The Round Table is pleased to have participated in the update of this plan. Responding to climate change, maintaining the health of our native species, and reducing our ecological footprint will all be crucial to a sustainable future for South Australia. We congratulate the Government for committing to these important, and ambitious targets. The significant challenge ahead of us now is to take action to meet the targets.
Katherine Wells
Chair, Premier's Round Table on Sustainability
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Objective 4: Fostering Creativity and Innovation |
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CREATIVITY
We are renowned for our leadership and strong commitment to the arts.
A culture of creativity helps economic growth by developing better products and services, more efficient businesses and better delivery of government services. Creativity is also important to building a vibrant community.
We must enhance our reputation by supporting the growth of our creative industries. We are home to some of the country’s best artistic organisations, which are also renowned around the world: the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Dance Theatre, the Adelaide Festival, Windmill and the Jam Factory, to name just a few. South Australian films are receiving critical acclaim internationally. This state has a rich Aboriginal culture. We must not take any of this for granted but continue to broaden the audience for our cultural products.
T4.1 Creative industries: increase the number of SouthAustralians undertaking work in the creative industries by 20% by 2014.
T4.2 Film industry: double the number of feature films produced in South Australia by 2014.
T4.3 Cultural engagement – institution: increase the number of attendances at South Australia’s cultural institutions by 20% by 2014.
T4.4 Cultural engagement – arts activities: increase the number of attendances at selected arts activities by 40% by 2014.
T4.5 Understanding of Aboriginal culture: Aboriginal cultural studies included in school curriculum by 2014 with involvement of Aboriginal people in design and delivery.
INNOVATION
Innovation at its most basic level is the creative use of knowledge: doing things differently (process innovation) or doing different things (new products and services). Innovation is vitally important for achieving and maintaining business competitiveness. Innovation is equally important for building stronger communities and delivering better government services.
Innovation has delivered breakthroughs which have transformed economies and societies. South Australia’s history is full of innovative discoveries – from the invention of the stump jump plough, the discovery of penicillin, the Hills Hoist, discoveries in molecular biology and diagnostic x-rays, to major civic participation, with South Australia being one of the first places in the world to give women the vote.
In today’s global business environment, successful businesses develop and apply new ideas, technologies and knowledge to remain at the cutting edge. Our businesses are the most innovative in the nation and we must build on this strength.
T4.6 Commercialisation of research: increase gross revenues received by South Australian-based research institutions from licences, options, royalty agreements, assignments, licensed technology and patents by 2010.
T4.7 Business innovation: the proportion of South Australian businesses innovating to exceed 50% in 2010 and 60% in 2014.
T4.8 Broadband usage: Broadband usage in South Australia to exceed the Australian national average by 2010, and be maintained thereafter.
INVESTMENT IN SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
Today the state has a strong science and technology research base to promote innovation. It is supported by three South Australian universities, the recent addition of campuses of Carnegie Mellon, and the impending delivery of courses in Adelaide by UK-based Cranfield University from early 2007.
We also have a number of important public research organisations. These include the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, and the research headquarters for the Defence Science and Technology Organisation, which has the largest number of research scientists in a single location in Australia. These facilities are supported by a wide range of industry research facilities in many fields including wine, defence, automotive, manufacturing, printing, optics and biotechnology.
T4.9 Public expenditure: by 2010, public expenditure on research and development, as a proportion of GSP, to match or exceed average investment compared to other Australian states.
T4.10 Australian Government resources: secure Australian government research and development resources to 10% above South Australia's per capita share by 2010 and increase this share to 25% by 2014, for both public and private spheres.
T4.11 Business expenditure: increase business expenditure on research and development to 1.5% of GSP in 2010 and increase to 1.9% by 2014.
VENTURE CAPITAL
Increasingly, the role of entrepreneurs who build and lead successful and dynamic businesses is being recognised as a key component of economic prosperity. Entrepreneurship and the demand for venture capital are barometers of business confidence in an economy and the availability of innovative thinkers in the state.
The target for venture capital is a new addition to the plan, and entrepreneurship has been put on the developmental list (due to issues of data availability), emphasising the challenge of attracting, retaining and making best use of those who can help the economy to thrive.
T4.12 Venture capital: South Australia’s share of Australian Government-administered venture capital program funds to reach 7% by 2010, and be maintained thereafter. |
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