The state government has revived its Technology and Industry Advisory Council with several high profile appointments to provide advice on science and technology policy and funding.
The state government has revived its Technology and Industry Advisory Council with several high profile appointments to provide advice on science and technology policy and funding.
It announced today that company director and venture capital investor Charles Morgan will be the new chair of TIAC.
The Council also includes Nobel Laureate Barry Marshall, Azure Capital chairman John Poynton and Chevron executive Colin Beckett.
Mr Morgan's elevation to the new role follows his appointment 12 months ago as chair of an interim advisory board, tasked with the creation of a new Council for Science and Innovation.
That Council was supposed to amalgamate the WA Science and Innovation Council and TIAC, and was meant to be operational by mid 2010, according to a statement by then science and innovation minister Troy Buswell.
The new members of TIAC also include former deputy premier Mal Bryce, CSIRO Energy executive Beverley Ronalds, WA chief scientist Lyn Beazley, research fellow Shaun Collin, and Earth Science WA chair James Ross.
Commerce and Science and Innovation Minister Bill Marmion said the council would play a critical advisory role in determining the strategic direction for industry, science and innovation in the State.
"The State Government is progressing development of a sustainable and co-ordinated direction for industry, science, and innovation in Western Australia," he said.
"This direction will ensure the State is focusing on building our core competencies and capabilities to create a strong and stable economic base for future generations of West Australians.
"TIAC will provide advice to the State Government and deliver recommendations that support the development and growth of our key sectors."
The council will deliver the following activities:
- develop an overall strategy including priorities and goals, to be communicated to all stakeholders, to guide industry, science and innovation investments and activities in Western Australia, in line with the objects defined in the Industry and Technology Development Act 1998
- continuously inform and evolve the overall strategy by engaging with relevant stakeholders in industry, academia and government to identify opportunities to develop and strengthen the State's competitive advantages and maximise benefits to Western Australia
- provide advice regarding the improvement of systems used by government agencies to manage industry, science and innovation investments and initiatives
- develop a report, to be updated annually, measuring and evaluating industry, science and innovation investment and initiatives to establish a baseline for these activities in the State and to identify critical areas of priority
- provide advice regarding the development of whole-of-government priorities and strategies to support better collaboration and coordination within government, with particular focus on encouraging the development of programs and initiatives supporting innovation across government agencies
- provide advice on strategies to increase the level of Federal funding for research and industry initiatives to Western Australia
- provide advice, when requested by the Minister, on selected funding recommendations from government agencies regarding industry, science and innovation investments, to ensure that these are aligned with the overall strategy
