The Quiet Australian Harvest

Australia's outstanding economic success in recent years has been aided by significant developments in science and technology research and by the ways in which research has been exploited for commercial development. Australia's success in this respect, and its rapid and sometimes innovative development of such vehicles for R&D exploitation as science and technology parks, makes it a suitable case for study. This paper arises from the findings of a study mission from the UK, which set out to identify and analyse the various ways in which Australia is addressing the challenge of science and technology exploitation. The authors focus on current science, technology and innovation policies at state and national levels, and assess the various ways in which science and technology parks have been used as vehicles for innovation, business development and economic regeneration. The paper is divided into three main parts: Part 1 discusses policy issues at state and Commonwealth levels; Part 2 is concerned with technology, innovation and economic regeneration and describes various science and technology park developments; and Part 3 assesses the ways in which university-industry links are manifested in science and technology parks. A concluding section summarizes the key aspects of Australia's strategy for economic development through science and technology, in terms of both policy and implementation.