The timing of the current Senate Inquiry into the Australian Innovation System highlights some glaring shortcomings in Australia’s approach to and understanding of innovation. The reporting date, by July 2015, could well mean that any recommendations miss the next Australian budget.
Last week, Ian MacFarlane, the Minister for Industry, launched the 2014 Global Innovation Index (GII) report. This report ranks 143 states on 81 indices, which are broken into five ‘innovation inputs’ and two ‘innovation outputs’ categories. Overall, Australia ranked 17th, up two places from last year.
There is a saying that, if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. It seems innovation funding, entrepreneurs and the like did not have a seat at the table when the most recent Australian Federal Budget was being prepared.
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