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Australia's innivation precincts work because they are being evolved by industry
AUSTRALIA's two new Industry Innovation Precincts are likely to forge ahead and energise the food and manufacturing industries, no matter whether Labor or the Coalition wins the Federal Election on Saturday.
That's because, in an astute move by the Labor Government early this year, a select group of industry specialists - led by former George Weston Foods and Meadow Lea Ltd executive, Peter Schutz for the Food Industry Innovation Precinct and former Siemens Australia and New Zealand chief executive Albert Goller for the manufacturing sector - were invited to create these precincts in a way that will give long-term impetus for industry development, no matter who is in political power.
Mr Schutz and Mr Goller did the groundwork in establishing new structures that will fast track growth and develop new capabilities. Recently, governing boards and key staff have been appointed, while the precincts have already attracted the support of leading organisations including BASF Australia, Bombardier, GlaxoSmithKline, Agilent Technologies, Mars, Pepsico, Visy, Ashgrove Cheese, CSIRO, Monash University, Flinders University, and the University of Queensland.
The precincts have attracted little media attention during the Federal Election campaign - even though the plan is one of the most enlightened to come out of any Australian Government in recent times - because it is essentially industry driven and for the long term national interest.
Both industries are battling disruptive change and industry leaders are saying urgent action is needed to arrest Australia's decline in core capabilities stemming from the ongoing financial failures of key businesses and changes to national and international markets.
The solutions to these challenges are proving to be complex and the precincts are designed to evaluate and understand the problems and equip business leaders to re-shape and re-equip for future success.
The two precincts form part of the Australian Government's $1 billion Plan for Australian Jobs to improve outcome-based sharing of knowledge, skills and technology so that sectors are better able to identify and benefit from new business opportunities.
Innovation Minister, Senator Kim Carr said the Manufacturing Precinct (META) and the Food Precinct, Food Innovation Australia Ltd (FIAL), were open for business and now attracting high quality membership and staff. Two months ago META and FIAL appointed two highly experienced industry leaders as chief executives to drive innovation and foster growth-oriented manufacturing businesses.
META's new chief executive officer, Zoran Angelkovski, has extensive experience in international manufacturing, manufacturing strategy and change implementation. Mirjana Prica has international experience in research and product commercialisation, and is now the inaugural managing director of FIAL.
Mr Angelkovski has extensive experience in international business and formulation of manufacturing strategies, having held a range of senior executive positions since 1992 including CEO of Continental Pty Ltd, VDO Automotive Malaysia managing director, and general manager of The Telco Crew Pty Ltd.
Dr Prica has a background in physical chemistry and has worked as a researcher for Food Science Australia and most recently for George Weston Foods where she was general manager for Analytical Services. Dr Prica has more than 20 years experience in food and agriculture industry business development, R&D and innovation.
Senator Carr said the precincts' leadership is important in transforming the manufacturing and food sectors.
"These high calibre appointments will drive business growth in two of our most important sectors. Both industry and the research sector have got behind the government's Industry Innovation Precincts and recognise the benefits they will deliver," Senator Carr said.
Senator Carr said META will have offices around the country, including a headquarters in Melbourne and a hub in Adelaide that will focus on defence.
FIAL's administrative headquarters is at LaTrobe University's Bundoora campus for the first 12 months of operations, he said.
Both precincts have a national focus.
More information about the Industry Innovation Precincts Program is available at http://www.aussiejobs.innovation.gov.au/programs/Industry-Innovation-Precincts/Pages/default.aspx
* The next Innovation Series event is in Brisbane on September 27, highlighting the topic Green Growth - delivering a natural advantage for environmental sustainability and economic growth.
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