Open State

Open State 2017 provided South Australians with an opportunity to work together for a more prosperous and sustainable future. Over attendances were recorded at 171 events over 11 days from 28 September – 8 October 2017. 280 partners helped advance South Australia’s open innovation agenda. As a festival of innovation, collaboration, ideas and enterprise, Open State brings together partners from a range of industries and sectors - to collaborate on building a better, more sustainable and prosperous future for South Australia. In total, 280 South Australian organisations from the community, education institutions, government agencies and the private sector invested in events to consider the future of their industry and the future of the state. With the expansion of Open State 2017, a move to a larger, central hub was necessary. Two unique pop-up venues, an information tent and meeting area were established in Victoria Square. 243 speakers, including 37 international and 137 local thought leaders, explored how we can work together today to build a more vibrant and prosperous future South Australia. Through Open State, we saw that South Australia is definitely a place open to new ideas, technologies and people and a leader in collaboration to solve complex global problems. Event partners embraced the ‘Panel Pledge’ ensuring equal representation of male and female speakers across the festival resulting in more women speakers than men.