Securing the future of Australian manufacturing

All Australians have a stake in the first, and huge numbers have a stake in the others.

The innovation review will help us understand the connections between the different elements that make up Australia's national innovation system. More importantly, it will suggest ways to increase and strengthen those connections. It's especially important that we bring Australian industry into the picture - not just as a consumer, but as a producer of new ideas. That's why I wanted to run the four reviews together.

The automotive and TCF reviews will show what innovation can do for industry. The innovation and CRC reviews will show what industry can do for innovation. The imperatives are clear. We need to connect sectors, institutions and individuals to promote collaboration and knowledge transfer. We need to boost private investment in R&D and get the best possible return on public research spending. We need to concentrate resources for maximum synergy and efficiency.

These reviews will show us how.

It is essential that as many people as possible contribute.

The national innovation system review panel has called for submissions, including submissions on the CRC program. The deadline is April 30. Steve Bracks released an issues paper on March 31, with submissions due on May 14. Professor Green is still finalising the timetable for the TCF review. You can find out more at the www.innovation.gov.au website.

Enterprise Connect

Then there's Enterprise Connect.

This is a $200 million initiative to give small and medium-sized businesses better access to new ideas, know-how and technologies - which the businesses can use to become more innovative, efficient and competitive.

Our aim is to lift productivity across Australian industry by encouraging people to work smarter, not just harder.

With productivity growth struggling along at below-average levels for the last five years and slumping to zero in 2007, the need for action on this front is more urgent than ever.

Enterprise Connect will create a network of knowledge-creation and knowledge-transfer sites around the country. There will be five new manufacturing centres in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Burnie, which will be joined by Queensland's QMI Solutions.