[ASA] FW: BUDGET A CHANCE TO TACKLE THE ‘MISSING MIDDLE’ OF AUS INNOVATION

[Stas Shabala]

Dear ASA members,

See below for details of STA’s priorities for the upcoming Federal election.

The Pre-Budget submission linked below highlights STA’s three focus areas: a Sovereign Capability Moonshot Program for areas of critical national need ($2.5 billion), support for early stage prototyping and scale-up ($0.4 billion), and establishment of the Office for Indigenous STEM ($65 million).

Kind regards,

Stas

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Professor Stas Shabala
(he/him/his)
President, Astronomical Society of Australia
Associate Head Research, School of Natural Sciences
Discipline of Physics | School of Natural Sciences | College of Science and Engineering
University of Tasmania
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From: <outreach+Science.and.Technology.Australia at streem.com.au> on behalf of Science and Technology Australia <outreach+Science.and.Technology.Australia at streem.com.au>
Reply to: "media at sta.org.au" <media at sta.org.au>
Date: Thursday, 6 February 2025 at 8:50 am
To: Stas Shabala <stanislav.shabala at utas.edu.au>
Subject: BUDGET A CHANCE TO TACKLE THE ‘MISSING MIDDLE’ OF AUS INNOVATION

BUDGET A CHANCE TO TACKLE T...
[outreach header image]

BUDGET A CHANCE TO TACKLE THE ‘MISSING MIDDLE’ OF AUS INNOVATION


THURSDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2025


Creating a National Prototyping Facility would tackle the ‘missing middle’ of product development, keeping Australian ideas, innovation and entrepreneurs onshore, and securing the country’s future prosperity.


In its Pre-Budget submission<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/0QdACoV1kpfK2A3m7H1foTpfZ6g?domain=email.streem.com.au> on behalf of more than 225,000 scientists and technologists, Science & Technology Australia has called for strategic investment in industry development to create a prosperous Australia made from Australian ideas.


While Australia has 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. The proposal put forward by STA would see the creation of 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,” said STA Chief Executive Officer Ryan Winn.


“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.”


“Australia’s early-stage business ventures and researchers looking to translate and commercialise work need 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.”


Spanning the ‘valley of death’ stages of innovation, the 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.


“Australia has the research smarts, and it has government initiatives working to support advanced manufacturing. This year’s Budget is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring those things together by tackling what’s missing,” said Mr Winn.


About Science & Technology Australia
Science & Technology Australia is the nation’s peak body representing more than 225,000 scientists and technologists. We’re the leading policy voice on science and technology. Our flagship programs include Science Meets Parliament<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/ROL8Cp81lrtx4g3ZjSDhDTGJDY3?domain=email.streem.com.au>, Superstars of STEM<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/jwyzCq71mwf7YgjvpiQizTEpe8s?domain=email.streem.com.au>, and STA STEM Ambassadors<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/zABVCr81nytDQylO5uysyT4c4gL?domain=email.streem.com.au>. 


Media contact: Martyn Pearce, STA: 0432 606 828
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