Technology

Consulting on critical technologies

We are working to understand which current and emerging technologies are key to Australia’s future prosperity and stability. We do this by engaging with:

• other Australian Government agencies
• state and territory governments
• industry groups
• academic institutions
• international partners.

This helps ensure the government’s critical technology policies are balanced, effective and evidence-based.

Promoting and protecting critical technologies

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.

We recommend government actions to promote and protect critical technologies. We 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).

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.