Through the identification of opportunities for applying knowledge and skills in science and research across a range of industries and sectors including private and public enterprises, this project examines ways to enhance innovation, creativity and productivity in the Australian workforce and business practices that will drive Australia’s prosperity.
“Australia has an opportunity to utilise elements of international best practice in providing research and innovation support to improve productivity…”
Dr John Bell /
This project aimed to identify opportunities for applying knowledge and skills in science and research across a range of industries and sectors including private and public enterprises, and examine how to enhance innovation, creativity and productivity in the Australian workforce and business practices that will drive Australia’s prosperity.
This project aimed to address issues including, but not limited to the following:
1. What are the attributes of an innovative workforce?
a. How do we generate increased awareness and acceptance of the value of a science degree in business and in industry?
b. How do we build a broader science, research and technology base in the workforce?
2. What are the future workforce needs of Australian industries?
3. What are the future manufacturing issues we need to address?
4. How can we maximise the translation of research and innovation into productivity?
5. How can we more effectively collaborate internationally to improve Australia’s global reach and international impact in science, research and technology?
The above aims form the terms of reference for the project
Productivity is critical for Australia’s prosperity, economic growth, and social wellbeing. Lifting productivity growth is a critical priority for Australia. Innovation is a key driver of productivity growth. This report examines how investment in and application of science, research and technology can enhance creativity and innovation to lift productivity in Australia.
This report has three major conclusions:
- Building Australia’s future industries will depend on adopting technological innovation to develop high-value products and services for a global market.
- Improving collaboration in Australia, between businesses and between business and publicly funded reseach, will significantly enhance innovation. International collaboration is also critically important. Both domestic and international collaboration improves the productivity and competitiveness of Australian technology-based firms.
- An innovative workforce that combines technical and non-technical disciplines, and enables good business management, is essential to underpin the competitive advantage of Australian industries and realise opportunities to lift productivity
Productivity, exporting and innovation in Australian SMEs: Evidence from a longitudinal dataset Associate Professor John Steen, UQ Business School, University of Queensland
Bulletin 1 of 6: The role of science, research and technology in lifting Australian productivity.
ACOLA, for its established ability to deliver interdisciplinary evidence-based research that draws on specialist expertise from Australia’s Learned Academies, convenes the SAF04 Expert Working Group (EWG) to guide the development of a targeted study that draws input from several disciplines to create a well-considered, balanced and peer-reviewed report.
The role of the EWG is to provide strategic oversight and provide expert input, analysis and provocative thinking.
This report has been reviewed by an independent panel of experts. Members of this review panel were not asked to endorse the Report’s conclusions and findings. The Review Panel members acted in a personal, not organisational, capacity and were asked to declare any conflicts of interest.
ACOLA gratefully acknowledges their contribution.
Project services provided by Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering on behalf of ACOLA
