Today, the NSW Government released a roadmap for the state, looking ahead over the next 20 years, which lays out a roadmap for Research & Development for the state. Having a defined roadmap for the future should provide certainty to investors.
The NSW 20-Year R&D Roadmap was developed by the Office of NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer, based on a deep analysis of NSW’s competitive advantages in areas such as innovation, education and workforce, industry capabilities, regulatory frameworks, natural assets and infrastructure.
It was also guided by NSW, Australian and international industry and research leaders with a first-hand understanding of R&D challenges and opportunities for NSW.
The Roadmap identifies 4 technology themes:
- Digital
- Materials and Chemistry
- Biotechnology
- Energy
To add to this, a number of competitor advantages across 39 industry applications were identified. The applications are wide-ranging in the digital space including Artificial Intelligence, Quantum computing, Blockchain, Robotics and IOT to name a few. If you were planning a career in IT, then these focus areas would be a great place to aim for.
When it comes to the Energy space, renewable energy generation and energy storage are both big opportunities for NSW, so could we see local production take off in the East-coast of Australia?
The Roadmap provides a blueprint that aims to:
• Help the NSW Government direct R&D investments and activities in science and technology, by assessing and prioritising areas where NSW has existing and emerging competitive advantages or strategic needs.
• Identify capabilities NSW needs for strategic reasons, such as cyber security.
• Signal where NSW welcomes private R&D investment and activities from businesses, entrepreneurs, innovators, startups and investors.
• Assist government, industry and universities to coordinate research investment and activities.
• Provide an ongoing evidence-based framework to assess NSW competitive advantages and monitor how they change over 20 years.
• Highlight disruptive technologies that can be leveraged to increase prosperity and address critical economic, social and environmental challenges.
The Roadmap was an action item of our Accelerating R&D in NSW Action Plan, launched in January 2021 by the Premier and aims to make NSW an R&D leader in Australia and the world.
Tech for Good Awards
Applications are now open for the Fishburners Tech for Good Awards, with the NSW Government partnering as the major sponsor through Investment NSW. The awards will identify and promote NSW’s most ambitious and successful startups across the following seven award categories:
- Climate Action
- Environmental Sustainability
- Better Health and Wellbeing
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Sustainable Product
- Social Impact
- Tech for Good Female Founder
Each winner will be awarded $5,000 and the highest overall score will be awarded the Tech For Good Excellence Award and receive an additional $5,000.
Further information is available here and applications close at 5:00 pm on 31 July 2022.
