Australia is missing a national prototyping network which help would keep local ideas, innovation and entrepreneurs onshore.
Science & Technology Australia (STA) Chief Executive Officer Ryan Winn said while Australia had world-class STEM-skilled research expertise to innovate, too many great ideas never become economy-boosting products because of the challenge of developing early-stage prototypes prior to scale-up.
Mr Winn said the STA, which represents more than 225,000 Australia scientists and technologists, was calling for a nationally-coordinated network of facilities to support pre-market development, testing and scale-up.
“Prototyping products to give business the confidence to invest is the missing middle of Australia’s manufacturing capability,” he said.
“Because the country doesn’t have this, our best innovators and entrepreneurs are forced to develop and test their products overseas, or worse, great ideas are simply shelved.”
Mr Winn said Australia’s early-stage business ventures and researchers looking to translate and commercialise work needed access to a national facility to test product viability, trial designs and optimise manufacturing processes.
“This proposal would ensure that more Australian ideas and innovations are turned into the products, services and jobs of tomorrow.
“It would fill a significant gap in the country’s capability, and ensure that Australia’s businesses have the support they need to help transform our economy.”
He said spanning the “valley of death” stages of innovation, a National Prototyping Facility would deliver crucial government support to de-risking the proof-of-concept and early scale up stages of product development, enabling industry to invest with greater confidence.
