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CSIRO innovation to unlock Australia's resources potential
A CSIRO Futures Report is developing an innovative framework that will “help to unleash Australia’s energy and mineral resources potential”. The framework was outlined and officially launched at the recent International Mining and Resources Conference in Melbourne.
CSIRO’s framework explores the ingredients of successful innovation across the resources sector. It is presented in the CSIRO report Unlocking Australia’s resource potential and is backed by the Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) Growth Centre, named METS Ignited, based in Brisbane. 
The framework comes at a vital time for the Australian resources industry, which is looking to innovation to drive future prosperity. The report draws on the insights of 26 senior leaders in some of Australia’s largest minerals and energy companies.
It also analyses past case studies, current barriers and trends to map the way in the future through innovation.
The CSIRO Futures report was launched by CSIRO executive director of environment, energy and resources, Alex Wonhas, and METS Ignited chair, Elizabeth Lewis-Gray.
“Despite Australia’s great past record and rewards from resource sector innovation, many companies and agencies are struggling to realise full value from their innovation investments for a number of reasons,” Dr Wonhas said.
“Our research shows that many of the same features that gave rise to past innovation successes, are those identified by industry leaders as needed to break through existing barriers to innovation.
“Strong collaboration, visionary leadership, measured risk taking, perseverance and government participation were key ingredients of successful past innovation and may be even more important in the future.”
The report highlights collaboration – that is, how and when the various industry and research players work together – as being particularly important for driving future innovation success.
The report said while the METS sector has proven vitally important to innovation success, its collaboration performance can be further improved through more METS companies working with both mining companies and other research and development (R&D) providers. 
Chair of the recently established industry growth centre, METS Ignited, Ms Lewis-Gray, welcomed the findings about the crucial role of the METS sector in innovation, as well as the challenge to produce even greater impact through stronger collaboration.
“Improved collaboration targeted towards innovation success is exactly what METS Ignited has been established to deliver,” Ms Lewis-Gray said.
“The insights from industry leaders, case studies and the framework for successful collaboration in this report, provide a valuable tool to guide innovation that will benefit industry, the innovators and Australia.”
CSIRO, with its diverse scope of research and wide range of national and international collaborations, is one of many organisations contributing to METS Ignited and other industry growth centres.
“This is one part of our contribution and vision to be Australia’s innovation catalyst, creating value and prosperity for customers and for the nation,” Dr Wonhas said.
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