Current debates about artificial intelligence often miss the fundamental difference between AI that replaces human capabilities and AI that amplifies them. Drawing on lessons from economic history and organisation theory, this insight argues for a focus on augmentation. For Australia, choosing to augment human expertise with AI is critical for building an economy that thrives on creativity and avoids the long-term risks of deskilling our workforce.

This article reviews The Handbook of Innovation Ecosystems , detailing its "four-domain convergence framework" . It argues that successful ecosystems are not accidental but require the deliberate, long-term integration of Placemaking, Economics, Business, and Governance . It provides a practical guide for policymakers and practitioners to move beyond rhetoric and build durable, inclusive innovation capacity .

RMIT University’s Enabling Impact Platforms (EIPs) connect researchers, industry, and government to accelerate research translation and deliver outcomes that matter. Covering advanced manufacturing, health, sustainability, and more, the EIPs act as system integrators—breaking down silos, seeding collaborations, and aligning research with national and global priorities.

New research examining 80+ international innovation districts reveals what drives success. From MIT's Kendall Square to Singapore's One North, thriving ecosystems integrate placemaking, economics, business development and governance. Success comes from institutional capabilities and relationships, not impressive buildings. Australian policymakers can learn from global best practices whilst avoiding common pitfalls like property-led development models

Australia's food policy suffers from commodity-focused analysis that undervalues the full food system. While agricultural production accounts for 2.4% of GDP, integrated food chains contribute more, estimated at 10-15%. This blindness stems from farm-gate metrics, while consumption innovation lacks institutional support. Food has evolved beyond sustenance into cultural expression in multicultural Australia. Policy needs consumption-led approaches, recognising food's community

Australia’s Rural R&D Corporations are rightly celebrated, but the system around them needs to evolve. This Innovation Insight reframes agricultural policy not in terms of who holds power—but what functions the system must perform to meet today's national challenges. A future-focused rethink from CSIRO’s Food System Horizons.

At a time when the language of innovation is everywhere yet the architecture for delivering it is so often absent, the need for honest, grounded, and practical thinking is urgent. The goal of this book is not to predict the future, but to inform and provoke those with the responsibility and agency to shape it.

Software is the invisible engine of Australia’s real economy. It silently powers everything from energy grids to medical diagnostics, mining automation to advanced manufacturing. Too often, software is left out of economic plans, policy settings, and capability strategies. It’s time to treat software as national infrastructure — a strategic enabler, not just commercial code. If we want productivity growth, energy transition, and sovereign control of critical systems, we need

The tectonic shifts in the global economy—from manufacturing to services, from tangible goods to intangible assets—demand more than incremental adjustments to our statistical and analytical frameworks, Australia, a nation increasingly powered by services and innovation, risks undermining its competitiveness by clinging to an outdated framework. The case for adopting modern, flexible, and globally aligned industry classification systems has never been more compelling.

Australia’s economic future depends on lifting productivity through deliberate, coordinated innovation efforts. This demands more than tax breaks or start-up hype. We need systemic clarity about innovation; mature ecosystems that enable diffusion, PMI-oriented public intervention, regional governance, and outcome-based metrics. Only then can Australia boost competitiveness, inclusivity, and resilience beyond legacy sectors and cyclical growth.

For the first time in many years, there is a genuine opportunity to move beyond the oppositional politics that have hindered structural reform. This new parliamentary composition—more diverse but potentially less fractious—opens the door to building coalitions of the willing for major national reform. If we are to grasp this political moment, we must also confront the structural ambiguity that has long undermined innovation policy in this country. 

Australia's innovation policy faces a blind spot: the systematic neglect of common knowledge that enables breakthrough innovations to scale and endure. While current frameworks excel at measuring patents and R&D expenditures, they overlook the tacit expertise, institutional practices, and professional networks that serve as innovation's connective tissue. This Insight reveals how integrating common knowledge with proprietary systems can transform Australia's innovation perfor

In today’s constrained fiscal environment, governments are rightly asking hard questions. Why should public funds support innovation districts and precincts unless there is clear evidence of productivity uplift, industry renewal, or public benefit? This Insight explores the economic, industrial, and civic value of innovation ecosystems. It argues for a shift in focus—from short-term outputs to long-term productivity gains. It also offers a practical framework for measuring wh

Crises aren’t just moments of danger—they’re windows of opportunity for transformative change. This Innovation Insight explores why mission-oriented innovation policy (MOIP) has become a global force for tackling society’s biggest challenges. The secret behind MOIP is a compelling narrative that empowers governments to move beyond simply “fixing” markets and instead actively shape them, fostering innovation that addresses real-world needs, to reframe policy, for the public

Revenue-contingent loans are a policy mechanism to offer businesses flexible, risk-managed financing, with repayments tied to future revenue

John H. Howard, 11 February 2025 The transformation of regional economies through innovation presents one of the most compelling...

Gavin Keeley and Dalene Wray*, 6 February 2025 The Regional Development Australia (RDA) Moreton Bay-Sunshine Coast region presents one of...