Boosting innovation and science

Embracing innovation, technology and science is critical to powering our economy to provide jobs and high living standards for all Australians.

The National Innovation and Science Agenda (NISA) sets a focus on science, research and innovation as long-term drivers of economic prosperity, jobs and growth. The NISA complements a broader government investment in science, research and innovation.

National Innovation and Science Agenda report

Read the full agenda report to find out more about the policy and research underpinning the Agenda.

The Agenda focuses on four key pillars:

• Taking the leap: backing Australian entrepreneurs by opening up new sources of finance, embracing risk, taking on innovative ideas, and making more of our public research.
• Working together: increasing collaboration between industry and researchers to find solutions to real world problems and to create jobs and growth.
• Best and brightest: developing and attracting world-class talent for the jobs of the future.
• Leading by example: the Australian Government will lead by example; embracing innovation and agility in the way we do business.

Initiatives

• Advancing quantum computing technology
• Assessing the engagement and impact of university research
• Attracting talent through reforms to Employee Share Schemes
• Biomedical Translation Fund to commercialise promising discoveries
• Business Research and Innovation Initiative
• Changes to Venture Capital Limited Partnerships
• CSIRO Innovation Fund to commercialise early stage innovations
• CSIRO ON accelerator programme
• Cyber Security Growth Centre
• Data sharing for innovation
• Data61: Australia’s digital and data innovation group
• Digital Marketplace
• Embracing the digital age
• Global Innovation Strategy
• Improving insolvency laws to encourage innovation
• Increasing access to company losses
• Incubator Support initiative
• Innovation and Science Australia
• Innovation Connections: connecting industry to innovation infrastructure
• Innovation in agriculture and regional areas
• Inspiring all Australians in science, technology, engineering and mathematics
• Inspiring Australians - Science Engagement Programme
• Intangible asset depreciation (this measure is not proceeding)
• Linkage Projects scheme: faster industry-research collaboration grants
• Maintaining world class research infrastructure through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS), the Australian Synchrotron and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) 
• Making it easier to access crowd-sourced equity funding
• New research funding arrangements for universities
• Opportunities for women in science, technology, engineering and maths
• Supporting innovation through visas
• Tax incentives for investors

Read more

The Minister announced the NISA on 7 December 2015, committing $1.1 billion over 4 years to 24 measures.

Contact us

• Email using our enquiry form
• Phone business.gov.au contact centre on 13 28 46

See also

Australia’s National Science Statement sets a long-term approach to achieving a strong science system.