InnovateWA Policy
Information on the State Government's commitment to build a culture of innovation that extends from the classroom to research institutions.
Key aims and objectives
The State’s InnovateWA Policy has three key aims:
- To raise awareness of innovation as a driver of economic and technological change
- To strengthen and improve the educational and research capacity of the State
- To maximise the commercialisation of ideas by building links between industry and research.
The objectives of the InnovateWA Policy are to:
- Raise awareness of innovation as a driver of economic and technological change
- Strengthen and improve the education and research capacity of the State
- Maximise the commercialisation of ideas by building links between industry and research
- Generate more jobs and expand the export potential of the State.
Role of the department
The department provides active support to the Premier on policy formulation and decision making in relation to science and innovation.
Initiatives and collaborations
The following initiatives are just some of the key projects enabled by the InnovateWA Policy:
Centre for Food and Genomic Medicine’s Diabesity Research Program
The Centre for Food and Genomic Medicine (www.cfgm.org.au/), based at the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research, is a world-class research facility set up primarily to tackle the twin epidemics of diabetes and obesity, known as "diabesity".
Centres of Excellence Program
The Centres of Excellence Program encourages the development of eminent multidisciplinary research teams working on projects of strategic importance to WA. The Research Centres section of this website provides more detailed information about the Centres of Excellence Program.
Premier's Research Fellows
A critical mass of excellent researchers in WA is being built by the appointment of six Premier’s Research Fellows in areas as diverse as nanotechnology, plant energy biology, geology, public health and radio astronomy. For further information refer to the Premier's Research Fellowship Program.
Tropical Futures Program
To promote and capitalise on the significant opportunities that exist in tropical science, knowledge and innovation, the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australian Governments have agreed to work cooperatively and collaboratively to further their respective achievements and strengths in this area, and have formalised this intention by signing the Cooperative Framework on Tropical Science, Knowledge and Innovation in March 2004.
For further information visit www.tropicalfutures.nt.gov.au/.
WA Energy Research Alliance
The WA Energy Research Alliance (www.waera.com.au/) combines the multi-disciplinary expertise of three established research institutions: The University of Western Australia, CSIRO and Curtin University of Technology.
Based at the Australian Resources Research Centre at Technology Park Bentley, the Alliance is one of the principal hubs in the State’s oil and gas technology cluster. The three research organisations share knowledge, skills and facilities. Through the Alliance, these organisations deploy their collective world-scale resources on oil and gas industry research and education challenges.
Western Australian Marine Science Institution
The Western Australian Marine Science Institution (www.wamsi.org.au) is establishing a leading research capability, underpinning the conservation and sustainable management of WA's marine environment and resources. The Institution is building upon WA's already strong marine science capacity to create a world class science Institution to provide economic, social and environmental benefits to the State.