Chief Scientist to headline national innovation policy forum

Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley will deliver this year’s Ralph Slatyer address. Photo: CSIRO/Nicholas Kachel.

Science is coming to the national capital in a big way with Cooperative Research Australia’s National Innovation Policy Forum and the Ralph Slatyer Address on Science and Society.

The National Press Club will host the half-day event, Policy Innovation to Foster a New Australian Business Model, on Monday 25 November.

Former prime minister Bob Hawke appointed Ralph Slatyer as Australia’s first Chief Scientist in 1989. Current Chief Scientist Cathy Foley will deliver this year’s address in his honour.

The National Innovation Policy Forum will bring together industry and research leaders, policy makers and parliamentarians.

Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic will open the event with a scene-setting address, followed by Shadow Science Minister Paul Fletcher and Assistant Minister for Future Made in Australia Tim Ayres.

Aspen Medical CEO Glenn Keys, Cicada Innovations CEO Sally-Ann Williams, UTS Emeritus Professor Roy Green, Digital Health CEO Annette Schmiede, Spiegare founder Cameron Begley, tech thought leader Kate Pounder, First Mode’s Lauren Stafford and Skykraft director Anne-Marie Perret will also address the forum.

The event is aimed at creating greater efficiency, collaboration and impact across the innovation system.

Three planned sessions will consider critical issues in innovation – Risk Sharing, Attracting Investment and Government as a Demanding Customer, and An Australian Business Model.

Discussion will be anticipating the Federal Government’s Strategic Examination of Research and Development – particularly in the context of an upcoming federal election.

It comes as the nation’s first State of Australian Quantum report is released, revealing the depth and strength of the national quantum sector.

The strategy sets out a long-term vision for how Australia will take advantage of the opportunities of quantum technologies.

Releasing the report on Wednesday (13 November), Mr Husic said the government had committed billions in funding for quantum and broader critical technologies since the launch of the National Quantum Strategy 18 months ago.

The investment has been backed by private capital with more than $179 million invested in Australian quantum companies over the same time period.

“We’ve been determined to champion growth in Australia’s quantum sector – and that’s drawing global interest. We can and should be quantum leaders,” Mr Husic said.

“Quantum technologies will deliver the next generation of computers, far more powerful than anything we currently see in our laptops or smartphones.

“This report shows the government is backing Australian quantum companies at every stage in their growth – from when they have the first spark of an idea, right through to selling their tech on the world stage.

“We’re crowding in private investment for our great Aussie quantum companies to the tune of $179 million since May 2023.

“Our investment in quantum demonstrates our commitment to a strong tech sector and a Future Made in Australia.”

The national quantum industry is now home to 38 domestic and international firms, and 26 Australian research organisations, which are producing world-leading quantum sensing, communication and computing.

The report’s release also coincides with the announcement of recipients for Round 1 of the $36 million Critical Technologies Challenge Program (CTCP), a commitment of the National Quantum Strategy.

The CTCP will accelerate commercialisation for quantum technologies from the early stage, when private capital is hard to secure, and drive greater awareness and uptake of quantum technologies in Australia.

A total of $5.2 million in funding has already been awarded to 14 consortia for feasibility projects that will tackle diverse challenges.

These projects include making a high-speed optical scanner for diabetes assessment; using quantum computing for remote community energy systems with renewable energy sources; developing resilient communications and navigation of autonomous systems without GPS; creating a new quantum optical sensor which will enable selective mining of rare-earth elements in clay deposits; and developing diagnostic technology to detect the ‘Invisible Melanoma’.

Mr Husic said these projects and investments showed Australia was serious about backing the quantum technology sector.

A list of grantees can be found at the Department of Industry, Science and Resources website.

Cooperative Research Australia’s 2024 National Innovation Policy Forum and Ralph Slatyer Address on Science and Society will be held at the National Press Club of Australia, Canberra from 7:30 am to 1 pm on Monday, 25 November.

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