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National innovation report released
13 September 2008
One of the major national reports that will have an impact on the University, and Sunshine Coast businesses within the Region was released this week by Senator Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.
The Report, ‘venturousaustralia’ was prepared by a distinguished committee headed by Dr Terry Cutler.
When the Committee was established, Minister Carr spoke to Vice-Chancellors about the need to rationalise, re-invigorate, and coordinate our national innovation system. He also emphasised that the issues would be addressed with a recognition that regional as well as metropolitan views would be respected.
In the intervening period, until the release of the Report, there has been some concern expressed that the views of the powerful GO8 group of universities have been having a disproportionate influence not only on this Report but also on other national developments, at the expense of regional Australia, its universities and businesses.
The pursuit of world-class status by the GO8 is an understandable preoccupation, but sometimes too little regard is paid to the importance of Australia’s regions as a result.
Perhaps with that level of influence, it is not surprising, that the GO8 response to this Report is that they support all 14 recommendations on building excellence in research. The recommendations, if implemented, will certainly boost their coffers and the intensity of research activity in the GO8 metropolitan universities. Billions of dollars will be needed to fully fund research.
How this increased level of support for obvious research concentration will play out for universities with growing research capacity in the regions, will be dependent on the way implementation details are worked through, over the next year or so.
The Report itself emphasises that world innovation policy is a central aspect of economic policy: those cities or regions that innovate most effectively, will ultimately be best positioned to protect their lifestyles.
Emphasis is also placed on knowledge and skill – human capital – and this should, of course be generated nationwide and not just through an elite group of universities that only a minority of Australians are able to access.
Thankfully, the Report stresses the need to invest in education generally, and for Australia to return to its post-war standing for public investment. The aim is set to be in the top quartile of OECD countries for public expenditure by 2020.
How the Report has an impact on the micro to small business environment of the Coast is also a sleeper, where the devil will be in the detail. And how much the influence of politics and political boundaries will have, we will also have to await.
The Report has much within it that addresses Minister Carr’s original concerns, and it is a clarion call for becoming more globally competitive as a nation. It is to be hoped, however, that the vital importance of Australia’s regions, its universities, and its small businesses, and its various political constituencies, are not treated as second-class considerations in the worthy pursuit of world-classness.
Professor Paul Thomas AM is Vice-Chancellor at the University of the Sunshine Coast.