In many minds, innovation is a concept somehow associated with the 'mad inventor' stereotype – an individual who happens upon a great idea. Australia itself has a rich history of solo 'bush inventors', but in 2007 Australian innovationis a complex nationwide enterprise, increasingly characterised by collaboration and teamwork. The fruits of innovation grow from a national and international cross-fertilisation of ideas, research and technology, with the backing of strong infrastructure and supportive government policies.

CSIRO National Flagships, Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs), technology parks and other hubs of innovation are reinforcing Australia's capacity to innovate. A strong emphasis on commercialisation and skills development as well as research is producing innovative companies and a sophisticated market in which to invest.

Technology Parks

Australia's technology parks provide locations where key business services can be outsourced and resources shared with like-minded companies. Combining a business incubation function with business support and mentoring capabilities, technology parks aim to promote technology transfer, innovation and entrepreneurial growth. Often linked closely with universities, the best technology parks foster large-scale multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral research partnerships to integrate the capacities and priorities of their research providers and users.

CRCs

Australia's Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program actively fosters collaboration between business, academia and government. A clear example of Australia's strengths in collaborative research and commercialisation, CRCs aim to turn the nation's scientific innovations into successful new products and services, making the country's industries more efficient and competitive. The Vision CRC, for example (left), is the world's largest vision correction research centre.

CRCs typically have a small headquarters in one location but bring together researchers and research users from universities, the public sector and businesses around the country. They also train researchers in the skills needed to work in industry and improve private sector R&D.

CSIRO

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has been Australia's national power-house of ideas, technologies and skills for more than 75 years. It serves government, industries, business and communities across the nation. CSIRO National Flagships are large-scale collaborative partnerships focused on research in areas of national need: Preventative Health, Food Futures, Light Metals, Energy Transformed, Wealth from Oceans - and the Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, featured in the Resource Management section of Innovation Australia.