6 INNOVATION
During the 2001 Australia Day Speech, Prime Minister John Howard launched "Backing Australia's Ability: An innovation action plan for the future". This outlined the Government's strategy to further encourage and support innovation and enhance Australia's international competitiveness, economic prosperity and social well-being. The initiatives are designed to: strengthen our ability to generate ideas and undertake research; accelerate the commercial application of these ideas; and develop and retain Australian skills.
With the current interest in the innovativeness of Australian business, the ABS is undertaking preliminary research into how business innovation might be measured. Anyone interested in further information or in contributing to this research, please contact Clem Tozer on clem.tozer@abs.gov.au. "Backing Australia's Ability" is available from: www.innovation.gov.au