Securing Australia’s Future
SAF04: The role of science, research and technology in lifting Australian productivity
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…”
Launch of The role of science, research and technology in lifting Australian productivity
The role of science, research and technology in lifting Australian productivity report was launched by Dr John Bell at the National Press Club, 3 June 2014.
- A transcript of Dr John Bell’s Speech (from the launch)
Mr Laurie Wilson, Professor Ian Chubb, Dr John Bell, Launch of the ACOLA report – The role of science, research and technology in lifting Australian productivity, National Press Club, 3 June 2014
Expert Working Group
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.
| Dr John Bell (Chair) | Dr Bob Frater (Deputy) |
| Leslie Butterfield | Professor Stuart Cunningham |
| Professor Mark Dodgson | Professor Kevin Fox |
| Professor Tom Spurling | Professor Elizabeth Webster |
Peer Reviewers
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.
| Narelle Kennedy | Dean Parham |
Project Funding and Support
ACOLA gratefully acknowledges the contribution of the Australian Government through the Commonwealth Science Council; Australian Research Council and the Office of the Chief Scientist. This research was funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council.
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Acknowledgements
The Expert Working Group is grateful to the experts who contributed to this Project through participating in meetings, workshops and interviews. The names of people who contributed to workshops and consultations sessions are listed under Evidence Gathering.
The Expert Working Group undertook part of it’s research through subgroups. It gratefully acknowledges the contributions of Dr Amanda Caples, Professor Roy Green, Mr David Hind FTSE, Professor Shirley Leitch, Professor Sue Richardson FASSA, Dr Jack Steele, and Mr Glenn Wightwick TSE to the work of these subgroups.
We also wish to thank Professor Ron Johnston FTSE, Australian Centre for Innovation (ACIIC), who facilitated workshops and provided other advice.
The Expert Working Group thanks the Australian Bureau of Statistics for help in accessing data needed for this report.
Project management services were provided by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) – Harriet Harden-Davies, Andrew Hastings and Sarah Parker – on behalf of ACOLA Secretariat. These contributions are gratefully acknowledged.
The Expert Working Group thanks Dr Simon Prasad, Office of the Chief Scientist, for guidance and advice throughout the project, and the ACOLA Secretariat for their assistance.
Project Management Support
| Harriet Harden-Davies, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering |
| Andrew Hastings, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering |
| Sarah Parker, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering |
| Project services provided by Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering on behalf of ACOLA |
Contributing reports
Reports commissioned or specially undertaken for Securing Australia’s Future: The role of science, research and technology in lifting Australian productivity (SAF04)
- Productivity, exporting and innovation in Australian SMEs: Evidence from a longitudinal dataset
Associate Professor John Steen, UQ Business School, University of Queensland - Is science-based innovation more productive? A firm-level study
Dr Alfons Palangkaraya and Professor Elizabeth Webster, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research and Intellectual Property Research Institute of Australia, The University of Melbourne and Professor Thomas Spurling AM FTSE, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology - The Contribution of Research and Innovation to Productivity and Economic Growth (external website)
Dr Amani Elnasri and Professor Kevin J Fox FASSA, University of New South Wales – Australian School of Business – School of Economics. - Translating Research into Productivity: Rethinking Linkages (external website)
Outcomes from a joint ATSE and ACOLA (project 4 The role of science, research and technology in lifting Australian productivity) workshop held in August 2013.
• Position Paper (external website)
• Workshop program and issues paper (external website PDF)
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