Amid ongoing discussions on sovereignty and technological competition, Australia’s innovation ecosystem faces challenges in translating ideas into actionable capabilities. Identified fault lines include underinvestment, inadequate translation pathways, capital misalignment, and a cultural inclination towards perfection rather than speed.
These issues not only lead to economic inefficiencies but also pose national security and safety risks, particularly in domains where agility and adaptability are critical. To address these challenges, a national innovation mandate is proposed as a strategic policy architecture to align efforts towards developing and deploying essential technologies.
Such a mandate would emphasize that innovation is integral to national security, requiring clear objectives, timelines, and ownership. It aims to connect strategic planning with execution by involving departments like Home Affairs and Industry, Science, and Resources in shaping research agendas, defining capability needs, and fostering industry partnerships.
While the Department of Industry, Science, and Resources plays a central role in industrial development and science investment, Home Affairs could lead innovation in high-risk, time-sensitive domains. This approach does not seek to centralize innovation but to enhance coordination within a national system, leveraging Home Affairs’ policy influence and operational insights.
Despite Defense’s focus on combat systems, Home Affairs manages persistent, technical threats across various domains. However, it lacks structured pathways to engage innovators, issue challenges, or prototype solutions at scale. By empowering Home Affairs as an anchor customer for sovereign technology, Australia can drive innovation and enhance national security.
International models like the US Department of Homeland Security and Britain’s Cabinet Office demonstrate successful approaches to fostering innovation through strategic investments and challenge grants. A national innovation mandate would provide the framework to link procurement reforms with capital formation, attracting investors and enabling the scalability of strategic technologies.
Building on existing initiatives like the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator and the National Reconstruction Fund, Australia has a foundation to enhance its innovation ecosystem. However, a unified framework is needed to align capability demand, investment flow, and operational imperatives, especially in strategic domains like quantum, cyber, AI, and undersea systems.
The article emphasizes the importance of turning foundational technologies into tangible systems that can shape outcomes in Australia’s favor. It underscores the need for a national innovation mandate to ensure that the country’s best ideas are not just conceptualized but deployed effectively when needed the most.
Jason Van der Schyff, a fellow with ASPI’s Cyber, Technology, and Security Program, advocates for a shift towards sovereign industrial capability and resilient technology supply chains. His insights highlight the critical role of Home Affairs in leading Australia’s innovation posture with the necessary mandate, resources, and formal responsibilities.
Ultimately, the focus is on translating innovative ideas into practical solutions that enhance national security and safety, underscoring the importance of delivering tangible outcomes over mere strategic planning.
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