A "Year of Ideas" for Richer Engineering Returns

On Australia Day the Australian Institute for Commercialisation (AIC) embarked on a national campaign with a call to Australians to adopt 2007 as the Year of the Idea. According to The Warren Centre, it is an initiative well worth supporting.

Indeed the growing interest in commercialisation is almost palpable, as the economy energetically bubbles along and large volumes of investor funds are looking everywhere for higher returns.

Successful businesses, like in the resources industry for example, are responding to booming order books and have the money to invest in all sorts of new technologies to dig it up and ship it out faster and cheaper in the face of serious labour and skills and infrastructure shortages.

Growing middle classes across the developing world, as well as aging populations in the developed world, are driving increased demand for everything from basic commodities and raw materials, to consumer items, luxury goods and advanced biotech products and services, all of which need to be fine tuned to the idiosyncrasies of particular markets.

Australia has world standard skills and know-how… but how to maximize the wealth creation opportunities for this nation?

Awareness of the needs, opportunities and possibilities with appropriate shifts in attitude, culture and motivation, as well as responsive business incentives and mechanisms are all part of an overall response to the challenges and opportunities.

Dr. Rowan Gilmore CEO of the AIC, believes that “a national push is needed to change our ideas, culture and hope to drive an initiative that will achieve a groundswell of support from government, industry, research institutions, entrepreneurs and the media.”

The campaign has the support of Prof. Ian Frazer, former Australian of the Year.

The principal aims of the campaign are to

• recognise Australian innovations that have changed our lives, and their origins as an idea.

• motivate Australians to appreciate the value of ideas and their effect on their everyday lives

• encourage individuals, industry, research institutions and governments to turn their ideas into action

• inspire collaboration towards the development of solutions to local, national and global challenges

• promote cultural change to take ideas seriously

• put the spotlight on ideas as a building block to innovation.

The campaign is looking for widespread support, and is asking all sorts of organisations and individuals to consider:

• adopting the Year of the Idea in 2007 and using it as an overarching theme to inspire creativity, fresh thinking and new ideas

• using it as a platform to announce initiatives that recognise or support ideas, innovations and outcomes

• engaging the support of stakeholders to spread the word and become part of “The Year”

• proactively and publicly supporting the push for 2007 as the year to value ideas, in media releases, newsletters and on websites

• promoting relevant events under the Year of the Idea umbrella, using the logo that has been developed

• conducting an internal brainstorm to see what new ideas are generated

• recognising and rewarding bright ideas in your organisation.

For further information see www.ausicom.com/_dbase_upl/Background.pdf

Dr Chris Nicol presents the 2007 Innovation Lecture in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney, 5–7 June.
Click here for information and here to register.

Disclaimer: The Warren Centre publishes articles relating to new technology and innovation that are often based on information supplied by third parties. While an editorial process is applied, we make no exhaustive investigation into the accuracy of the information, thus no liability will be accepted for its accuracy. Please note that in providing this information, The Warren Centre is not supporting or promoting any technology or company, merely seeking to inform. Interested readers should take their own steps to verify the information prior to relying on it in any way.

A "Year of Ideas"

Contents

Innovative Australian Engineering Magicians to Take on the World

Energy Efficient Australian CV Joint Eyes Huge International Markets
Here's Looking at You
"Born Globals" – Business Going Global from Day 1
A "Year of Ideas" for Richer Engineering Returns

CSIRO Robotic Submarine "Starbug" set to transform environmental monitoring
The Warren Centre thanks all its volunteers

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(c) The Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering, 2007