Grand alliance for digital delivery

Australia needs to get moving so our digital future is not competing-countries’ digital past. The Education Minster will love what the science and tech learned academies want done

Researchers and industry must work together to maximise the benefits of digital technologies in the next 20 years, the Australian of academies of science and technology and engineering recommend in a new report. “Our international standing as a forward-looking digital nation is not only at risk, it is in active decline,” the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering warn.

This should be a Spotify play-list to the ears of Education Minister Dan Tehan, who says university-industry digital collaboration is a national prosperity priority (CMM Monday).

To pick up the pace they propose 32 actions in the next five years to encourage digital leadership in industry, increase workforce capacity, get all-of-government involved and encourage open IP to generate industry-researcher cooperation.

The two academies’ specific proposals include;

* universities and publicly funded research agencies actively pursue opportunities to become focal points for businesses involved in developing and commercialising digital technology

* university researchers use sabbaticals in industry to gain experience and create personal links between industry and research.

* encourage joint appointments between government, universities, publicly funded research agencies and industry. Research organisations consider revising employment contracts to assist researchers to take simultaneous employment with businesses.


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