Innovation Is Industry Policy.
Senator Carr's quote was that "Innovation policy is industry policy", but the signal we have taken from this position is that the industry policy for Australia, from now until 2020 at least, is that Innovation must be the byword.
This shows a dramatic change in the attitude of the government, as investment in creativity and innovation (unlike traditional industry investments) can deliver disproportionate economic rewards when successful. It also demonstrates the recognition of Australia's changed economy and the role industry policy should play.
It also means that we will need to agree exactly what we mean by "innovation". Is it innovation in a resource-based economy (as CEDA examined), or is this going to be an innovation future for Australia across the creative and technological sectors? At some point early on we must address the issue Barry Jones raised in his Sleepers, Wake!, namely that:
'Innovation' in much of Australian industry has a special and limited meaning: marginal improvements in processes for materials used in very long-term product cycles-wool, timber, coal, steel, aluminium, paper, glass. We have eschewed the development of new products with a limited life cycle-electronics, machine tools, pharmaceuticals-where planning for the next model begins as soon as the latest one hits the market...
And yet, we now have companies like Atlassian (also members of the Hargraves Institute with MJA), with over 10,000 customers. This sort of enterprise can really change, challenge and shape the debate, but we must acknowledge the rich innovation history and capability of our traditional sectors.
The discussion needs to be one of AND rather than OR.
MJA will actively participate in, and contribute to, the debate as we move to shape Australia's Innovation Future.
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