Enhanced innovation-driven productivity linked to clear industry sector roadmaps for diversification and growth will directly lead to profitable companies, global competiveness and economic wellbeing accompanied by enhanced social and environmental benefits for Australia.
Strong economic growth was a key objective adopted by all G20 members at their recent Brisbane meeting. To achieve this in Australia we can no longer rely on an appetite for our resources overseas and urgent attention must be given to fostering other sources of growth, including major improvements in productivity in existing industries and innovation to develop new products and services. The Vision for a Science Nation Consultation Paper correctly identifies the need for improved competitiveness underpinned by improved STEM education, research and international engagement.
While ATSE in general supports the sentiments expressed in the Paper, the Academy also suggests stronger recognition of the integral part STEM plays in growth, and more robust measures for improvement. ATSE recognises that there are budget constraints, but these will persist until there is improved economic growth. Resources applied to STEM initiatives need to be regarded as an investment in future growth, not just recurrent expenditure.
Just as enhanced engagement and collaboration between researchers and industry will boost innovation, better collaboration across Australia’s science, research and innovation systems and players, at all levels of government, institutions and enterprise, will boost capability and capacity for sustained science and technology-driven productivity.
Enhanced innovation-driven productivity linked to clear industry sector roadmaps for diversification and growth will directly lead to profitable companies, global competiveness and economic wellbeing accompanied by enhanced social and environmental benefits for Australia.
As such, ATSE very much welcomes the Government’s intention to develop its final response as a whole-of-government integrated policy in consultation with the Commonwealth Science Council. The Academy stresses that these plans and strategies must be backed by a commitment to increased investment in STEM, both by the public and private sectors, to achieve maximum impact.
While ATSE has provided some specific comments on the Consultation Paper below, the Academy is conducting ongoing work on how Australia’s science, research, innovation and industry strategy can best be integrated and coordinated. This work will build on ATSE’s 2013 Science & Technology Policy Statement, which called for a national science & technology strategy. ATSE is pleased to see this recommendation being adopted by Government, and notes that much of our current work addresses the overarching policy framework and engagement strategies alluded to in the Consultation Paper, including a practical approach to achieving overarching linkage across the main aspects of our science, research, innovation and industry system.
It is vital to better connect our science and research system; our innovation systems (including incentive programs) and industry development and trade policies. Without this connectivity and overarching vision, silos of policy initiatives will not be able to realise the full potential of efforts or investment. ATSE looks forward to seeing the Government policy developed from the Consultation Paper and hopes that this will provide the much needed linkages between the four areas discussed in the Paper. ATSE remains committed to helping embed science, technology and innovation as crucial components in improving Australia’s prosperity and looks forward to continue to work with the Government on this important endeavour.