THE State Government has launched its Innovation Initiative
against the backdrop of the Western Australian component of the Australian
Innovation Festival.
While no new funds have been allocated, State Development
Minister Clive Brown said the initiative was a progression of the Industry
Policy Statement launched in February this year.
The initiative will be coordinated through the Department of
Industry and Resources and includes a series of programs to be developed in
consultation with industry.
Some of the programs mentioned as part of the initiative were
announced in February at the launch of the Government’s Industry Policy
Statement.
Components of the initiative include: awareness and training
programs; the establishment of an innovation centre at Technology Park; the
development of an innovation guide; the development of a commercialisation
assistance scheme designed to assist WA companies in securing funds from
Federal funding programs; and the commercialisation of State government
intellectual property.
Mr Brown said the emergence of new industries, including
biotechnology and ICT services, and developments in resource exploration,
engineering, processing and manufacturing, would underpin WA’s continuing
performance as Australia’s leading State economy.
