The six challenges presented in the Issues Paper are important in advancing Australia’s innovation, science and research system. While many of these challenges have been posed before, the key for Australia now is to define clear steps for implementation.
Australia needs a suite of complementary measures to incentivise innovation in our business sector, which are delivered at sufficient scale, with sufficient funding, and with the long-term support and stability, to be effective. Government has a major role in delivering effective incentive measures so that business and research organisations are encouraged to engage with each other, leading to improved collaboration, a culture of innovation in Australia’s businesses, especially small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs), and ultimately a more productive and robust economy.
Australia’s research performance is world-class, with high overall scientific performance, strong skills base, high-ranking universities and high publication rates in top scientific journals. However, the key gap that needs to be addressed is the ability to translate this research for economic and social benefit.
Within the submission, ATSE has set out a number of key recommendations under each of the Challenges posed by ISA to advance innovation in Australia.