'Needs improvement': Australia's innovation report card is in

Innovation and Science Australia (ISA) has completed its Performance Review of the Australian Innovation, Science and Research System 2016, concluding that Australia is quite good at coming up with clever ideas but not so good at transferring them into tangible outcomes.

The performance review identifies what is being done well, and what can be improved on, in the Australian innovation, science and research system. Specifically, ISA examined the overall strengths and weaknesses of the system’s activities in the areas of knowledge creation, knowledge transfer and knowledge application through the lens of innovation enablers.

Announcing the review’s findings, ISA Chair Bill Ferris stated that Australia is “good at creating knowledge but simply not good enough at transferring or applying it” — a view that previous domestic and international studies would broadly agree with.

“In both our number of researchers per capita and the proportion of highly cited publications we produce, we sit in the top 10 internationally,” Ferris elaborated.

“We are, however, performing relatively poorly in transferring that knowledge and ultimately applying it. It is these activities that create the types of new goods and services that not only improve our lives — think breakthrough medical technologies, environmentally friendly production techniques and new ways of growing and storing our food — but also provide economic growth and sustainable jobs.”

Tony Peacock, CEO of the CRC Association, summarised the review’s findings with the analogy: “If it was your child’s school report, you’d be saying we’d better have a serious discussion over dinner.”

The review suggests that Australia’s poor performance in knowledge transfer and application may be partially explained by our low rates of collaboration and mobility among research institutions and businesses compared to the best innovation nations. Ferris also pointed to Australia’s preponderance for incremental — rather than radical — innovation as holding the country back.

ISA will use the performance review’s findings as a basis for advice for the government through its 2030 Strategic Plan for Australian Innovation, Science and Research, which will set out a long-term direction and identify priorities and specific areas for investment and reform. Ferris has already indicated that he will use the plan to call for an increase in the sense of urgency around Australian innovation.

“The challenge of getting Australia into the top tier of innovation nations by 2030 must be seen as a significant national priority,” said Ferris. “We look forward to engaging with stakeholders across the country throughout the year in developing ISA’s Strategic Plan to get us there.”