R&D Action Plan

On 25 January 2021, the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian launched Turning Ideas into Jobs – Accelerating Research & Development in NSW Action Plan. The Plan is the culmination of over 12 months’ consultation led by the Parliamentary Secretary to the NSW Premier Gabrielle Upton and is set to generate all kinds of opportunities for the STEM research sector in NSW.

Featuring five recommended Priority Actions to help make NSW Australia’s R&D leader, the Plan proposes a range of measures including:

  • Grants for small and medium-sized enterprises to find and commercialise innovative solutions to NSW Government problems
  • The release of more government datasets
  • New precincts to attract national and global technology industries and investment and
  • The establishment of a new R&D matchmaking platform to connect research ‘sellers’ and ‘buyers’ and link researchers to infrastructure and expertise.

With a focus on accelerating the translation of NSW’s world-class research strengths into new industries, products, services and jobs, the Plan seeks to foster economic growth from NSW’s world-class research strengths in many science and technology areas. These include advanced manufacturing and instrumentation, digital and communications technologies, quantum computing and photonics, robotics and autonomous systems, aerospace and defence, decarbonisation and energy transition, the circular economy and medical technologies.

Taking advantage of NSW universities that are ranked highly on a global scale and make substantial contributions to both research and the delivery of technology-skilled graduates, the Plan aims to redress Australian shortfalls in reserach commercialisation and research-industry partnerships, including through cooperating with federally supported research organisations such as the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and the Defence Science and Technology Group.

It is anticipated that though this Plan, more effective research translation will:

  • Attract global investment and international businesses looking for new ideas, competitive technologies and a skilled workforce to NSW
  • Build and support an ecosystem of technology-rich start-ups, scale-ups, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that will create new products, services and jobs
  • Anchor technologies and skills in NSW metropolitan and regional precincts through deep research partnerships and
  • Deliver innovative solutions to key government challenges.

Download Turning Ideas into Jobs – Accelerating Research & Development in NSW Action Plan.

Feature image shows NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian launching Turning Ideas into Jobs – Accelerating Research & Development in NSW Action Plan with colleagues including the Parliamentary Secretary to the NSW Premier Gabrielle Upton and NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer Prof Hugh Durrant-Whyte.