Technology

The Australian Government is backing critical and emerging technologies to strengthen Australia's future.

Promoting and protecting critical technologies

Our Critical Technologies Hub advises the government on critical technology opportunities, developments and risks.

Critical technologies are current and emerging technologies with the capacity to impact our national interest. This includes Australia’s:

  • national security
  • economic prosperity
  • social cohesion.

The critical technology priority fields are:

  • advanced manufacturing and materials technologies
  • artificial intelligence (AI) technologies
  • advanced information and communication technologies
  • quantum technologies
  • autonomous systems, robotics, positioning, timing and sensing
  • biotechnologies
  • clean energy generation and storage technologies.

Government actions to promote and protect critical technologies aim to:

  • give Australians access to cost-effective, safe, secure and inclusive technologies
  • promote Australia as a trusted partner for investment, research and innovation
  • support regional resilience and competitive, trusted and diverse technology innovation
  • enable Australian industries to thrive and maximise intellectual property (IP).

Critical Technologies Statement

The Critical Technologies Statement outlines how the Australian Government is supporting technologies that can impact our national interest.
Read more

Supporting critical technology development and adoption

We are supporting Australia’s critical technology industries and capabilities. These technologies are providing new opportunities to create jobs, drive economic growth and boost competitiveness.

Shaping global critical technologies standards

We are increasing Australia's influence on the design and use of international standards for critical technologies. This will help ensure that these products, services and systems are safe, consistent, trusted and reliable.

Find out about our work and programs to support industry develop critical technology standards.

Growing the cyber security industry and workforce

We are growing Australia's cyber security industry and workforce to strengthen our digital economy.

  • AUCyber Explorer

    AUCyber Explorer provides detailed data on Australia's cyber security workforce, jobs and career pathways.

  • Questacon's cyber program

    Questacon is increasing cyber security awareness and job readiness through engaging education programs.

  • AustCyber

    AustCyber supports the development of a globally competitive cyber security sector. It is part of the Industry Growth Centres initiative that our department oversees.

Coordinating digital economy policy and regulations

The Digital Technology Taskforce coordinates whole-of-economy digital policy. This ensures we keep up to date on the changing digital landscape in our increasingly digital world.

The taskforce monitors developments in emerging technologies and the digital economy. This includes examining:

  • changes in the digital technology landscape
  • impact and uptake of high potential emerging technologies
  • digital adoption by small and medium enterprises
  • digital skills and inclusion
  • the role and use of data in the digital economy
  • international policy developments.

The taskforce helps inform the government’s digital economy policies and regulations.

Building digital capabilities

These tools can help your business innovate with digital technologies.

Geocoded National Address File (G-NAF) and Administrative Boundaries (AB) data

The Geocoded National Address File (G-NAF) contains the details of every physical address in Australia. The dataset is free to the public and updated every 3 months.
Read more

Strengthening manufacturing through technology

Manufacturing

Technologies support our efforts to strengthen Australian manufacturing.
Learn more

Latest news

More news

More information

Australian small business advisory services (ASBAS) digital solutions provides digital advice to small businesses
CSIRO's Next Generation Graduates Programs aims to address Australia's technology skills shortage
Learn about CSIRO's Data61
Find out more about how we are supporting industry innovation
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