This is the text of a recent speech given by Dr Terry Cutler, who in 2008 chaired the Australian Government’s review of the National Innovation System, culminating in the report Venturous Australia. Dr Cutler goes beyond that report in this post to outline areas he sees as requiring attention if Australia is to move innovation to the heart centre of its economy.

Theme

In 2008 I tended to title presentations on innovation: “The unfinished business of innovation”.  And here I will certainly talk about some of the unfinished business I see within an Australian context.

In 2009, however, I began to change tack and talked about the “never finished business of innovation”.  This is an important message because the business of innovation is never, never, finished.  There is no “final solution” or resolution.  Innovation, like understanding, is a journey, a process of change, and not a destination.  There needs to be continuing discussion and re-examination as circumstances change, as our understanding of the innovation challenge depends, or as new opportunities emerge.

By the end of this paper you would be right to conclude that I think we are not on top of the innovation challenge. Read More→