With appropriate investment, supportive policies, a common vision and incentives to excel, Australia is well-positioned to develop strong sovereign capability in technology. ATSE welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Senate Finance and Public Administration Reference Committee’s Inquiry into supporting the development of sovereign capability in the Australian tech sector. ATSE makes the following recommendations to support the development of sovereign capability in the Australian tech sector:
Recommendation 1: Increase research and development spending in line with international peers to support the development of sovereign capability in the technology sector.
Recommendation 2: Establish a research and innovation policy framework that:
- Creates infrastructural pillars to commercialise domestic research onshore to become global products.
- Promotes and supports a culture of lifelong Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) learning in the workforce to ensure Australia has the skills it needs now and into the future.
Recommendation 3: Establish coordination between different government agencies, and set clear objectives for both government and industry in the technology procurement process.
Recommendation 4: Prioritise domestic businesses in procurement strategies to catalyse domestic technological growth and foster cooperation between different domestic SMEs.
Recommendation 5: Develop robust risk management frameworks to help Government panels assess domestic small and medium-sized enterprises during the technology procurement process.
Recommendation 6: Support entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds to be part of the technological innovation ecosystem.
Recommendation 7: Utilise the procurement framework strategically to assemble domestic value chains to drive innovation, create jobs, and enhance the overall resilience of the economy.