On 18 March 2014 an inquiry into Australia’s Innovation System was referred to the Senate Economics References Committee. The inquiry was tasked specifically to look into the challenges to Australian industries and jobs posed by increasing global competition in innovation, science, engineering, research and education.

ACRI’s work to deliver innovation for the rail industry will impact on a number of the questions raised by the Senate inquiry into Australia’s innovation system, particularly those around the transition of research into economic benefits, as well as the question of funding models for the innovation system in Australia.

To present ACRI in the context of this inquiry, a submission has been prepared detailing the activity undertaken to establish ACRI and outlining the important work scheduled for 2014/15 as part of ACRI’s agreed work programs. The submission also includes details of ACRI’s operational funding model, highlighting efficiencies in the mechanism for funding innovation through Australian research institutions by ensuring a collaborative approach to both channelling investment and the sharing of outcomes.

The ACRI submission has been provided to the inquiry and is published on the References Committee inquiry into Australia’s Innovation System website with submission reference 163, or the submission can be viewed here: ACRI Submission – Australia’s Innovation System (PDF 648kB).

For information on this work and other ACRI initiatives contact the Executive Director, Vicki Brown at vicki.brown@infrastructure.gov.au.