fishermans Bend, and beyond.
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Fishermans Bend Digital Innovation Challenge 2024
Responding to the theme ‘A Regenerative City’ - this open competition supports innovation and collaboration, by seeking bold ideas to be piloted in Fishermans Bend.