By Roy Green Readers of @AuManufacturing will be familiar with John Howard’s prodigious contribution to public policy debate on the evolution of our national research and innovation system. His deep understanding of both the theoretical underpinnings and practical application of policy in this area was reflected in his recent book, Thinking in public: Australia’s missing…
By Michael Buchanan and Prof. Renu Agarwal A recent Australian Financial Review article on the demise of Energy Renaissance shows domestic manufacturing’s commercial success requires purchase orders. Initiatives such as the government’s Future Made in Australia won’t have economic impact on a grants program alone – they need subsequent protection of nascent domestic capability and…
Australia’s approach to industry policy over the past six decades tells a story of remarkable institutional restlessness. By Dr John H Howard. Between 1963 and 2025, the federal industry portfolio has been reorganised approximately 20 times—a major restructure roughly every three years. This extraordinary pattern of bureaucratic instability reveals far more than administrative tinkering; it…
What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to @AuManufacturing were reading. 5) Computer/information services and the path to a Future Made in Australia It is now well understood by innovation policy analysts and advisers that, on many fronts, Australia stands at a pivotal crossroads in its innovation journey, writes Dr John H Howard.…
The new government should set its mind to the problem of Australia’s industrial structure. Recent feedback from manufacturers suggests that existing programs might be missing the mark. By Dr Jens Goennemann. After a decisive election win, the runway for government, especially a returning one, is at its longest. Therefore, it is a good time to…
By Sandy Plunkett If Australia’s domestic manufacturing and tech sector had a dollar for every time political leaders have declared — in and out of election campaigns for decades — that innovative SMEs are the engine of the economy, we might have a small but globally significant 21st century manufacturing sector by now. If we…
@AuManufacturing News and public accounting, tax, consulting and business advisory BDO are pleased to launch the online version of our September 19 webinar – Towards 3% R&D – Where to from here?. Following on from our successful editorial series and e-book, a panel discussion is moderated by Peter Roberts, and features expert manufacturing leaders discussing…
Incremental innovation rules for Serena Ross, the CEO of Circuitwise Electronics Manufacturing and one of our panellists at @AuManufacturing‘s webinar taking place this week on Thursday 19 September (more information and sign up here). Serena will discuss during the webinar Towards 3% R&D – Where to from here?, how Circuitwise has been able to triple…
Why do so many Australians oppose spending money to stimulate manufacturing? Why is it so prevalent to think ‘Australia is not good at making things’? And why do we launch $100 billion government programmes such as the NBN, but buy most if not all the technology from overseas? These are some of the questions that…
As we near our latest webinar Towards 3% R&D – Where to from here? (more information and sign up here) Dr John Howard asks whether Australia’s capital markets are failing to support innovative companies. Dr Howard will speak at the webinar which follows our editorial series and e-book Towards 3% – turbocharging Australia’s innovation effort.…