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| Australia's National Innovation and Science Agenda | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Innovation and Science Agenda |
| Country | Australia |
| Announced | 2015 |
| Prime minister | Malcolm Turnbull |
| Minister | Christopher Pyne |
| Status | Policy initiative |
Australia's National Innovation and Science Agenda The National Innovation and Science Agenda was a 2015 Australian policy initiative announced by Malcolm Turnbull to boost innovation and science across Australia. It combined fiscal measures, regulatory changes, and institutional reforms intended to connect research with industry and to enhance competitiveness relative to international peers such as United States, United Kingdom, and Germany. The agenda was framed alongside contemporary policy instruments including the National Innovation and Science Agenda (NISA) announcements, the Australian Research Council, and engagements with entities like the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.
The Agenda emerged amid concerns articulated in reports from bodies such as the Productivity Commission, the Australian Industry Group, and the Business Council of Australia about Australia’s comparative performance versus economies like Singapore and South Korea. Political drivers included the transition from the Tony Abbott administration to the Turnbull Government and the influence of advisory input from figures associated with CSIRO, ANU, and the University of Melbourne. Economic context referenced commodity cycle shifts affecting Western Australia and policy discussions in Treasury (Australia) and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Internationally, the Agenda aligned with prior initiatives like Horizon 2020 in the European Union and the America COMPETES Act in the United States Congress.
Key measures combined tax settings, grants, and regulatory reform. The Agenda expanded the research and development tax incentive overseen by the Australian Taxation Office and introduced the Entrepreneurs' Programme administered through AusIndustry. It promoted startup growth via changes to Employee Share Scheme rules and support for accelerators associated with institutions including CSIRO Innovation Fund partners, Startmate, and muru-D. The Agenda interfaced with higher education through initiatives connected to the Group of Eight (Australian universities), the Go8 network, University of Sydney, Monash University, University of Queensland, and University of New South Wales. It referenced pathways used in programs like Research England and cooperative models exemplified by MIT and Stanford University collaborations.
Funding mechanisms combined direct grants, tax incentives, and seed capital. Notable instruments included expansion of the Industry Growth Centres program linked to sectors like Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre, Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals Growth Centre, Cyber Security Growth Centre, Agribusiness Growth Centre, and Energy Exports Growth Centre. The Agenda mobilised investment via the Innovation Investment Fund model, drawing comparisons to Australian Renewable Energy Agency financing and sovereign initiatives like Temasek Holdings and Singapore Economic Development Board. Philanthropic and venture channels referenced included Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation partnerships with Australian universities and engagements with venture capital firms such as Blackbird Ventures and AirTree Ventures.
Effects were observed across tertiary institutions, public research agencies, and private firms. The Agenda influenced research commercialisation pathways in organisations like CSIRO, CSIRO Manufacturing, and hospitals affiliated with Royal Melbourne Hospital and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Universities including University of Adelaide, University of Western Australia, and Deakin University reported adjustments to innovation offices and industry engagement strategies. Industry responses involved corporate R&D activities at firms such as Rio Tinto, BHP, Telstra, and startups from accelerators like BlueChilli. Comparative evaluations referenced metrics used by OECD and World Bank indices and drew on benchmarking against initiatives like Israel Innovation Authority programs.
Administration involved coordination among agencies: Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, Australian Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council, and AusIndustry. Political oversight rested with ministers including Christopher Pyne and later portfolio holders such as Greg Hunt. Advisory roles were performed by panels involving representatives from Business Council of Australia, Chief Scientist of Australia, and university vice-chancellors from institutions like University of Tasmania and Macquarie University. Implementation incorporated procurement reforms related to Commonwealth Procurement Rules and intellectual property arrangements referencing models used by EPO and United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Critiques targeted effectiveness, accountability, and distributional impacts. Commentators from The Australian Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald, and think tanks such as Grattan Institute and Australian Strategic Policy Institute questioned whether measures replicated successful systems seen in Silicon Valley or Shenzhen. Academic critiques from scholars at Griffith University and University of Technology Sydney pointed to limitations in R&D tax incentive targeting and concerns raised by reports from the Productivity Commission and the Commonwealth Auditor-General. International observers compared outcomes to benchmarks like the Global Innovation Index and raised issues similar to those debated in contexts such as Canada and United Kingdom policy reforms.
Category:Australian science policy