Innovation Review to Release Issues Paper This Week, "Canvassing Key Topics and Posing a Number of Critical Questions Relating to Innovation. (February 27, 2008)

On October 4, 2000 the Australian Academy of Science released: "RESPONSE TO THE CHIEF SCIENTIST’S DISCUSSION PAPER THE CHANCE TO CHANGE, (AUGUST 2000) AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INNOVATION SUMMIT IMPLEMENTATION GROUP, INNOVATION, UNLOCKING THE FUTURE".

It was just one of many submissions made. No doubt if Dr Terry Cutler, the head of the Government's independent review of Australia's National Innovation System were to request the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research staffers to dig through the archives he could have them unearthed.

In his media release today Dr Cutler said: "In reviewing our innovation capabilities and preparedness we need to be forward-looking. It is not enough simply to ask how well things may be working now. We need to work to ensure sustainable communities and sustainable industries into the future. Across the entire community this means thinking strategically about the challenges looming over the horizon. This is why the Review is seeking the broadest possible input and it is why the Review will have a 10 year plus perspective."

Dr Cutler also said: "Australia needs to know where we should focus our effort so we can marshal our capabilities to achieve desired outcomes. As a small country we cannot be a leader in everything – we need to set our priorities and apply our resources accordingly."

He listed "seven key questions for the review:

 1. “Can we imagine a better world? What don’t we know or fully understand yet?”

2. “How do we solve the big challenges we face as a country, an industry or a community?”

3. “Could we do everyday things better? Is there a better way to meet this need or to address that challenge?”

4. “How do we get more people to use the best available tools and techniques, from anywhere around the world, in what they do?”

5. “How do we make it easy for people to use tools or apply ideas in ways no one has yet envisaged?”

6. “How do we educate and equip our people to be creative and innovative, life-long?”

7. “As a relative small country, how do we Australians prioritise our innovation efforts to make the most of what we have or can do?”

Let's hope that the coming seven years will bring forth more than the past in supporting the nation's infrastructure for innovation.