Connecting Ideas: Collaborative Innovation for a Complex World

Transcription

1 Cnnecting Ideas: Cllabrative Innvatin fr a Cmplex Wrld Jhn Spehr Kate Barnett Simn Mlly Sanjugta Vas Dev Ann-Luise Hrdacre Reprt prepared fr: Department f Further Educatin, Emplyment, Science and Technlgy May 2010

2 CONTENTS 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOUNDATIONS FOR INNOVATION Intrductin Defining the humanities, arts and scial sciences Explring the cncept f innvatin in the cntext f HASS Scial innvatin The cllabratin innvatin relatinship Internatinal recgnitin f the imprtance f cllabratin fr innvatin The Elephant in the Rm Undervaluing f the HASS disciplines Measuring innvatin The changing perceptin f the cntributin f the HASS disciplines Changes in the OECD s fcus n the scial sciences Changes in Australian Gvernment Plicy Fcus n the HASS disciplines Changes t the Cperative Research Centres Prgram THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE HASS DISCIPLINES TO INNOVATION The intrinsic value f the humanities, arts and scial sciences Fstering innvatin Understanding the scial, cultural and ethical cntext f technlgical change Prvisin f skilled persnnel, and persnnel with transferable skills HASS disciplines and funding fr research The impact f the HASS disciplines frm the perspective f HASS researchers Quantifying the rle f the HASS disciplines in crss sectr cllabratin Rle f HASS in addressing cmplex prblems Enhancing Indigenus culture health and well being... 36

3 3.8.2 Addressing the cnsequences and benefits f ppulatin ageing Addressing climate change Prviding innvative slutins t husing issues Addressing scial and cmmunity disadvantage Australian research funding that supprts crss disciplinary cllabratin GOVERNMENT AND INNOVATION Australian Gvernment Suth Australian Gvernment Key Suth Australian gvernment achievements in fstering and supprting innvatin State f Innvatin The rle f the HASS disciplines in prmting their rle in innvatin CONNECTING IDEAS COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION REFERENCES APPENDIX 1: CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION IN THE SA STRATEGIC PLAN APPENDIX 2: LIST OF INTERVIEWEES APPENDIX 3: HASS DISCIPLINES Figure 1: What are the Humanities, Arts and Scial Sciences Disciplines?... 7 Figure 2: HASS* ARC funding amunt ($) fr Australia Figure 3: HASS* ARC funding amunt ($) fr Suth Australia Figure 4: Prprtin f ARC funding allcated t HASS* disciplines in Australia and Suth Australia 31 Table 1: Academic staff by HASS discipline and by University, Suth Australia, 2007 & Table 2: HASS researchers rating f the actual and ptential impact f their discipline

4 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The key t Suth Australia s future prsperity and sustainability may lie in imprving ur ability t build disciplinary bridges that span intellectual divides and enable a cnverged set f knwledge and skills t create innvative slutins t the scial, ecnmic and envirnmental challenges that we face. By cnnecting ideas acrss disciplines a self reinfrcing prcess f cllabrative innvatin can emerge, ffering mre rbust slutins t cmplex prblems and challenges. There has been a grwing recgnitin f the need fr multidisciplinary perspectives and cllabrative appraches t help slve cmplex, glbally shared prblems. Indeed the key t tackling the majr scial, ecnmic and envirnmental challenges that face is likely t be the develpment f deeply embedded partnerships between STEM and HASS researchers. As discussed in Sectin 2.3, cllabratin is increasingly recgnised as a means f fstering innvatin, and f implementing new technlgies in a given scial, cultural r ethical cntext (Sectin 3.3). Tgether they are mre likely t develp innvative slutins t tackling: Ppulatin ageing and rising dependency rates; Wrkfrce ageing and the need t supprt higher rates f labur frce participatin; Health inequalities and healthy ageing; Pverty and scial exclusin; Climate change and water scarcity. Engaging researchers frm the sciences, humanities, arts and scial sciences (HASS) in cllabrative appraches t prblem slving is strategically vital t Suth Australia s future develpment. Understanding why the nexus between the physical sciences and the HASS is f such imprtance and why cllabratins acrss disciplinary bundaries are central t innvatin prcesses is the fcus f Cnnecting Ideas cllabrative innvatin fr a cmplex wrld. Fr a number f decades the science, technlgy, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines have been regarded as the primary surce f innvatin with the cntributin f the HASS disciplines being regarded as secndary. There has been a majr reappraisal f this view ver the last few years with HASS and STEM researchers cming tgether mre frequently t cllabrate in jint prblem slving. This has been driven in large part by researchers frm the humanities, arts and scial sciences wh have argued that innvatin is inherently multi disciplinary. Meanwhile plicymakers have increasingly acknwledged the crucial rle f these disciplines in understanding, shaping and generating innvatin. While the idea that innvatin in the develpment f new technlgies takes place in a scial, cultural and ethical cntext is nt a new ne, the view that this necessitates fully engaging the HASS sectr in innvatin prcesses has nly recently fund plicy tractin in Australia. T respnd sensitively and apprpriately t human needs requires sphisticated cllabratin between STEM and HASS disciplines. This is crucial fr develping a better understanding f the scial implicatins f technlgical innvatins which is ultimately vital t their successful implementatin. Examples f technlgical innvatin where there is a cmpelling case fr such cllabratin include nantechnlgy, genetic mdificatin and nuclear energy generatin which are the subject f cnsiderable cmmunity debate. 4

5 The HASS disciplines play an imprtant rle in anticipating the cnsequences f significant technlgical change and assist in designing plicies in respnse t these changes. Knwledge generated by them can have a prfund impact n the shape, design and uptake f particular technlgies. Large scale and cmplex prblems (such as, ppulatin ageing and climate change) necessitate cllabratin and interdisciplinary prblem slving, in rder t achieve innvative slutins. HASS disciplines bring critical knwledge abut the causes and management f such prblems. If we think abut innvatin as slely the prduct f scientific and technlgical endeavur we risk placing limits n the quantity and quality f innvatin and ur capacity t fully understand and respnd t the challenges that face us. This implies the need t adpt a balanced cnceptin f innvatin, that is, ne that views innvatin as a prcess underpinned by the dynamic interactin f scientific, technlgical, scial, plitical, ecnmic, envirnmental and cultural knwledge and skills. We can n lnger affrd t cnfine thinking and practice arund innvatin t the develpment f technlgical slutins. We must fcus greater attentin n plicy, institutinal and behaviural innvatins where the humanities, arts and scial sciences are the main intellectual wellspring f innvatin. It is als imprtant t acknwledge the rle f technlgy in the HASS dmain and the innvative utcmes generated by this as illustrated in the Case Study Paradesic in Sectin and the Case Study Fish Bird Prject in Sectin In Cnnecting Ideas the case fr establishing deeply embedded cllabratins between scientists, HASS researchers and plicy makers is set ut. T build durable disciplinary bridges requires an appreciatin f the multi faceted character f the challenges that we face and the cntributins that all disciplines can make t innvatin prcesses and utcmes. Cnnecting Ideas distils the perspectives f a number f industry leaders, plicy makers and academics n the rle f HASS in innvatin. It als prvides a snapsht f the cnsiderable scale f the HASS research base in Australia and Suth Australia indicating that The HASS disciplines in Suth Australia emply 1,166 teachers and researchers acrss the three majr universities, representing 39 per cent f the ttal Suth Australian university wrkfrce f teachers and researchers (see Table 1). They have 42 per cent f Higher Degree students and hld 11 per cent f research incme (PSRC 2009, Tables 4 and 5). In 2009 HASS disciplines acrss Australia attracted $166,614,551 in ARC funding (29.5% f all ARC funding) a steady grwth being evident since 2002 (see Figure 2). With the exceptin f 2007, Suth Australia has shwn a similar pattern f grwth in HASS research funding, which in 2009 std at $8,363,531 (25.3%, see Figure 3). There is an impressive fundatin f diverse innvatins in Suth Australia that have been inspired and infrmed by HASS disciplines. A number f these are highlighted in Cnnecting Ideas. We als review changes in Australian Gvernment plicy, nting a grwing acknwledgement f the cntributin that HASS disciplines make t innvatin in Australia. Mst recently, Minister Carr identified the imprtance f understanding the human dimensins f cmplex systems and the need 5

6 t develp multi disciplinary and cllabrative slutins t the majr plicy challenges the natin faces. Suth Australia is well psitined t be a leader in this. It has a lng histry f innvatin in many fields, ften led by ambitius refrming State gvernments. This is embdied in the Suth Australian Strategic Plan which prvides a fundatin fr multi disciplinary prblem slving. A multi disciplinary apprach is likely t yield significant benefits t the Suth Australian cmmunity by harnessing knwledge and skills frm the STEM disciplines and the humanities, arts and scial sciences. Slving the challenges we face as a cmmunity requires a cmmitment t a cllabrative innvatin agenda which explicitly acknwledges and actively engages expertise frm the sciences and the scial sciences. This has imprtant implicatins fr gvernment and industry supprt fr innvatin. The challenge fr gvernment plicymakers, researchers and industry is t build a mre slid fundatin fr innvatin by fstering and resurcing lng term cllabratins. 6

7 2 FOUNDATIONS FOR INNOVATION 2.1 Intrductin The cmplex scial, ecnmic and envirnmental challenges cnfrnting Australia requires a fundamental shift in the way we apprach prblem slving and innvatin, ne that values the cntributins f all disciplines whether they be frm the science, technlgy, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sectr r the humanities, arts and scial sciences (HASS) sectr. The attentin f researchers and plicymakers has been largely fcused n the cntributin f STEM research t innvatin, leaving HASS n the margins f the innvatin debate. A grwing need fr mre cmplex prblem slving that bridges disciplinary bundaries is nw required. This requires that we place HASS at the centre f innvatin debate and explre hw we can lay the fundatins fr new frms f cllabrative innvatin fr a cmplex wrld. Cnnecting Ideas aims t make a cntributin t the innvatin debate by examining the cntributin that the HASS disciplines make t innvatin and why it is imprtant that this cntributin be regarded as strategic imperative as we enter the 21 st century Defining the humanities, arts and scial sciences The humanities, arts and scial sciences (HASS) are a brad grup f academic disciplines dedicated t the study f sciety, the ecnmy, business, gvernance, histry and culture (LSE: 2008) see Figure 1. Figure 1: What are the Humanities, Arts and Scial Sciences Disciplines? Surce: LSE (2008): 16 7

8 HASS exhibits cnsiderable disciplinary breadth, cntributing t the generatin f an extensive bdy f knwledge and skills that help us t better understand and engage with the wrld we live in. The scial sciences alne encmpasses the diverse disciplines f anthrplgy, archaelgy, scilgy, demgraphy, scial gegraphy, linguistics, law, ecnmics, histry, plitical science, psychlgy, educatin, and scial medicine (Deutsch, Markvits and Platt, 1986). The humanities cmbine philsphy, literature, music and drama and are a disciplinary umbrella fr the arts, including the perfrming arts, visual arts and crafts, new media arts and creative writing. Hwever, the arts verlap with ther dmains in the cultural sectr, such as design, media and digital cntent, cultural institutins such as libraries and museums, and much schlarship frm the humanities (Haseman and Jaaniste: 2008). The breadth f disciplines is nt necessarily reflected in the design f the DEEWR higher educatin academic data base whse categries lack the detail required t prvide an accurate depictin f HASS researchers leading t an under estimate f the ttal numbers. This is evident in Sectin 3.4 which fcuses n the number f HASS researchers in Suth Australia. 2.2 Explring the cncept f innvatin in the cntext f HASS The histry f human prgress is als a histry f innvatin. Innvatin transfrms an idea int a new, imprved prduct, prcess r service (Angel Gurrià, OECD Secretary General, Twards an Innvatin Strategy, 2007). 1 Innvatin can be described simply as new undertakings and using new methds f ding things, a means f generating, applying and expanding ur knwledge (Cmmnwealth f Australia; 2009). Hwever, the cncept f innvatin has many layers which are explred in this sectin. Innvatin is abut thinking abut change. It s the implementatin f new ideas int an rganisatin. Prfessr Andrew Beer, Flinders University f Suth Australia Innvatin shuld als be understd nt just in terms f utputs and utcmes, but als as a prcess and as a way f thinking that brings benefits fr individuals and the cmmunity as a whle (Hward 2008a: 6). Innvatin is seen as adding value and therefre, as an inherently psitive characteristic f human endeavr. It is a deliberative prcess that enhances sciety and the ecnmy by using knwledge t imprve prducts, services, prcesses and rganizatins (Prductivity Cmmissin, 2007: 7). The OECD definitin f innvatin distinguishes fur types: prduct innvatin (invlving new r significantly imprved gds and services); prcess innvatin (invlving new r significantly imprved delivery methds); marketing innvatin (invlving significant changes in prduct design 1 OECD Observer N. 263, Octber

9 r packaging, prduct placement, prduct prmtin r pricing) and rganisatinal innvatin (invlving the intrductin f a new rganisatinal methd in the firm s business practices, wrkplace rganisatin r external relatins. 2 Similarly, the UK s Natinal Endwment fr Science Technlgy and the Arts (NESTA) defines innvatin in terms f the develpment and applicatin f new ideas, typically in the frm f prducts, prcesses, rganisatinal frms r services (2006). Innvatin can als be understd as a system that represents the cllective f peple, rganizatins, structures, prcesses, tls and incentives that enable the develpment and applicatin f creative and ften new slutins t issues and prblems (Ftitt & Gerrard, 2009: 1,13; Keighley James: 2008 ). [it is imprtant] t acknwledge and understand the influence that the netwrk f actrs, systems, instruments, incentives, barriers and ther factrs have in facilitating the innvatin prcess (r therwise) (Ftitt & Gerrard, 2009:13). Critical t the develpment f innvatin systems is the building f a brader culture f innvatin (Haseman & Jaaniste, 2008: 9), which in turn, is linked t innvatin being a way f thinking, as well as a cmmitment t innvatin such as can be enshrined in gvernment plicy. Over time the way in which innvatin is understd has shifted, frm its early rigins in science plicy linked t the R& D and defence investment agendas f gvernments in the 1940s and 1950s. Later innvatin came t be viewed as an ecnmic instrument essential t the realisatin f natinal cmpetitiveness and exprt rientatin. Over time, there has been a bradening f the cncept f innvatin t encmpass cncepts like creativity, cllabratin and prblem slving (Keighley James: 2008). This has fuelled a debate abut an expanded rle fr HASS in innvatin invlving a partnership with STEM disciplines that seeks t infrm the develpment f a mre hlistic innvatin plicy agenda that is human centred rather than technlgically deterministic. In ther wrds the prspects f slving the great challenges we face in the 21 st century will be greatly imprved by the insights and the cntributins that HASS can prvide as a key player in a mdernised innvatin agenda Scial innvatin One expressin f a mdernised innvatin agenda has been the emergence f the cncept f scial innvatin which was ppularised in Suth Australia by the appintment by the Suth Australian Gvernment f Geff Mulgan as a Thinker in Residence. Scial innvatin, accrding t Mulgan (2008: 36) refers t hw cmmunities and scieties innvate new ways f meeting their needs thrugh the develpment f new prgrams, institutins, and activities that seek t imprve quality f life and meet unmet scial needs. Scial innvatin as a specific field f inquiry has received less attentin than technical innvatin (Mumfrd: 2002; Cnsidine and Lewis: 2007). As a relatively recent entrant int the innvatin lexicn cnceptual clarity and peratinalisatin f the cncept f scial innvatin remains a wrk in prgress. Just 2 9

10 hw this is reslved will have a prfund influence ver the rle that HASS plays in innvatin agendas mre generally. As with ther frms f innvatin, interpretatins f what scial innvatin implies vary greatly. On the ne hand, the develpment f new ideas abut scial rganisatins, r scial relatinships, might invlve the creatin f new kinds f scial institutins, the frmatin f new ideas abut gvernment, r the develpment f new scial mvements. On the ther hand, scial innvatin might invlve the creatin f new prcesses and prcedures fr structuring cllabrative wrk, the intrductin f new scial practices in a grup, r the develpment f new business practices (Mumfrd: 2002). Taken as bradly as this, scial innvatin can be regarded as transfrmative f existing practices and prcesses. It fcuses attentin n the human dimensins f change, ffering us insights int the factrs that fster r impede the reslutin f cmplex prblems while als playing a key rle in the reslutin f these prblems. The cntributin f the HASS disciplines t innvatin prcesses is likely t be greatly accentuated by a bradly defined scial innvatin agenda that seeks t mainstream principles f scial innvatin int the wider innvatin and prblem slving agenda. This is an apprach that is cnsistent with that envisaged by Geff Mulgan, aviding the emergence f an verly welfarist cnceptin f scial innvatin that is preccupied with specific prgram respnses t scial disadvantage that tend t address the symptms f the prblems we face rather than ffer their reslutin. Nt surprisingly scial science knwledge and skills are the fundatin fr scial innvatin, enabling plicy makers t ask the right questins and determine what wrks and why, and what types f plicy and prgram interventins are likely t be the mst effective in meeting particular needs. Scial innvatin takes many frms. Very ften the answer t a prblem lies nt in intrducing new technlgies, but in develping smarter plicies and mre effective ways f meeting peple s needs. An effective innvatin system can d mre than churn ut new gadgets; it can shw us better ways t live (Cmmnwealth f Australia 2009: 14). The challenge fr plicymakers and HASS researchers is t ensure that scial innvatin is central t the wider innvatin agenda, ffering a human dimensin t an agenda that has been dminated by technlgical and scientific cnsideratins. 2.3 The cllabratin innvatin relatinship Cllabratin prvides the pprtunity t learn frm thers, share resurces and create new pprtunities. Cnsequently it is at the heart f mst innvatins (NESTA: 2007). Insights frm HASS disciplines have greatly expanded ur understanding f the dynamics f innvatin and in particularly the benefits f netwrking and cllabratin. Ecnmists, scilgists, plitical scientists, rganizatinal psychlgists and industrial gegraphers have generated an extensive bdy f knwledge that underpins industrial netwrking plicies thrughut the wrld. These plicies are central t the innvatin agendas f gvernments. Mre bradly 10

11 cllabratin between STEM and HASS researchers is viewed as essential t the reslutin f cmplex prblems requiring innvative slutins (Riedlinger M et al, 2006: 53; Hward, 2008: 7). Cllabratin between disciplines is well suited t cmplex prblem slving as Hward (2008:7) argues: Interdisciplinary research tends t be prblemriented and quite ften end user fcused. It builds theries that seek t identify and explain the causes f prblems and suggests actins and results that will be achieved thrugh particular interventins. Regularly in my wrk, I cme acrss the need fr multidisciplinary actin t be able t prvide really innvative slutins. I cme acrss fabulus disciplinary wrk, f depth and significance, but fr it t drive an innvative slutin, invariably I think yu need a multidisciplinary capacity because yu dn t always have all the tls arund that are ging t help yu g with the jurney t get t the slutin at the end f the day. Prfessr Carline McMillen, University f Suth Australia The OECD regards innvatin as requiring glbal cllabratin in rder t achieve slutins t glbal prblems and in recgnitin f the glbal nature f human existence. It recently argued that gvernments need t d mre t fster cllabratin between universities and businesses, reflecting the grwing trend fr c peratin acrss brders and sectrs (OECD: 2007). Cllabratin between the educatin system, gvernment and the private sectr is ften viewed as a fundatin fr innvatin (Kaufmann Cllabrative links stimulate innvatin by facilitating crss cutting interactins and a free flw f ideas and knwledge. Australia Research Cuncil 2003, Submissin t the Huse Of Representatives Standing Cmmittee n Science And Innvatin Inquiry int Pathways t Technlgical Innvatin. and Tdtling, 2001). There are numerus examples f successful gvernment and university cllabratins with the private sectr that prvide the fundatin fr innvatin and transfrmative change. This is evident in the field f infrmatin and cmmunicatins technlgy where gvernment investments, university knwledge and private interests have cmbined t create and develp the revlutinary technlgy f the Internet, giving rise t ne f the fastest grwing industries in histry. Gvernment has and cntinues t be a majr generatr f the grwth f the ICT industry. Silicn Valley, t a large extent, was funded n ne key custmer, the US Department f Defence (Berlin, 2005: 131). It is als clear that the success f Silicn Valley is in large measure attributable t the prximity and engagement f the University f Stanfrd and the University f Califrnia, Berkeley. Research int innvatin prcesses ver the past 25 years has shwn that technlgically dynamic firms depend heavily n the clse prximity f publicly funded academic research and related training (Pavvitt, 1998:794). Thrugh research n the inter relatinships between cmpanies and the public sectr, scial scientists wrking in the fields f ecnmic gegraphy, scilgy and ecnmics have had a prfund impact n ur understanding f the drivers f industrial cmpetitiveness and ecnmic grwth. Numerus studies have quantified the psitive impact f cllabratin n business perfrmance (Cmmnwealth f Australia 2009; Hubbard 2008; Frst and Sullivan 2006; OECD 2004). Analysis by the Cmmnwealth Department f Industry Turism and Resurces (2006) has 11

12 identified that Australian manufacturers wh cllabrate are mre likely t prduce innvative prducts (natinally and internatinally) than thse wh d nt cllabrate. Cllabratin is a central cmpnent f Australia s Innvatin Agenda (Cmmnwealth f Australia: 2009). Innvatin is identified as a means f extending knwledge, creativity and the develpment f new skills as well as a means f maximising resurce usage, spreading risks and extending glbal influence. Cllabratin acrss the disciplinary spectrum is seen t be ne f the principal drivers f innvatin. Innvatin ccurs at the intersectin f disciplines. Tim Zak, Carnegie Melln University Cllabratin increases innvatrs capacity t absrb new knwledge, recruit new peple, and develp new skills. It enables them t reduce csts by eliminating duplicatin, achieving ecnmies f scale, and demcratising access t expensive infrastructure. It spreads the risks and maximises the rewards assciated with innvatin. Internatinal cllabratin builds capacity in this cuntry and beynd, facilitates access t new knwledge (mst f which is created utside this cuntry), attracts freign investment, and extends Australia s glbal influence (Cmmnwealth f Australia 2009: 60 61) Internatinal recgnitin f the imprtance f cllabratin fr innvatin There has been strng internatinal supprt fr crss sectral and crss disciplinary research with numerus cuntries and internatinal rganisatins asserting that cllabratin is at the heart f sund innvatin plicies (Riedlinger et al 2006: 49; Cunningham 2005: ; NESTA: 2007, 2008). A review f the plicies and funding prgrams f the Eurpean Unin, UNESCO, the Cuncil f Eurpe and the OECD invlving the arts and culture wrking in partnership with the health, yuth, cmmunity, educatin and scial services sectrs (Centre fr Creative Cmmunities: 2006) fund that all acknwledge the need t create structures and prcesses that supprt crss sectr cllabratin, and call fr new mdels f innvatin systems that encurage such integratin (Riedlinger et al 2006: 49). The Natinal Endwment fr Science Technlgy and the Arts (NESTA: 2007) has explred the relatinship between cllabratin and innvatin, arguing that innvatin cannt ccur withut cllabratin because f the pprtunity prvided t share resurces and knwledge. It pints t a number f cllabrative initiatives that have supprted innvatin fr example, the Swiss wristwatch, the transistr, Wikipedia and Tyta s netwrked apprach t innvatin which has generated a 14 per cent increase in wrker utput, and a 50 per cent reductin in defects. Cllabratin can als prduce new disciplines that invlve merging existing disciplines, fr example, biinfrmatics (which applies cmputer science t help slve prblems at the mlecular level) and entirely new disciplines, fr example, nantechnlgy (which is based mainly n chemistry, physics and materials sciences). New technlgies enable widespread cllabratin that was nt previusly pssible, fr example, MySpace, YuTube and Facebk, which in turn will supprt new frms f innvatin. As a prblem slving tl, cllabratin is f critical imprtance, and in the face f new and cmplex challenges, NESTA argues, requires new frms f cllabratin. 12

13 Cllabratin has always been at the heart f innvatin, but meeting the ecnmic and scial challenges f the 21st century will require mre extreme partnerships nes that crss previusly sacrsanct rganisatinal, gegraphical and disciplinary bundaries (NESTA 2007: 1). In ther examples f internatinal recgnitin f the imprtance f crss disciplinary and cllabrative appraches t research The Research Cuncils UK annunced a new prtcl in August 2006 that was designed t prmte crss disciplinary research, using the strategy f peer review based n the range f relevant dmains. Finland s innvatin plicy is nw characterised by crss sectral activity that includes internatinal clusters t fster learning, experimentatin and integratin. The Canada Fundatin fr Innvatin uses prject based, rather than discipline based r sectr based, funding (Metcalfe et al, 2006: 17). 2.4 The Elephant in the Rm Undervaluing f the HASS disciplines the scial sciences d nt enjy the same status as that f the natural sciences in the eyes f bth the scientific cmmunity and the general public. This has serius cnsequences n public funding and public legitimisatin (Van Langenhve 2001: 4 5). Numerus writers, many f them cited in this reprt, have argued strngly abut the imprtance f the HASS disciplines, but few acknwledge that HASS disciplines d nt enjy the high status affrded t STEM disciplines in the innvatin debate. It is imprtant that the reasns fr this are understd befre making a case fr their significance. The British Academy s (2004) reprt, That Full Cmplement f Riches: the cntributins f the arts, humanities and scial sciences t the natin's wealth (chaired by Prfessr Paul Langfrd), argued that gvernment plicy needed t mve away frm a narrwly defined but histrically entrenched cncern with the science base (cnstrued in physical science r technlgy terms) and twards a brader view f the research base needed fr an advanced industrial sciety. Mst bservers agree that the rle f the scial sciences, arts and humanities disciplines will tend t increase ver cming years, particularly in the face f cmplex glbally experienced issues that require multi disciplinary slutins (LSE Public Plicy Grup 2008: 18). Australia s Cuncil fr the Humanities and Scial Sciences argues that the nce recgnised link between science and art has diverged ver the past century but is nw re frming, as creative inventins are increasingly recgnised fr their ecnmic cntributin, and as industrial innvatin, research and teaching reintegrate int the dmain f technlgy and creative practices (Hward, 2008a: 7). A key driver fr the emergence f the creative industries 3 has been the develpment f digital technlgies which assist creative utput t achieve cmmercial utcmes (Hward, 2008a: 16). 3 Identified by the ARC Centre f Excellence fr Creative Industries and Innvatin (CCI) as having these 6 cmpnents advertising and marketing; architecture, design and visual arts; film, televisin and radi; music and perfrming arts; 13

14 Prir t the Rudd Gvernment taking ffice, Australian Gvernment initiatives like Backing Australia s Ability (2001), Knwledge Natin (2001), and the prcess fr develping Natinal Research Pririties during 2002 and 2003 (which riginally failed t include a rle fr the HASS), all exemplified a trend t prmte the STEM disciplines and t minimise the rle f the HASS in develping a cmpetitive Australia (Cunningham: 2004; Mann: 2003; Haseman & Jaaniste: 2008). Fllwing the annuncement in 2002 f the fur natinal research pririties 4, the then Minister fr Educatin Science and Training, Dr Brendan Nelsn made clear where the gvernments research pririties layed when he cmmented The fur natinal research pririties set a clear and cherent directin fr Australian research. Science is nw at the centre f gvernment plicy making, acknwledging the vital cntributin that scientific achievements can make t the quality f all r lives (cited in Mann, 2003: 3). Of curse all fur pririties are areas where the HASS can cntribute significantly but the fact that they were nt seen t be critical is evidence f their perceived value at the time. In March 2003, the Scial Sciences and Humanities Cnference, spnsred by the then Department f Educatin Science and Training, was a key initiative fr HASS representatives t refine and assist in the implementatin f the pririties (Mann 2003: 3). Fur papers ne fr each pririty area were prduced by the Academy f the Scial Sciences in Australia t highlight the cntributin that culd be made by the scial sciences t each. In ne f thse papers, Prfessr Fina Stanley explred hw HASS adds value t the bimedical and health sciences and are pivtal t their success. Prfessr Stanley argued strngly fr cllabrative research t develp the evidence base required fr the cmplex, multidimensinal and crss disciplinary nature f pathways t health and wellbeing (Stanley 2003: 13). She pinted t the mdel present in the Australian Research Alliance fr Children and Yuth, which brings tgether a variety f HASS disciplines t address the prblems affecting Australian children and yung peple. One f the Alliance s prjects is the Lngitudinal Study f Australian Children that enables a fcus n preventin and early interventin. It als invlves...a natinal data netwrk, multidisciplinary research ndes wrking n an agreed natinal agenda, with effective cmmunicatin t translate the research int actin (Stanley 2003: 17). In relatin t frntier technlgies, anther Natinal Research Pririty, Mann (2003: 19) identified fur ways in which the scial sciences can make a cntributin in this area thrugh their active research rle in identifying the cnditins leading t creativity and innvatin, and in the cnditins affecting the uptake and transfer f new ideas and technlgies; sftware develpment and interactive cntent; writing, publishing and print media all invlving crss disciplinary input frm the STEM and HASS disciplines (Higgs P et al, 2007) 4 Envirnmentally sustainable Australia, Prmting and maintaining gd health, Frntier technlgies fr building and transfrming Australian industries and Safeguarding Australia 14

15 as partners in multidisciplinary research in new hybrid areas like bigenetics, bitechnlgy, and nantechnlgy, with a majr cntributing rle based n knwledge f human behaviur and capability, and the impact f new technlgies n behaviur; by analysing the ptential csts and returns n investment f new technlgies, and by mdelling the dynamic interactins between new technlgies and scial and behaviural changes prduced by them; by undertaking public plicy analyses f key issues, including the cnsequences f new technlgies and analysis f the ethical issues assciated with equity f access t new technlgies. In their analysis f the Natinal Research Pririty Safeguarding Australia Graycar and Beatn (2003: 24 27) identified a range f ways in which the HASS disciplines understanding f human behaviur is critical t natinal security, with specific reference t the prtectin f critical infrastructure (eg cmputing and transprt systems), prtectin frm invasive diseases and pests, prtectin frm terrrism and crime and transfrmatinal defence technlgies. Fr each technlgical innvatin and prpsed methds f peratin there will fllw the necessary adaptatins and/r whlly new strategies fr making best use f them. Here again is the challenge t understand hw humans will apprach and execute tasks while cping with new technlgies. A secure Australia will d well t engage in the kinds f research that will prvide the wisdm t chse amng alternatives that seek t minimise all kinds f risk and t respnd with effect when incidents ccur. The scial sciences have the intellectual tls and the research methdlgies t cntribute significantly t this challenge (Graycar & Beatn 2003: 27). Mre recently, Cunningham (2008) described the HASS STEM relatinship in terms f parallel universes, with innvatin being widely perceived as mre strngly assciated with STEM based research. Hwever, he cites a number f factrs as leading t their cnvergence, including the fllwing cllabratin between researchers frm bth grups f disciplines has generated significant evidence fr the interdependence f knwledge prductin, knwledge management and knwledge transfer ; the services based emphasis f mdern advanced ecnmies demands innvatin which is nt dependent n scientific breakthrughs but n inputs that are driven by user needs (2008: 2 3). In , the services sectr accunted fr mre than 65 per cent f GDP, and ver the last 20 years, the services sectr value added with an average increased annual rate f 3.9 per cent. The services sectr hlds the largest share f Australia s emplyment (nearly 86 per cent f the ttal Australian wrkfrce) (DIISR 2009c) Measuring innvatin Apart frm the directins set by gvernment, ne f the reasns fr the under valuing f the HASS disciplines rle in innvatin culd lie in the way innvatin is measured. The Natinal Endwment fr Science Technlgy and the Arts (NESTA: 2008) argues that traditinal metrics fail t adequately capture the innvatin that ccurs in services, the public sectr and the creative industries, r in user 15

16 led and pen innvatin. NESTA als ntes that the traditinal, nw utdated, cnceptin f innvatin was based n a linear mdel that began with scientific discvery and basic research, mved t applied research, engineering and manufacturing activities, resulting in a new cmmercialised prduct. NESTA cncludes that: This linear mdel f innvatin is n lnger universally applicable. Innvatin is nw understd as a multidirectinal prcess invlving multiple actrs, which is strengthened by repetitin. It encmpasses nt nly the develpment f new cmpnents and prducts but new services, technical standards, business mdels and prcesses. It is as much a feature f develpments in the public and nn prfit sectrs as in the private sectr (NESTA: 2008). This limited understanding f innvatin was reflected in the mechanisms develped t measure innvatin, exemplified in internatinally agreed indicatrs like R&D expenditure, patent prductin and numbers f science and technlgy graduates. NESTA argues that these indicatrs fail t keep pace with change, including the shift taking place in many ecnmies frm manufacturing t service industry develpment. Cnsequently, there is a need fr new metrics that can measure innvatin utcmes acrss diverse sectrs. NESTA was cmmissined t develp an Innvatin Index t track and measure the United Kingdm s innvatin perfrmance. The Innvatin Index website ( aims t prvide a fcal pint where materials, ideas and suggestins can be shared, and ptential slutins critiqued. In ther internatinal develpments, the OECD and Eurpean Cmmissin have wrked n new innvatin metrics, as have a number f cuntries including Canada, the USA and Australia. The develpment f mre relevant indicatrs t measure nn technlgical innvatin is a critical element f the OECD s Innvatin Strategy, while the Eurpean Innvatin Screbard benchmarks the innvatin perfrmance f EU cuntries and regins with recent versins being designed t capture new frms f innvatin (ther than technlgical). The Osl Manual (OECD: 2005) prepared under the jint aegis f the OECD and the Eurpean Cmmissin (Eurstat),was develped in recgnitin f the need fr cnstant imprvement f innvatin metrics, in respnse t the changing cntext fr innvatin. Its first editin appeared in 1992 while its mst recent and third editin in 2005 was expanded t include nn technlgical innvatin. Measurement brings a range f methdlgical challenges, including designs that can adapt t diverse industries and sectrs, that include apparent failures which nevertheless cntribute t future thinking, and that capture the applicatin f innvatin in a variety f settings (NESTA: 2008). In Australia, the IBM Melburne Institute Innvatin Index f Australian Industry (2007) prvides an industry specific multi indicatr apprach t measuring the rate f innvative activity in Australia. It encmpasses six different dimensins f innvatin and adjusts the measure fr the level f ecnmic activity and enables the measuring f the prprtin f ttal activity invlving innvative endeavurs. 16

17 2.5 The changing perceptin f the cntributin f the HASS disciplines Interest in the rle and cntributin f HASS is prbably as ld as the many disciplines that cmprise it. In recent years, key internatinal bdies like the OECD, and a grwing number f gvernments arund the wrld have fcused attentin n the cntributin f HASS disciplines t the reslutin f a wide range f questins and related public plicy challenges. There is a grwing recgnitin f the cntributin made by HASS research in its wn right, alng with an increasing awareness f the imprtance f crss disciplinary research in the search fr innvative slutins t cmplex glbal issues (CHASS, 2005: 13) Changes in the OECD s fcus n the scial sciences It is imprtant t recgnise the influence f the OECD n individual gvernments, including the Australian Gvernment (Haseman & Jaaniste, 2008: 12). While the OECD has a lng traditin f examining the rle and cntributin f the scial sciences it has taken cnsiderable time fr this t be translated int detailed analysis at the cuntry level. Ten years after the1966 reprt The scial sciences and the plicies f gvernments was presented t the 2 nd Ministerial Meeting n Science, the OECD Cmmittee fr Scientific and Technlgical Plicy (CSTP) examined the scial sciences plicies f France, Japan and Finland and prduced a number f recmmendatins that remain relevant tday. These included integrating scial science research findings int majr decisin making prcesses and enhancing cmmunicatin between scial science researchers and gvernment. In 1997 the CSTP began anther study, culminating in a 1999 reprt that recmmended a series f wrkshps t cntinue the fcus n the scial sciences. Fur imprtant wrkshps that can be seen as returning the scial sciences t the OECD agenda fllwed: i. Ottawa 1999, The Scial Sciences fr a Digital Wrld: building infrastructure fr the future fcused n the challenge f digitisatin and the need t invest in digital infrastructure. This wrkshp als fund that innvatins in the infrmatin and cmmunicatins technlgy sectr held the ptential fr new research pprtunities fr the scial sciences. ii. Bruges 2000, The Cntributin f the Scial Sciences t Knwledge and Decisin Making. This wrkshp freshadwed a new perspective fr scial sciences research invlving a prcess f cntinuus and cllabrative learning, between disciplines and between gvernments and researchers. iii. Tky 2000, Scial Sciences and Innvatin fcused n the cntributin t be made by the scial sciences t technlgical and scial innvatins. iv. Lisbn 2001, Restructuring the Scial Sciences which brught tgether the findings f the three previus wrkshps and fcused n interdisciplinary research. It prduced the Declaratin n Strengthening the Rle f the Scial Sciences in Sciety (Van Langenhve, 2002: 24; OECD Directrate fr Science Technlgy and Industry: 2004). Adpted n Nvember 8 th 2001, the Lisbn Declaratin was designed t address the changing demand fr scial sciences input int plicy making in gvernment, and the need fr a reassessment by bth scial scientists and gvernment decisin makers abut strategies t realise this. The OECD remains a pwerful advcate fr the cntributin f the scial sciences t the understanding and reslutin f cmplex prblems. 17

18 Scial science knwledge is a pwerful resurce fr understanding and cping with the grwing cmplexities, uncertainties and risks in ur wrld. Gvernments, as well as scial and ecnmic actrs, shuld therefre make a mre systematic and extensive use f scial science as a surce f expertise n scietal issues as well as f citizens participatin in gvernance (OECD 2004: 70). The scial sciences have remained n the UNESCO agenda fr many years (Van Langenhve, 2002: 25). In 1994, UNESCO established the Management f Scial Transfrmatins prgram t fster internatinal plicy relevant scial sciences Achieving ur innvatin gals will require quality wrk acrss the entire research spectrum including the humanities, arts and scial sciences. The physical sciences my underpin the develpment f new technlgies, but thse technlgies will g nwhere if they are nt tailred t the real wrld, if they dn t meet cncrete needs, and if peple dn t have the skills t use them. Senatr Kim Carr in his address t the Deans f Arts, Scial Sciences and Humanities 1 Octber 2008 research, and in 1999 published the first Wrld Scial Science Reprt which dcumented develpments acrss different disciplines. UNESCO and its Management f Scial Transfrmatins prgram have cllabrated with the OECD scial science wrkshp series and will play a lead rle in the fllw up f that series. In 2002, the Internatinal Scial Sciences Cuncil, a nn gvernment rganisatin in frmal assciatin with UNESCO presented a majr cnference n the Scial Sciences in the 21 st Century (Van Langenhve, 2002: 25 26). The Eurpean Unin s (EU) research funding intrduced sciecnmic research fr the first time in its histry thrugh its Furth Framewrk Prgram (FP4) while its Seventh Framewrk Prgram FP7 (running frm 2007 t 2013) dedicated, fr the first time, an entire theme t the HASS sectr. Theme 8 is als linked t the Lisbn Agenda thrugh which the EU aims t address Eurpe s current and future challenges namely, grwth, emplyment and cmpetitiveness; scial chesin and sustainability; quality f life; and glbal interdependence. Research under the umbrella f Theme 8 is als intended t be cllabrative, wrking acrss disciplines and acrss cuntries (Hward 2008: 6) Changes in Australian Gvernment Plicy Fcus n the HASS disciplines The Rudd Gvernment tk ffice n 3 December 2007 and enhancing innvative capacity was ne f its many identified areas f refrm. One indicatr f Australia s uneven innvatin perfrmance was ur drp frm fifth t eighteenth in the Wrld Ecnmic Frum s Glbal Cmpetitiveness Index. This was attributed t a number f factrs, including a 22 per cent fall in Cmmnwealth spending n science and innvatin as a share f GDP since Business spending n research and develpment had reduced in the late 1990s, with the prprtin f Australian firms intrducing innvatins remaining at ne in three fr years (Cmmnwealth f Australia: 2009; DIISR: 2009a).Australia spends 2 per cent f GDP n research and develpment, while ther cuntries spend much mre. Australia als ranks last amng OECD cuntries in cllabratin fr innvatin between firms and universities (Cmmnwealth f Australia 2009: 3, 20). 18

19 Cmparative internatinal data further highlight a gap in funding designed t fster innvatin. Fr example, China s R&D spending has grwn by 22 per cent a year since 1996, cmpared t 8 per cent a year in Australia. Where Australia spends 2 per cent f GDP n research and develpment, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United States spend mre than 2.5 per cent; Finland, Japan, Suth Krea, and Sweden spend mre than 3 per cent; and Israel spends mre than 4 per cent (Cmmnwealth f Australia 2009). In respnse t this situatin, the Rudd Gvernment cmmissined a review f the Natinal Innvatin System in early Chaired by Dr Terry Cutler it identified a number f weaknesses in that system and its recmmendatins were respnded t in the Australian Gvernment s Innvatin Agenda fr the 21 st Century (Cmmnwealth f Australia: 2009). The Agenda als drew n a number f ther natinal reviews, including that f the Cperative Research Centres Prgram (Cmmnwealth f Australia: 2008), and the review f the higher educatin system (Cmmnwealth f Australia: 2008a). Innvatin is very much abut peple and prcesses; the scial sciences has played a key rle in understanding hw peple wrk tgether. Ian Chessel, Chief Scientist The Strategic Radmap fr Australian Research Infrastructure, released in September 2008, recgnised fr the first time in Australian Gvernment innvatin related plicy, the imprtance f the HASS disciplines (DIISR: 2008). This turned the plicy fcus that had been evident during the Hward Gvernment years f linking innvatin with the STEM disciplines while minimising the cntributin f the HASS disciplines. Infrming the Radmap, the Cutler review f the innvatin system in Australia recmmended that HASS be included in the successr t the Natinal Cllabrative Research Infrastructure Scheme and emphasised the imprtance f the creative arts, humanities and scial sciences t the innvatin prcess. The Cutler reprt als argued against separating the HASS disciplines frm the physical sciences, nting that innvatin is abut interpretatin and slutin seeking as well as analytical prblem slving (Carr: 2008). Building n the Strategic Radmap that had been released in 2006, the 2008 Strategic Radmap fr Australian Research Infrastructure reaffirmed the 12 capabilities f the 2006 dcument, but added the new capability f Humanities Arts and Scial Sciences (HASS), in recgnitin f... the wide ranging cntributins these disciplines make t the natinal interest (DIISR 2008: viii, 9). The 2008 Radmap emphasised the imprtance f crss discipline, cllabrative research effrt and netwrks, and the need t enhance these (2008: 17). Respnding t tday s glbal, scial, cultural and ecnmic challenges requires specialist knwledge f the peple, scieties and cultures that underpin, fuel r react t these challenges. Humanities, arts and scial sciences (HASS) research is integral t achieving this fine tuned understanding (DIISR 2008: 39). 19

20 In rder t build n the cntributin f the HASS, the 2008 Strategic Radmap fr Australian Research Infrastructure argued that a transfrmative step is needed n hw it appraches research, and that in line with trends in Nrth America, Eurpe and the United Kingdm, this required an investment in a purpse built, dedicated HASS e Research infrastructure, tailred t the HASS disciplines and prviding the technical capacity fr electrnic analysis f texts and the cnstructin f virtual envirnments that use advanced design technlgies. This is seen as generating efficiencies, facilitating innvatin, enabling HASS STEM cllabratins, supprting the effective disseminatin f HASS research findings, and fstering internatinal cllabratin (DIISR 2008: 39). This strategy is seen as enabling mre awareness f the impact f the HASS disciplines, arguing that The physical sciences may underpin the develpment f new technlgies, but thse technlgies will g nwhere if they are nt tailred t the real wrld, if they dn t meet cncrete needs, and if peple dn t have the skills t use them. That s where the humanities, arts and scial sciences cme in and why we are seeing much clser cllabratin between the STEM and HASS disciplines n everything frm public health t rbtics. Senatr Kim Carr, Minister fr Innvatin, Industry, Science and Research, Presentatin t the Deans f Arts, Scial Sciences and Humanities, Octber 1 st 2008, Melburne. The capability will transfrm the impact and internatinal standing f HASS research frm fields as critical and diverse as histry, scilgy, ecnmics, internatinal relatins, visual arts, literary studies, design, demgraphy, anthrplgy, archaelgy, cultural gegraphy, and cultural studies. In key areas f scial and ecnmic plicy, such as internatinal relatins r indigenus plicy, mre accurate predictive mdelling f scial, cultural and ecnmic behaviurs and the linkage f HASS data acrss large scale databases can be used t examine the lng term impacts f gvernment plicy and interventins. In an increasingly cnnected wrld, research infrastructure that bth enables the research and makes it widely accessible is vital (DIISR 2008: 39). The Australian Gvernment s science and innvatin budget was increased by 5 per cent in the Budget and a further increase f 25 per cent is expected in the Budget. This direct investment in Australian innvatin was further supprted by investments in infrastructure t sustain the innvatin prcess including the Natinal Bradband Netwrk and in the Educatin Revlutin, which is described by the Australian Gvernment as transfrming every stage f the learning jurney frm pre schl t pst dctrate level (Cmmnwealth f Australia: 2009). Budget changes meant that in , the Australian Gvernment was spending $8.58 billin n science and innvatin, an increase f 25 per cent frm the previus year. One quarter f Cmmnwealth spending n innvatin is nw directed t encurage business investment in innvatin (including research and develpment tax incentives) and the remainder is directed t the higher educatin sectr, research agencies and crss sectr initiatives like the Cperative Research Centres Prgram (Cmmnwealth f Australia 2009: 18 citing 2009 data frm the Department f Innvatin Industry Science and Research, Canberra). 20

21 Funding f $17 millin has been allcated t establish a Creative Industries Innvatin Centre in the Enterprise Cnnect netwrk, and the Department f Innvatin, Industry, Science and Research refcused its Internatinal Science Linkages Prgram t include the HASS disciplines. Thrugh the Natinal Cllabrative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS), the Australian Gvernment has allcated $542 millin ver t prvide researchers with majr research facilities, supprting infrastructure and netwrks necessary fr wrld class research. Rather than seeking prpsals thrugh a cmpetitive grants prgram, the NCRIS Cmmittee cmmissined independent external facilitatrs t develp natinal investment plans fr pririty capabilities identified in the Strategic Radmap fr Australian Research Infrastructure (DIISR 2008). In develping the investment plans, facilitatrs wrked with researchers, research managers, research funders and users, t define the infrastructure requirements and the cllabrative arrangements fr managing the peratin and accessibility t facilities and equipment. Imprtantly, funding and eligibility have been designed t encurage cllabratin and c investment. The Strategy als seeks greater participatin by Australian researchers in the internatinal research system, and supprts invlvement f a brad range f researchers frm higher educatin institutins; Australian Gvernment and State and Territry research agencies and institutins; independent research institutins; private sectr research rganisatins; and industry 5. Until recently, the HASS disciplines were cnsidered largely ut f scpe in the NCRIS prcess, partly because f the way NCRIS had defined infrastructure. Hwever, an NCRIS wrking grup was established t examine HASS infrastructure needs (fr example, labratries and fabricatin facilities in the creative arts, new technical and digital capabilities that supprt HASS research) has identified the need fr this gap t be addressed, nting that despite internatinal precedents t supprt such infrastructure, Australia has few example (Keighley James: 2008). Cnsequently, the Australian Gvernment argues that it is imprtant t expand the capacity f public research institutins in rder t enhance ecnmic and scial returns and t ensure that their research findings are widely accessible. Citing internatinal evidence that indicates up t three quarters f private sectr patents draw n public sectr research, the Innvatin Agenda argues that a strng public research sectr reduces the cst f innvatin t industry, can stimulate the develpment f new clusters f activity, can make Australia mre attractive t freign investment and generates a knwledge base that brings widespread benefits including fr ppulatin health, cmmunity resilience, cultural enrichment and envirnmental prtectin (Cmmnwealth f Australia 2009: 32). In summary research generated by HASS is widely recgnised amng plicy makers as having a critical rle t play in imprving cmmunity, cultural and envirnmental strength as well as prviding a fundatin fr understanding the human dimensins f science and technlgy. While this grwing recgnitin f the rle and cntributin f HASS is translating int changes in funding prgrams the challenge f full integrating HASS int the innvatin agenda remains substantial. 5 Surce: 21

22 2.5.3 Changes t the Cperative Research Centres Prgram The Cperative Research Centres (CRC) Prgram was established in 1990 t prvide clser linkages between research and develpment prviders and end users, including industry. Hwever, the HASS sectr s invlvement in CRCs has been limited, and nly ne f the 18 members f the CRC Appraisal Panel in 2006 was a HASS researcher (Metcalfe et al, 2006: 21; Hward 2008: 21). A wider and mre crss disciplinary fcus has been identified as needed, especially fr reslving majr public plicy issues (Hward 2008: 16). When interviewed fr the CHASS study, the Deputy Chair f the CRC Assciatin freshadwed a change in this trend as the CRC Prgram places mre emphasis n utcmes prviding ecnmic, lifestyle r envirnmental benefits fr Australia, it will have t take a cnscius plicy effrt t bring HASS int the relatinship (Metcalfe et al, 2006: 21). The recent Review f the CRC Prgram (Cmmnwealth f Australia: 2008) als reflects these views. A key criticism f the Prgram, identified by the Review, was its emphasis n cmmercialisatin and an accmpanying shift away frm its riginal purpse f pursuing utcmes aimed at the public gd. Endrsing the Prductivity Cmmissin s finding in its study f science and innvatin, and Minister Carr s February 2008 statement n the need t mve away frm the fcus n shrt term cmmercialisatin that had characterised the previus decade, the Review als cncluded that there had been an unbalanced emphasis n the science and engineering fields while neglecting the humanities, arts and scial sciences. The Review reprt argued that HASS input was vital t develping multidisciplinary and cllabrative slutins t majr challenges facing Australia and ther cuntries. It nted that: At the mment the CRC Prgram nly funds applicatins that are frm predminantly science and engineering fields. Hwever as the bundaries between sciences and the scial sciences are increasingly blurred in multidisciplinary areas and as mst real wrld prblems require cllabrative, multidisciplinary slutins, fr which humanities and scial sciences input is vital, this distinctin is rapidly becming ut f date. Extending eligibility t researchers in the fields f humanities and scial sciences wuld enable the services sectr t participate in the CRC Prgram mre fully. Given that a substantial prprtin f innvatin cmes frm prcess innvatin, it wuld be flish t exclude pprtunities fr cllabratin and research in these fields. These are als fields that can cntribute t reslving majr public gd prblems, particularly in areas f scial justice and scial services (Cmmnwealth f Australia 2008: 65). In cnclusin, it is evident there is widespread agreement that a) large scale prblems require cllabratin and interdisciplinary effrt, b) cllabratin is imprtant fr innvatin, and c) the HASS disciplines have a critical rle t play in develping slutins t large scale and cmplex prblems. This recgnitin is relatively recent and grwing as a result f changing internatinal and natinal gvernment plicy directins. Fr a number f decades the STEM disciplines were regarded as 22

23 central t innvatin while the cntributin f the HASS disciplines was seen as secndary. In the last decade in particular, there has been a re thinking and bradening f the cncept f innvatin and the cntributin which the HASS disciplines make. Better understanding the cntributin f HASS disciplines t innvatin will help t mre fully engage HASS in the innvatin agenda and debate. 23

24 3 THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE HASS DISCIPLINES TO INNOVATION The cntributin f the humanities, arts and scial sciences t innvatin needs t be the subject f an nging natinal cnversatin. While many researchers wrking in HASS disciplines appreciate the rle and cntributin f HASS t innvatin, this appreciatin is nt widely shared in the research cmmunity as a whle. It is imprtant in this cntext that cnsiderable effrt be devted t clearly articulating the cntributin f HASS t innvatin. HASS has intrinsic value, as well as directly fstering innvatin. It helps us t understand the scial, cultural and ethical cntext in which scientific and technlgical change ccurs, prviding skilled persnnel whse expertise is transferable t a range f sectrs, and cntributing t innvatin thrugh crss disciplinary and crss sectr cllabratins. Large scale and cmplex prblems (such as, ppulatin ageing and climate change) require cllabratin and interdisciplinary effrt, in rder t achieve innvative slutins, and the HASS disciplines bring critical knwledge abut the causes and management f such prblems. 3.1 The intrinsic value f the humanities, arts and scial sciences Apart frm their imprtant cntributin t crss disciplinary research, HASS disciplines are valuable in themselves. The Cuncil fr the Humanities and Scial Sciences (CHASS) recently summarised the intrinsic value f the HASS disciplines in this way The humanities ask us t accunt fr urselves, ur histry, ur stries and ur human values. The scial sciences draw n rigrus investigatins t help us make infrmed chices abut the srt f sciety we wish t live in hw we rganise educatin, health, wealth and security. The arts ask the same questins in different ways, prviding nt scientific knwledge but insight the flashes f inspiratin that illuminate, and encapsulate ur place in the wrld (CHASS, 2005: 13). CHASS recently undertk a majr natinal study cmmissined by the then Department f Educatin Science and Training t quantify the cntributin f HASS research using a new assessment prcess in place f the university sectr s cnventinal apprach invlving the number f publicatins/research grants/research students. The new apprach invlved seven representative academic departments cmpiling a case fr excellence that prvided evidence abut the quality and impact f their departments research and f the research capability f their rganisatin as a whle. Apart frm develping a useful mdel with applicatin acrss all disciplines, the reprt identified the difficulty in quantifying the impact f HASS research, beynd that cnducted within universities and publicly funded research agencies, t its brader applicatin and impact in the cmmunity. Fr HASS researchers, sciety itself is the subject f their research and CHASS distinguishes three levels f its impact which are within the research setting, as it is practised by prfessinals wrking in the scial, cultural and artistic prfessins, and in the everyday lives f the cmmunity (CHASS, 2005: 15). 24

25 Previus CHASS research (Gascigne & Metcalfe: 2005) had identified a huge range f scial benefits derived frm HASS research, many leading t ecnmic utcmes. It identified numerus prjects that invlved prfessinal cnsultancies t gvernment, drawing n HASS disciplines research, and leading t new jbs and new industries. That reprt als identified savings and resurce efficiencies arising frm HASS research that changes public attitudes (eg t water usage) and prvides imprved appraches t teaching and administratin. Ireland s Minister fr Educatin and Science has als argued fr recgnitin f the HASS disciplines fr their intrinsic value as well as fr their direct r indirect ecnmic benefit The intrinsic value f the arts, humanities and scial sciences utweighs direct r indirect ecnmic benefit. The humanities and scial sciences can prvide nt simply knwledge, but the wisdm that allws us t lead enlightened lives, t negtiate ur way arund the cmplexities f everyday living and t live fulfilled and cntented lives. there is als a separate and very cmpelling case t be made fr their value in purely ecnmic terms. the imprtance f ur science, engineering and technlgy t ecnmic success is very direct in the mdern knwledge age. We cannt fulfil the prmise f thse develpments in the absence f a deeper understanding f ur ideals and bjectives as a sciety and the highly cmplex issues that surrund thse. The humanities and scial sciences enable us t address thse [and] play a very direct, but ften underestimated, rle in ur natinal innvatin system. The skills imparted by the humanities and scial sciences are central t the creatin and transmissin f new knwledge and underpin the develpment f ur sciety (Hanafin: 2006). 3.2 Fstering innvatin The HASS sectr als fsters creativity and innvatin. The Strategy fr Science Technlgy and Innvatin (Gvernment f Ireland 2006: 30 31) identifies this and ther rles fr HASS disciplines enhancing ur understanding f the rapid changes ccurring scial and ecnmically; better infrming public plicy making; develping creative and analytical skills in the cntext f a glbal ecnmy that is increasingly dminated by knwledge based services. The Strategy emphasises the imprtance f HASS research in fstering a climate f innvatin and cmmits t investments designed t prvide a wrld class research system in humanities and scial sciences (Hanafin: 2006). The rle f the arts in innvatin prcesses has been the subject f cnsiderable attentin ver the last five years. Hassemann and Jaaniste (2008: 5) argue that the arts sectr particularly the perfrming arts, visual arts and crafts, new media arts and creative writing shuld be included in Australian Gvernment innvatin plicy Peple think innvatin shuld be spntaneus if it s real Rather innvatin requires a lt f hard wrk that yu systematically plan fr, allcate resurces t and develp. Chris Rbinsn, Department f Educatin and Children s Services 25

26 develpment because f their significant rle in natinal innvatin. In advancing this prpsitin they present six arguments explring the place f the arts in Australia s natinal innvatin system; all f these arguments have direct and critical relevance fr understanding the rle f the scial sciences in innvatin: the cultural argument: the arts create and prmte an atmsphere f innvatin; the skills argument: a rich arts educatin builds the skills required f a future innvative wrkfrce; the knwledge argument: the arts create new knwledge fr innvatin thrugh creative prductin and prcesses, including cllabratins with ther disciplines, such as science, within and beynd universities; the cmmercialisatin argument: the arts can cnvert new knwledge and research int prfits thrugh entrepreneurial activity; the ecnmic argument: the arts, as part f the creative industries, ccupy a substantial, grwing, enabling and innvative part f the ecnmy; the systems argument: the cultural sectr is an innvatin system within which varius institutins and rganisatins behave as innvatin hubs. 3.3 Understanding the scial, cultural and ethical cntext f technlgical change Innvatin in the develpment f new technlgies takes place in a scial, cultural and ethical cntext. Technlgy bth shapes and is shaped by cntext. Fr example, the technlgical changes assciated with the Internet have significant implicatins fr daily life, service prvisin, educatin, wrk practices, media industries, the arts and ppular culture. T respnd sensitively and apprpriately t human needs requires sphisticated cllabratin between STEM and HASS disciplines. This is crucial fr the develpment f a better understanding f the scial implicatins and respnsiveness f technlgical innvatins as well as the successful implementatin f these in differing scial cntexts. Examples f technlgical innvatin where there is a cmpelling case fr such cllabratin include nantechnlgy and genetic mdificatin. The HASS disciplines assist in understanding cncepts like scial inclusin and exclusin, equity and pverty, and the ptential rle f infrmatin and cmmunicatin technlgies as further entrenching inequities in the absence f scial plicy interventins. While the imprtant innvatin f the Internet is nt disputed, it is the scial sciences in particular, that undertake the research which identifies the implicatins f pverty and lw levels f educatin restricting access t the Internet. It is the scial sciences that are usually respnsible fr develping services and ther interventins that cmpensate fr inequitable access t advances in infrmatin and cmmunicatin technlgies. Scial scientists have wrked fr years n develping strategies t reduce pverty, with little success. It is pssible that if the HASS and STEM disciplines were t wrk 26

27 cllabratively n issues like pverty, mre innvative respnses t scial exclusin and disadvantage culd be develped. The HASS disciplines play an imprtant rle in anticipating the cnsequences f significant technlgical change and assist in designing plicies in respnse t these changes. Knwledge generated by them can have a prfund impact n the shape, design and uptake f particular technlgies. Fr example, electrnic r remte frms f telecare in health, that apply IT based mnitring and reprting technlgies t patient care delivery, nw have a lng histry. Literature surveys have fund mre than 8,600 published jurnal reprts (mainly in medical jurnals) n telecare r e health experimentatin. The vast majrity f these The mst radical transfrmatin within ur sciety and ur technlgy ver the last 20 t 30 years have actually cme frm the scial sciences and humanities, in terms f the way we rganise t d things, we structure gvernment relatins, we rganise ur ecnmy. Prfessr Andrew Beer, Flinders University f Suth Australia studies cncerned innvatins that were develped by technlgy cmpanies and pilted by health and scial services prfessinals (LSE 2008: 60). Cuntries like Japan, with ne f the wrld s largest prprtins f lder peple needing care, are leading the field in develping rbts t becme carers f ld peple. Hwever, their integratin int the aged care system will require significant cllabratin. Since the mid 1990s there has been cnsiderable attentin devted t research related t the `the scial shaping f technlgy' (SST) (Williams and Edge: 1996). This has gained increasing recgnitin in recent years, particularly in the UK and Eurpe where SST research is seen t play a psitive rle in integrating natural and scial science knwledge, in ffering a greater understanding f the relatinship between scientific excellence, technlgical innvatin and ecnmic and scial well being, and in bradening the plicy agenda, fr example in the prmtin and management f technlgical change (Eurpean Science Fundatin/Ecnmic and Scial Research Cuncil: 1991). SST studies shw that technlgy is a scial prduct, patterned by the cnditins f its creatin and use. Every stage in the generatin and implementatin f new technlgies invlves a set f chices between different technical ptins which are mediated by scial cnsideratins and implicatins. SST research thus ges beynd traditinal appraches, cncerned merely with the assessment f the `scial impacts' f technlgy, t examine what shapes technlgy and the adptin r rejectin f technlgy. 3.4 Prvisin f skilled persnnel, and persnnel with transferable skills HASS disciplines als fster ecnmic grwth by prviding skilled persnnel every year mre than 150,000 HASS graduates enter the labur market in the UK, with mre than tw thirds entering the private sectr (LSE 2008: 21). There was a trend fr businesses and gvernment representatives interviewed by the LSE Public Plicy Grup t perceive the HASS disciplines as prducing graduates 27

28 with transferable skills, an understanding f the cmplexities f rganisatinal prcesses and their management and an understanding f hw plitical and scial factrs affect business prjects, with a capacity t think creatively and cntributing t firms understanding f emerging trends (LSE 2008: 23). In Australia, 64 per cent f all undergraduate and pstgraduate curse wrk students were in the HASS sectr in 2004, with STEM sectr students cmprising the remaining 36 per cent. Research based dctrates in the same year had a higher prprtin in the STEM disciplines 55 per cent cmpared with the 45 per cent in the HASS disciplines. In terms f emplyment, mst STEM researchers wrk in universities r publicly funded research rganisatins while the ppsite applies t thse frm the HASS disciplines. (CHASS, 2005: 15 16). The HASS disciplines in Suth Australia emply 1,166 teachers and researchers acrss the three majr universities, representing 39 per cent f the ttal Suth Australian university wrkfrce f teachers and researchers (see Table 1). They have 42 per cent f Higher Degree students and hld 11 per cent f research incme (PSRC, 2009, Tables 4 and 5). Table 1: Academic staff by HASS discipline and by University, Suth Australia, 2007 & 2008 Discipline Flinders Univ Univ f Adelaide Univ f SA Ttal (2007) (2008) (2008) Educatin Ecnmics 28 9 Cmmerce, Management, Turism and Services Studies in Human Sciety Psychlgy Law and Legal Studies Studies in Creative Arts and Writing Language, Cmmunicatin and Culture Histry and Archaelgy 25 3 Philsphy and Religius Studies Ttal ,166 % f University ttal 40% 32% 45% 39% University ttal 745 1,136 1,108 2,989 Surce: Premiers Science and Research Cuncil,

29 3.5 HASS disciplines and funding fr research Industry undertakes three fifths f Australia s research, mst f it invlving applied research and experimental develpment and a miniscule prprtin invlving the humanities, arts and scial sciences (HASS). When research is undertaken in the HASS, it is mst likely t ccur in the public sectr (mst being undertaken by universities and the balance by publicly funded research agencies like CSIRO and a small amunt directly by gvernment agencies) which is respnsible fr 89 per cent f research in these fields (Cmmnwealth f Australia 2009: 31). By cmparisn, in the United Kingdm, HASS disciplines receive 8 per cent f research cuncil funding, which is less than ne tenth f the amunt that STEM disciplines receive (althugh it is recgnised that higher csts are usually invlved fr STEM research) (LSE 2008: 15). In relatin t funding frm gvernment fr university research in the UK, 18 per cent ges t HASS disciplines, equating t 3,400 per head annually acrss all academic persnnel cmpared t an average f 24,800 per head fr thse in STEM disciplines (LSE 2008: 16). In calculating Australian and Suth Australian HASS disciplines share f ARC funding, it was evident that an agreed definitin culd nt be fund regarding which disciplines are regarded as HASS. Even the website fr the Cuncil f the Humanities and Scial Sciences (CHASS) des nt define its member disciplines. Cnsequently, the AISR has reviewed the infrmatin which is available and develped a list f disciplines (see Appendix 3) and used these t filter a search f the ARC website. 6 As Figure 2 indicates, in 2009 HASS disciplines acrss Australia attracted $166,614,551 in ARC funding a steady grwth being evident since With the exceptin f 2007, Suth Australia has shwn a similar pattern f grwth in HASS research funding, which in 2009 std at $8,363,531 see Figure 3. It is imprtant t nte that these figures nly reflect prjects where HASS researchers are the first named investigatr. There are a grwing number f multi disciplinary prjects in which HASS researchers are invlved but are nt the first named investigatr. In additin further research is necessary t quantify the full value f ther surces f research incme secured by HASS. Fr example the Australian Institute fr Scial Research at the University earns arund $2m in cntract research incme per annum. 6 Part 1: Prjects and fellwships. New and nging 29

30 Figure 2: HASS* ARC funding amunt ($) fr Australia 200,000,000 HASS ARC funding amunt ($) fr Australia $166,614, ,000,000 $140,386,289 $148,852,335 $152,775, ,000,000 $122,823,648 $95,663,816 80,000,000 $65,854,020 40,000,000 0 $25,486, * Disciplines included as HASS in this calculatin are shwn in Appendix 3. Surce: Data extracted n 30 March 2010 frm Natinal Cmpetitive Grants Prgram (NCGP) Dataset: Cmpleted prjects, and New and nging Prjects Figure 3: HASS* ARC funding amunt ($) fr Suth Australia $10,000,000 HASS ARC funding amunt ($) fr Suth Australia $8,363,531 $8,000,000 $6,927,008 $7,451,706 $7,222,042 $6,000,000 $5,571,963 $6,495,731 $4,000,000 $4,135,382 $2,000,000 $0 $1,924, * Disciplines included as HASS in this calculatin are shwn in Appendix 3. Surce: Data extracted n 30 March 2010 frm Natinal Cmpetitive Grants Prgram (NCGP) Dataset: Cmpleted prjects, and New and nging Prjects 30

31 As Figure 4 indicates, the prprtin f ARC funding allcated t HASS disciplines in Suth Australia exceeded the natinal level in 2002, with Suth Australian HASS researchers attracting 26.0% f funding cmpared t the 21.8% share by HASS researchers natinally. Hwever, in 2004 this trend began t change with Suth Australian HASS researchers receiving less funding than their peers acrss Australia as a whle. By 2007 the gap widened with HASS disciplines natinally attracting 28.8% f ARC funding while thse in Suth Australia attracted 22.0%. There has been a slight upward trend since, climbing t 25.3% in 2009, cmpared with the natinal prprtin f 29.5%. Figure 4: Prprtin f ARC funding allcated t HASS* disciplines in Australia and Suth Australia 50% Prprtin f ARC funding allcated t HASS disciplines in Australia and Suth Australia % Aust % SA 40% 30% 26.0% 26.1% 26.2% 27.0% 27.0% 28.8% 29.2% 29.5% 20% 21.8% 25.3% 24.8% 24.2% 24.3% 22.0% 23.8% 25.3% 10% 0% * Disciplines included as HASS in this calculatin are shwn in Appendix 3. Surce: Data extracted n 30 March 2010 frm Natinal Cmpetitive Grants Prgram (NCGP) Dataset: Cmpleted prjects, and New and nging Prjects The impact f the HASS disciplines frm the perspective f HASS researchers The Public Plicy Grup f the Lndn Schl f Ecnmics recently presented a reprt t the British Academy n the findings frm a six mnth research prject that examined reasns why cntributins f HASS t a knwledge sciety were cntrained and under valued (LSE 2008). The study invlved interviews with sme 100 senir representatives f business, gvernment, civil sciety rganisatins, the media and universities, tgether with a systematic literature reviews and a survey f 340 HASS academics. On a scale f 1 (little impact) t 7 (high impact) academics surveyed rated the actual and ptential impact f their discipline in five dmains. Findings are summarised in Table 2. In all dmains, thse surveyed believe that their disciplines ptential impact is greater than their actual impact. The lwest level f impact was seen t relate t the science and technlgy arena, fllwed by ecnmy 31

32 and business and public plicy all f which received relatively lw ratings. The highest impact was ascribed t public and culture, fllwed by civil sciety. Table 2: HASS researchers rating f the actual and ptential impact f their discipline Dmain Actual Impact Ptential Impact Public and culture Civil sciety Public plicy Ecnmy and business Science and technlgy Surce: Lndn Schl f Ecnmics (LSE) Public Plicy Grup, 2008 The LSE Public Plicy Grup identified a range f reasns fr their findings abut perceived impact and value attributed t HASS (LSE 2008: 8 14). These invlve Measuring and valuing impacts the need t better recrd hw HASS achieves impacts, including disaggregatin f higher educatin statistics t separate HASS, STEM and ther key discipline grupings and t invlve HASS in that recrding prcess; separate estimatin by disciplines f ecnmic impacts (this issue is discussed in Sectin 2.4.1). Bsting impacts n ecnmic develpment increasing wrking relatinships between HASS and business; mre sharing f infrmatin n gd practice in university and business wrking relatinships. Bsting impacts n gvernment and public plicy making HASS disciplines need t train students in ways that better fit cntemprary gvernment need, including crss disciplinary and grup learning; radical imprvement is needed f current methds f cmmunicating research findings and their usefulness and applicability t external audiences; HASS disciplines need t imprve their capacity t explit new frms f digital research data s that they can access gvernment held data fr research purpses and better train their students fr using that data and understanding its capabilities. There is als a need fr mre cperative wrk between universities and public sectr rganisatins t imprve the relevance f pst graduate studies t an envirnment demanding innvatin in evidence based plicy making. Further bsting impacts n civil sciety, culture and public this includes better disseminatin and explanatin f research results. Imprving linkages with science and technlgy research there is a need fr research funding bdies t review the supprt they prvide fr jint HASS and STEM research t address key plicy issues, such as, climate change, ppulatin ageing and the intrductin f new technlgies. It is als seen as likely that mre jined up wrk within HASS disciplines culd engage the attentin f STEM researchers. It wuld seem prudent t review the implicatins f these findings fr research develpment in the Australian cntext. A survey n the cntributin f HASS researchers t innvatin in Suth Australia wuld be timely in this regard. 32

33 3.7 Quantifying the rle f the HASS disciplines in crss sectr cllabratin It is imprtant that we better understand the rle that HASS researchers are playing in multidisciplinary cllabratins, particularly with STEM researchers. One way f ding this is t examine the authrship f papers. Mre than 90 per cent f research papers published by Australian scientists have mre than ne authr, and ne third f all published Australian research has an internatinal c authr (Barlw 2006: 37). The extent t which this represents multi disciplinary cllabratin is wrthy f clse examinatin. Analysis f Australian crss disciplinary research patterns identifies the fields mst likely t cllabrate are envirnmental science, eclgy and evlutin while the least likely are cgnitive science and media studies (Grigg et al : 2003). Hwever, there is a general lack f infrmatin that quantifies crss sectr cllabratin, and a significant prprtin f such interactin is nt dcumented (Riedlinger M et al, 2006: 52). Sme prgress has been made in the Australian cntext as the fllwing case study demnstrates. Case Study: The Cuncil fr Humanities Arts and Scial Sciences (CHASS) study f STEM HASS Cllabratin in Australia (Metcalfe et al 2006) The Cuncil fr Humanities Arts and Scial Sciences (CHASS) is a relatively recent peak bdy, having been established in A research study cmmissined by the then Department f Educatin Science and Training (DEST) explred the relatinships between the humanities, arts and scial sciences (HASS) and the science, technlgy, engineering and medical (STEM) sectrs. This has nt nly added significantly t the knwledge base n cllabratin acrss disciplines, but is a case study in itself n crss sectral cllabratin. One f the drivers fr the CHASS study was the call fr innvative slutins, based n new frms f crsssectr cllabratin, t find slutins t majr challenges including water cnservatin, natinal and glbal security in the face f terrrism and climate change. The study delineated the extent f HASS STEM cllabratin in Australia using case studies exemplifying this and surveys t quantify patterns, identified key success factrs and barriers affecting cllabratin and best practice strategies fr effective cllabratin. The first f tw surveys drew 606 respnses (330 frm HASS, 159 frm STEM and 108 frm bth, and 9 frm ther disciplines). It was designed t scpe the extent f crss sectr cllabratin in Australia, wh cnducts such prjects and the reasns fr ding s, as well as t identify factrs that supprt r hinder cllabratin and lessns learned. Amng its findings were the fllwing 75 per cent f all respndents had participated in crss sectr cllabratin. The disciplines identified mst frequently were scial sciences with arts, and frm the STEM sectr, health and medicine. Least frequently identified cllabratins were frm plicy, plitical science, philsphy, religin and chemical sciences disciplines. The secnd survey was designed t test key learnings and infrmatin frm the literature review, frm the first survey, the case studies, interviews and ther cmpnents f prject methdlgy. It drew 688 respnses, f whm 60 per cent had participated in crss sectr cllabratin. Its findings included 33

34 Thse invlved tended t be mre advanced in their careers, and crss sectr cllabratin appeared t be an indicatr f career maturity. The tw tp areas f cllabrative activity were Prmting and maintaining gd health and Appreciatin f cultural and histrical heritage. The five tp utcmes identified as a result f crss sectr cllabratin were gathering knwledge and understanding, imprving current strategies, publicatins, educatin and develping guidelines and mdels (Metcalf et al, 2006: 23 24). The CHASS study identified a number f benefits arising frm crss sectr cllabratin, including Managing the increasing amunt f knwledge generated by research. Creating new knwledge at the intersectins between disciplines. Prvisin t industry f new and mre apprpriate respnses t their markets, including the develpment f new cmmercial prducts. Enhanced prblem slving capacity. Develpment f new services and prgrams fr the cmmunity. Training f staff and vlunteers fr new services develped. Enables mre effective engagement f the public r industry in research prjects and utcmes. Enhanced creativity and innvatin. Althugh difficult cncepts t measure, these were identified as crss sectr cllabratin utcmes. Develpment f wider prfessinal and scial netwrks (Metcalf et al, 2006: 25 29). At the same time, crss sectr cllabratin has high transactin csts which are likely t increase when team members are widely gegraphically dispersed; are inexperienced in cllabratin; have limited r n experience in wrking with each ther; have a high degree f persnal cnnectin t their wn discipline r wrk site; have ther pririties r cmmitments that take precedence ver the cllabratin; belng t rganisatins with inflexible administrative and reprting requirements (Metcalf et al, 2006: 30). The CHASS study has prvided, in great detail, findings relating t the incentives and impediments t crsssectr cllabratin and mapped these against the fllwing seven factrs structure and team management, pwer distributin, resurces and supprt, cmmnalities and differences, cmmunicatin, persnal traits f team members, and status and recgnitin (Metcalf et al, 2006: 33 34). In their review f the literature, the CHASS researchers identified bth a fcus n science as the key t future ecnmic and scial prsperity and a grwing tendency t recgnise the humanities fr their cmmercial ptential. The main example cited was the reprt frm the Prime Minister s Science, Engineering and Innvatin Cuncil (PMSEIC: 2005), which acknwledged the need t 34

35 include the cultural sectrs as pwerful engines f sustainable ecnmic grwth, and recgnise the cntributin the HASS sectr makes t Australia s research and ecnmy (Riedlinger et al 2006: 49). The PMSEIC reprt als supprts a whle f gvernment apprach t crdinate and imprve existing innvatin plicy (PMSEIC 2005: 18). Other CHASS research (2005: 14 15) illustrates the impact f HASS STEM research cllabratins, with examples that include investigatins f majr causes f avidable mrtality, like rad deaths, besity and diabetes 2. In this cntext HASS disciplines make a critical cntributin t better understanding hw human thinking and behaviur influences healthy eating and lifestyles, and risk taking when driving. While water availability and energy use will be enhanced thrugh a range f scientific and technlgical innvatins, changes in water and energy users behaviurs will play an equally imprtant rle. HASS based knwledge is essential fr building and maintaining chesive gvernments, legal systems, businesses, ecnmies and scieties. The wrld s prblems have scant respect fr disciplines r knwledge sectrs. Key issues nw cnfrnting us glbal warming, energy insecurities, terrrism require slutins that harness the talents f all. Malclm Gillies, President, Cuncil fr the Humanities Arts and Scial Sciences, September 2006, Preface t CHASS Occasinal Paper 3 prepared by Metcalfe et al., Rle f HASS in addressing cmplex prblems Cmplex prblems require multidisciplinary perspectives and cllabrative appraches t prblem slving (Metcalf et al, 2006: 26; Keighley James: 2008). It is difficult t imagine that we will successfully tackle the majr scial, ecnmic and envirnmental challenges that face us withut the develpment f strng partnerships between STEM and HASS researchers. Tgether they are mre likely t develp innvative slutins t tackling: Ppulatin ageing and rising dependency rates; Wrkfrce ageing and the need t supprt higher rates f labur frce participatin Health inequalities and healthy ageing Pverty and scial exclusin Climate change and water scarcity. This rle is recgnised in recent Australian Gvernment plicy statements. Minister Carr has identified the imprtance f understanding the human cmpnent f cmplex systems and in develping slutins t majr issues and challenges. Fr this t ccur, cllabratin acrss disciplines is essential (Kim Carr 2008). If we want t understand cmplex systems that have peple in them, yu need t understand the scial cmpnent. It s a dynamic part f these systems. Fr example, hw much water we shuld secure frm the Murray River. The issues are envirnmental, legitimacy and fairness 35

36 issues arund this research. These issues highlight cllabratin as a crucial and integral part f the whle research agenda. (CSIRO interviewee cited by CHASS study, Metcalfe et al, 2006: 15 16). The humanities and scial sciences have a pwerful influence in shaping the way we see ur sciety and evaluate changes and develpments in it. By permeating ur understanding f issues the humanities and scial sciences achieve brad changes t peple s views f the wrld. They have a strng ethical cmpnent which, when fused with analytical techniques, gives them great strength in tacking cmplex scial questins. ASTEC 1993, Bridging the gap: the scial sciences, humanities, science and technlgy in ecnmic develpment, Australian Science and Technlgy Cuncil, Canberra. Research n the rle f innvatin in ecnmic and scial change has prliferated in recent years, particularly in the scial sciences (Fagerberg: 2003). This tendency is likely t accelerate ver cming years as the pressure intensifies t develp effective slutins t pressing envirnmental, ecnmic and scial prblems. This will be accmpanied by increasing recgnitin f the imprtance f crss disciplinary research and prblem slving (Verlaeckt & Vitrin, 2002: 10 11). Increasingly, the demands f the glbal cmmunity require integrated research that transcends lcatin (Van Langenhve, 2002: 22). Examples fllw in Sectins 3.8.1, and Enhancing Indigenus culture health and well being The Strategic Radmap fr Australian Research Infrastructure (DIISR 2008) identifies the untapped ptential cntributin f HASS disciplines t enhancing natinal and internatinal understanding f Indigenus culture. Research n this issue brings tgether mst disciplines in the humanities, arts and scial sciences and research undertaken will be mre accessible and able t be shared because f the PARADISEC digital initiative (see Case Study belw). 36

37 CASE STUDY: PARADISEC HASS linkages t ther areas f research The Pacific and Reginal Archive fr Digital Surces in Endangered Cultures (PARADISEC) has achieved internatinal recgnitin fr its develpment f lw cst techniques fr recrding, catalguing and digitising in digital media research resurces n endangered cultural heritage in Indigenus Australia, the Pacific Island natins and East and Sutheast Asia. These are then able t be accessed internatinally as this knwledge base cntinues t develp. PARADISEC is regarded as mdel fr ther disciplines, and as having immense ptential fr Natinal Research Pririties bth in relatin t digitising and sharing research findings, and in prviding critical infrmatin n linguistic and cultural determinants affecting all fur research pririty areas. It prvides significant pprtunity fr research cllabratin and can prmte ecnmically valuable utcmes like grwing cultural turism. Surce: DIISR (2008: 42). Critical t this research is the cllabratin f HASS researchers with STEM researchers. Many imprtant data surces cannt be accessed withut culturally sensitive prtcls and negtiatins, and a huge amunt f research material has nt been digitised. Capturing the substantial knwledge that exists, and enabling cllabratin amng researchers requires the creatin f infrastructure and eresearch tls t reslve digitisatin pririties, linkage f cllectins and data bases, efficient searching and dwnlading mechanisms and specialised tls and sftware (DIISR 2008: 42). This in turn requires a natinal cllabrative research platfrm that supprts whle f gvernment plicy develpment, but the DIISR believes that such an investment will bring imprtant plicy returns. Alngside the research mtivatin fr develping a highly sphisticated platfrm is an equally cmpelling case fr the HASS sectr t deliver the research and evidence that will enable a brad range f public plicies t be develped t amelirate and advance the ecnmic, scial and cultural cnditins f ur Abriginal and Trres Strait Islander cmmunities (DIISR 2008: 42) Addressing the cnsequences and benefits f ppulatin ageing There are a range f prducts and services that determine the quality f life f very ld peple and these include health, husing and aged care services, financial services, services that enable access t electrnic cmmunicatin and a range f plicies that prmte the cntinued participatin f lder peple in their cmmunities. Of particular relevance is a) the way in which different sectrs can cmbine their knwledge and the utcmes f that knwledge ne example being the develpment f rbts specifically t supprt lder peple in their hmes, and b) the capacity fr crss sectr plicy, prgram and service prvisin in rder t address lder peple s needs as hlistically as pssible. This principle is applicable t all grups with particular needs frm the very yung t the very ld, frm ne cultural backgrund t anther, and frm ne lcatin t anther. 37

38 The well knwn current and prjected grwth f the prprtin and number f peple ver the age f 65 means that a significant market exists fr the develpment f services and prducts that address the impact f the ageing prcess, and innvatin will be critical t their develpment, and t their uptake. Case Study The Fish Bird Prject: Rbtic wheelchairs interact with humans Based n cllabratin between a media artist and a team f rbtics designers, this prject develped rbtic wheelchairs that interact dynamically with peple. Funded by an ARC Linkage grant and by the Synapse initiative f the Australia Cuncil, it ffers advances in wheelchair technlgy and mnitring systems that can be applied in a range f hspital, disability care and aged care envirnments. Fish and Bird, the tw rbts in the exhibit, read and react t human bdy language by mving abut and writing text. The prject is als designed t prmte a psitive scial view f wheelchairs in the cmmunity. Surce: Metcalfe et al (2006:14) The knwledge, the interest, the willingness, the cultural change that is brught abut by sme f the hard physical sciences, like technical type innvatin, it is nt nly enriched, it prbably desn t actually happen unless the scial sciences are part f the mix. Craig Fwler, SA Department f Further Educatin, Emplyment, Science and Technlgy A study undertaken fr NESTA in the United Kingdm, (Delitte 2009) mapped the innvatin system acrss the public, private and vluntary sectrs and assessed the capacity f five sectrs 7 with specific impact n the quality f life f lder peple t address their needs. The study is ne f a series cmmissined by NESTA t address sme f sciety s mst cmplex challenges and t assess the use f innvative respnses t thse challenges. Innvatin, whether scial, financial r technlgical will play a fundamental part in helping key markets adapt t the changing needs f the ageing ppulatin. Withut innvatin, the effectiveness f plicy r market slutins used t address ageing will deterirate as prblems arund them intensify. T cnfrnt the challenges f ageing in a preventative way, universal recgnitin f the value f innvatin as an agent f change and imprvement will be imprtant, tgether with a need t ensure that pprtunities t develp, scale up and embed innvatins acrss each dimensin f lder peple s lives are taken (Delitte 2009: 8). 7 The five sectrs were husing, Health and Aged Care, Scial Participatin, Lcal Envirnment and Transprt, and Financial Services 38

39 While specific innvatins and gaps in innvatin within each sectr were identified (fr example, husing that adapts t users changing needs, technlgical, physical and envirnmental changes that enable cntinued living at hme, accessible services and infrmatin that supprts that access, reliable and accessible public transprt, telecare f varius kinds, changes that enable prlnged participatin in the wrkfrce and innvative pensin mdels), the study als identified the imprtance f cllabrative design and delivery f ageing fcused innvatins, and cllabrative funding mdels that cut acrss gvernment agencies (Delitte, 2009: 39). Plicymaking is nly beginning t recgnise the need t arrange public services arund the needs f lder peple, nt departmental sils. (Delitte 2009: 37). Anther key gap identified related t inadequate transmissin f infrmatin abut innvative utcmes that enable their universal take up and adptin acrss a shrt time frame (Delitte, 2009: 39). One f NESTA s main cnclusins was that part f the slutin t challenges faced by lder citizens derives frm the way in which services link t each ther and are cnfigured. It identified a series f structural prblems that cnstrain innvatin in the United Kingdm cst pressures that restrict the resurcing f innvative effrt, inadequate netwrks that prevent knwledge exchange acrss sectrs and regins, inflexible plicies, planning and regulatin, underdevelped incentives t encurage innvative thinking and behaviur, and inadequate market data linking lder peple s needs t prduct and service prvisin (Delitte 2009: 3 4). A number f cnclusins n fstering cllabratin arise frm the NESTA reprt including the need fr Integrated funding arranged arund cmmn challenges, rather than funding that is aligned t departmental budgets. The example given invlves the establishment f a dedicated Innvatin Fund t which gvernment departments are required t cntribute an agreed percentage f their ttal funding. Imprved knwledge exchange and cmmunicatin prcesses that supprt the sharing f successful innvatins and best practice acrss sectrs, rganisatins, regins and markets Addressing climate change One f the wrld s mst pressing prblems relates t climate change, and addressing the rle played in this by human beings. The NESTA (Natinal Endwment fr Science Technlgy and the Arts) has the rle f transfrming the United Kingdm s capacity fr innvatin in rder t better manage majr scial and ecnmic challenges. NESTA recently implemented a new research area called innvatin that matters, with climate change being ne f three majr scial challenges it will cncentrate upn. The reprt frm this research highlights the imprtance f marrying the develpment f technlgies that can reduce carbn emissins with changes in human thinking and behaviur. Fr example, cars can be designed t use bifuel and ther innvative methds f transprt but peple can be encuraged t use telecnferencing t replace travelling t and frm meetings (Ftitt & 39

40 Gerrard 2009: 13). The reprt argues the need fr better understanding hw innvatin systems can be develped that integrate new technlgies, new slutins, new behaviurs and new appraches (Ftitt & Gerrard 2009: 14). This f curse, requires cllabratin acrss sectrs and disciplines, as ppsed t parallel appraches t finding slutins t climate change. The rle f the HASS wrking with the STEM disciplines is clear. The reprt attributes current failure t reslve glbal warming t a reliance n a small subset f measures t address the range f issues invlved. There is very little emphasis n the brader scial innvatin that wuld allw a transitin twards ding things differently. As such, the system des nt reflect the rle that behaviural and scial change thrugh radical innvatin can, and needs t, play in delivering enduring emissins cuts. Here, the nature f the prblems and the scale f the targets are such that technlgical innvatin and its deplyment is, in itself, unlikely t deliver the necessary reductins within the necessary (shrt) timescales. there is als a need fr much mre radical and rapid innvatin t prmte sustained behaviural and lifestyle changes (Ftitt & Gerrard 2009: iii). Case Study Integrating HASS and STEM: Recycled water acceptable t sciety A majr cllabrative prject invlving scial psychlgists, engineers, water researchers, hydrlgists and the water industry is investigating water reuse in Western Australia. It is being undertaken by CSIRO Natinal Flagship Water fr a Healthy Cuntry and integrates infrmatin n water reuse technlgy, scial acceptability, capital and perating csts, water quality, pprtunities t link with waste energy, ptential scale, human health risk, envirnmental impact, and water discharge and management. Surce: Metcalfe et al (2006:14) Prviding innvative slutins t husing issues Every day, Australians with disabilities face the challenges f high unemplyment rates, lw incmes, high living csts, difficulties with public transprt, and a lack f affrdable and apprpriate husing. A grup f researchers at the Australian Husing, Urban and Reginal Research Institute (AHURI) based at Flinders University, has been assisting the cmmunity and gvernments by researching the experiences f peple with disabilities in the husing market. The Flinders University research has prvided cncrete evidence f the nature and the extent f the disadvantage facing disabled peple in the husing market. The research team, acting in an advcacy rle fr thse members f the cmmunity affected by disabilities, has als develped several plicy ptins fr gvernments (IRUA 2008). The research prject will cntribute t husing plicy develpment by: making explicit the cntributin husing assistance including public husing makes t the scial inclusin aspiratins f gvernments; 40

41 prviding a greater depth f understanding f the ways husing assistance prgrams cntribute t scial inclusin fr persns with a disability; identifying thse aspects f husing assistance that have scial inclusin impacts in rder t prduce plicies which prduce strnger scial inclusin utcmes in the future; dcumenting the ways in which scial inclusin amngst persns with a disability varies by lcatin (metrplitan/nn metrplitan; inner versus uter urban) and type f disability, as well as the rle husing assistance plays in cntributing t better utcmes; examining the husing transitins f persns wh have mved frm institutinal t mre independent frms f husing and hw this has affected their level f scial inclusin; cnsidering ways in which husing assistance and supprt services culd be integrated t maximize scial inclusin utcmes (AHURI 2009) Addressing scial and cmmunity disadvantage Scial scientists researching scial and cmmunity disadvantage recgnise that clients ften present with multiple prblems that require a c rdinated slutin frm a range f agencies. This has led plicymakers and practitiners t develp jined up prblem slving prcesses like Innvative Cmmunity Actin Netwrks in Suth Australia. These rganisatinal frms invlve multi disciplinary and multi sectral partnerships. Case Study: Innvative Cmmunity Actin Netwrks Innvative Cmmunity Actin Netwrks (ICANS) are a scial innvatin created by the Suth Australian Scial Inclusin Unit designed t address schl retentin. Thrugh these netwrks, gvernment, business and cmmunity rganisatins wrk tgether t cllectively reshape learning and emplyment pathways fr yung peple aged 12 t 19 years) at risk. Rather than a ne size fits all apprach, ICANs perate frm a ne size fits ne apprach. This includes prviding individual case management t address specific barriers t yung peple successfully learning, such as family prblems r alchl and drug abuse. In effect ICANs cnstitute cmmunity directed prjects that prvide innvative learning pprtunities fr yung peple wh have drpped ut f schl early r are at risk f ding s. Thrugh this scial innvatin, gvernment, business and cmmunity rganisatins are wrking tgether t cllectively reshape learning and emplyment pathways fr yung peple at risk. Since 2004, ICANs have succeeded in cnnecting and re cnnecting nearly 80% f participants with educatin, training and emplyment (Gvernment f Suth Australia: 2009). Allied t this apprach have been innvative applicatins f spatial infrmatin systems designed t infrm place based decisins and evaluate the effectiveness f specific plicy/prgram interventins. The tw case studies belw prvide Australian examples f cllabratin acrss disciplines and sectrs t enhance cmmunity well being. 41

42 Case Study An emerging field: spatial and infrmatin architecture The way we understand space is emerging as a new field spatial and infrmatin architecture. The Suburban Cmmunities prject aims t develp tls t help husehlds, cmmunity grups and neighburhd t use infrmatin and cmmunicatin technlgies t design better cmmunity spaces in urban areas. The prject is supprted by the Spatial Infrmatin Architecture Labratry based at the Ryal Melburne Institute f Technlgy. The Labratry is a transdisciplinary educatin and research centre that brings tgether artists, architects, designers, cmputer scientists, gespatial scientists, scial therists and philsphers amng thers t research strategies fr viewing and managing infrmatin. See Surce: Metcalfe et al (2006:14) Case Study Accessibility and Remteness Index f Australia ARIA was develped by the Natinal Centre fr Scial Applicatins f Gegraphical Infrmatin Systems at the University f Adelaide as a jint prject with the Australian Department f Health and Ageing in ARIA is an unambiguusly gegraphical apprach t defining remteness. ARIA+ is a cntinuus varying index with values ranging frm 0 (high accessibility) t 15 (high remteness), and is based n rad distance measurements frm 11,879 ppulated lcalities t the nearest service centres in five size categries based n ppulatin size. As a cmparable index f remteness that cvers the whle f Australia, ARIA+ prvides a measure f remteness that is suitable fr a brad range f applicatins including assisting in service planning, demgraphic analysis and resurce allcatin ARIA is nw widely accepted as Australia's mst authritative gegraphic measure f remteness infrming plicy decisins abut the lcatin f a wide range f health and ther services in Australia.. See Surce: GISCA Australian research funding that supprts crss disciplinary cllabratin The imprtance f crss disciplinary cllabratin is reflected in a number f Australian research funding schemes. In additin t the Cperative Research Centres prgram, several funding initiatives supprt crss disciplinary and/r crss sectr research cllabratin. These include funding prgrams ffered by the Australian Research Cuncil (ARC), the Natinal Health and Medical Research Cuncil (NHMRC), and the Australia Cuncil. 42

43 The ARC Research Netwrks prgram is designed t fster cllabratin in interdisciplinary settings. Interviewed fr the CHASS research, an ARC representative nted the increasing prprtin f research prpsals in majr ARC schemes that are crss disciplinary, that their success rate equated that f single discipline prpsals, and that much cutting edge research is likely t crss traditinal disciplinary bundaries, including the HASS STEM bundaries (Metcalfe et al, 2006: 19). The ARC Linkage Scheme fsters cllabrative and multi disciplinary research. HASS researchers in Suth Australia are increasingly taking advantage f this scheme, ften wrking with STEM researchers n multi year prjects, particularly in the health sciences. The Natinal Health and Medical Research Cuncil (NHMRC) has a Cllabrative Research Centre that funds cllabrative prjects, and multidisciplinary wrk is cnsidered a high pririty. A new NHMRC prgram, the Preventive Healthcare and Strengthening Australia s Scial and Ecnmic Fabric Award, invlves cllabrative scial sciences, humanities, arts, health and medical research (Metcalfe et al, 2006: 20). Synapse is an Australia Cuncil initiative that encurages innvatin by enabling artists and scientists t wrk cllabratively. It includes placement f artists in scientific institutins and has develped a database fr linking artists and scientists. CSIRO Natinal Flagships prvide funding fr large scale cllabrative research partnerships that reflect the Natinal Research Pririties. Three f the six Natinal Flagships have substantial cllabratin that invlves scial sciences Water fr a Healthy Cuntry, Wealth frm Oceans, and Energy Transfrmed (Metcalfe et al 2006: 15). 43

44 4 GOVERNMENT AND INNOVATION Gvernments play a key rle in innvatin (fr example, thrugh research and develpment funding/tax cncessins fr the private sectr) and in direct prvisin (thrugh public sectr research facilities). They are als cncerned abut fstering innvatin within the public sectr thrugh refrms t public institutins, plicies, legislatin and prcesses. Mre recently gvernments like the Suth Australian gvernment have sught t explicitly recgnise the human dimensins f innvatin thrugh the establishment f bdies like the Australian Centre fr Scial Innvatin. The main fcus f gvernment ver the last few decades hwever, has been upn innvatin as a fundatin fr ecnmic and prductivity grwth, viewing it as a pwerful determinant f differences in the ecnmic perfrmance f firms, regins and cuntries (Fagerberg: 2003). The pursuit f innvatin has been amng the highest pririties f develped cuntries ver the last decade. This view has been reinfrced by the OECD which advcates the adptin f natinal innvatin strategies by gvernments. The OECD Innvatin Strategy argues that innvatin is a crucial determinant f cmpetitiveness, prductivity and natinal prgress, and an imprtant key t addressing glbal challenges such as climate change and sustainable develpment Australian Gvernment The Australian Gvernment has taken up the innvatin challenge psed by the OECD thrugh the develpment f its wn Innvatin Agenda which identifies a natinal innvatin system as...the system we use t harness the creativity f ur peple. It is the system we rely n t transfrm great ideas int great results fr the cmmunity, the ecnmy and the envirnment. Genius is wasted if yu can t capture it and apply it t the real wrld. That s what the natinal innvatin system des (Cmmnwealth f Australia 2009: 1). The ntin f a system may seem cunter intuitive t the creativity assciated with innvatin. Hwever, while individual researchers, entrepreneurs, plicy makers and cnsumers may innvate separately, they als cllectively frm cmpnents f an verall system. Gvernment has a critical rle t play in linking individual stakehlders, in strengthening thse linkages and enabling the system t functin as a cherent rle. This includes investing in infrastructure that sustains the innvative prcess, with educatin and training systems and natinal bradband systems being tw bvius examples f this investment. 8 The OECD Innvatin Strategy is an evidence based crss gvernment plicy apprach designed t help cuntries capture the ecnmic benefits f innvatin. Reprting in 2010, a key part f this strategy is a fcus n human resurces, educatin and training t prmte innvatin. The Strategy will prvide a framewrk fr dialgue and review, new indicatrs n the innvatin ecnmic perfrmance link, initiatives fr innvatin friendly business envirnments, and the develpment f best practices and plicy recmmendatins. 44

45 An innvatin system seeks t ensure seamless develpment frm the rigin f an innvatin t its implementatin and distributin. When the market is unable t prvide this utcme, it is nw widely accepted that gvernments shuld intervene by... plugging gaps in the system thrugh which ideas might be lst (Cmmnwealth f Australia 2009: 3). This view als resnates in Suth Australia where the Ecnmic Develpment Bard asserts that the public sectr has a vital rle t play in regulating market activity r behaviur, t achieve a scial r ther bjective, r t crrect fr market failure (EDB 2009). The experience f the wrld s mst successful knwledge based ecnmies tells us that innvatin is mst likely t ccur in a supprtive public plicy envirnment (Cmmnwealth f Australia 2009: 23). 4.2 Suth Australian Gvernment One f the key challenges which Australia s Innvatin Agenda is designed t address is ur cuntry s fragmentatin, duplicatin and a lack f crdinatin and pr levels f cllabratin between business and universities (having the lwest ranking in 2007 against ther OECD cuntries n this measure) and inadequate cnnectins t internatinal research and business netwrks (Cmmnwealth f Australia 2009: 69). Bth Cmmnwealth and State gvernments are seen as needing t develp research prgrams based n interdisciplinary principles and with apprpriate resurcing t ensure quality utcmes (Hward, 2008: 26). Suth Australia s histry is full f innvative discveries frm the inventin f the stump jump plugh, the discvery f penicillin, the Hills Hist, discveries in mlecular bilgy and diagnstic x rays, t majr civic participatin, with Suth Australia being ne f the first places in the wrld t give wmen the vte. Gvernment f Suth Australia, Key Suth Australian gvernment achievements in fstering and supprting innvatin Suth Australia is recgnised natinally as having an established and recgnised histry f innvatin in many fields, ften led by ambitius refrming State gvernments (Mulgan: 2008). This is embdied in the Suth Australian Strategic Plan (Gvernment f Suth Australia 2007) which is cmmitted t the bjective f Fstering Creativity and Innvatin. The bjective includes 12 key targets, all f which are pivtal in realising this aim but are revealing in identifying the State gvernment s understanding f innvatin as bth a prcess and an utcme. see Appendix 1: Creativity and Innvatin in the SA Strategic Plan. At a state level Suth Australia s Strategic Plan (SASP) is a fundatin fr multi disciplinary prblem slving. The scial sciences are critical t mst if nt all f the SASP targets. Fr example the bjective f Attaining sustainability requires a deep understanding f hw cmmunities think, behave and functin. One f the mst critical aspects f the Strategic Plan is its emphasis n the imprtance f key interactins an acknwledgement that nne f the bjectives r targets is self supprting, but that are all interrelated. It is a recgnitin that ecnmic develpment must take accunt f the bjectives f envirnmental sustainability, that emplyment grwth depends 45

46 upn increasing the participatin f thse nt presently engaged, and that research and develpment and innvatin are vital t all ecnmic, scial and envirnmental prgress (EDB, 2009: 5). Premier Rann recently verviewed the State s histry f innvatin, drawing attentin t the rle played by the very successful ICANs, the Festival f Ideas and Thinkers in Residence initiatives, the Scial Inclusin Unit (the mdel fr which has since been adpted natinally) and the Cmmn Grund scial husing facility, itself a Thinkers in Residence utput. He nted that the SASP demnstrates that it is pssible t successfully cmbine ecnmic grwth, envirnmental respnsibility, cultural ambitin and scial innvatin (Rann: 2008). Suth Australia has a rich histry f utstanding achievement in generating and applying innvative ideas. We need t build n this capacity and embrace innvatin as a central feature f ur State s ecnmy and future identity. We need t becme and t becme internatinally knwn as a dynamic hub f science and technlgy innvatin. Gvernment f SA, STI 10 Year Visin fr Science Technlgy and Innvatin in Suth Australia One f the key utcmes f the Thinkers in Residence prgram has been the establishment f the Australian Centre fr Scial Innvatin (TACSI) by the State Gvernment. TACSI respnds t Geff Mulgan s final Thinkers in Residence reprt which utlines a range f directins fr the pursuit f scial innvatin in Suth Australia (Mulgan: 2008). One f the Centre s early aims is t take the plicies, research and ideas frm innvatrs arund Australia and link them t the mst apprpriate scial services in rder t turn them int actin that makes a tangible difference (Rann: 2008). Geff Mulgan envisaged that TACSI wuld play a key rle in tackling pressing challenges like ppulatin ageing, healthy ageing, wrkfrce develpment, urban regeneratin and hardship and inequities experienced by Abriginal peple. Mulgan als stressed the imprtance f fstering innvatin in the public sectr thrugh leadership develpment, investment in creative ideas, creating an envirnment fr scial innvatin thrugh facilitative plicies, budgets, legislatin and peple (Mulgan 2008: 23 26). Additinally Mulgan advcates the need t develp systems f evaluatin t measure success and learn frm failure. Finally he urges the need t vercme tendencies twards risk aversin as experimentatin is central t innvatin. The Centre s methd f peratin is intended t be cllabrative, building partnerships between gvernments and with higher educatin, nt fr prfit rganisatins and nn gvernment rganisatins, in recgnitin f the critical rle f cllabratin in innvatin. The Ecnmic Develpment Bard in Suth Australia (2009: 89) has nted that effective innvatin is typically highly netwrked and interactive: business t business and business t public sectr. Innvatin netwrks and precincts have prven effective because they bring tgether and c lcate different players in the innvatin space and supply chain. There is cnsiderable ptential thrugh ACSI t build strategic prblem slving alliances between gvernment agencies, universities, industry and the cmmunity sectr. In the prcess, it culd increase awareness f the cntributin made by HASS t innvatin. 46

47 Suth Australia has been active in fstering cllabratin and industry netwrking. This has included supprt frm the Suth Australian Gvernment fr the develpment f a number f industry clusters. These brught tgether key stakehlders frm a range f rganisatins, and acrss different sectrs, with the cmmn gal f sharing expertise and business netwrks fr a cmbined benefit. The frmatin f the very successful Water Industry Alliance and the Defence Industry Alliance t cultivate clusters f cmpanies and research rganisatins fcused n innvative technlgy and exprt pprtunities has been a significant factr in the grwth f Suth Australia s water management industry and its defence industry. BiInnvatin SA plays a similar rle in the biscience sectr. Suth Australia has tw cmmercially fcused innvatin precincts, established t frge gegraphical cncentratins f businesses, research institutins, educatin institutins and industry innvatin: The Thebartn Biscience Precinct &The Mawsn Innvatin Precinct. Anther successful initiative has been the Wine Innvatin Cluster see Case Study belw. Case Study: SA Wine Innvatin Cluster The Wine Innvatin Cluster brings tgether five leading research agencies that address the needs f the grape and wine sectr: The Australian Wine Research Institute; CSIRO Plant Industry ; Prvisr Pty Ltd ; Suth Australian Research & Develpment Institute and The University f Adelaide. Research and the innvatin that these rganisatins have delivered in practice have helped the Australian wine sectr achieve much f its success ver past decades. Between them, the partners pssess the majr share f Australian research, develpment, extensin and educatin capabilities ver the whle f the grape and wine value chain frm climate, sil and water t the cnsumer. Areas f expertise include wine science, chemistry and micrbilgy, wine making technlgy, and wine cnsumer behaviur and preferences and illustrating the wide range f disciplinary cllabratin. Opened in late 2008, the cluster establishes the Waite Institute at The University f Adelaide as an R&D hub t supprt the next phase f grwth in the Australian wine industry, and includes a purpse built research facility. The Premier s Research and Science Fund incrprating the Sustainable Energy Research Grants Prgram (frmerly knwn as SENRAC), was established t facilitate investment in key science and research initiatives f strategic and sustainable value t the State. It aims t make transfrmatinal investments that have a demnstrable ptential t generate significant and sustainable ecnmic, scial and/r envirnmental benefits fr the State. The fund can inject a ttal f up t $4.2 millin per annum int new and cntinuing strategic R&D initiatives. The STI Year Visin fr Science, Technlgy and Innvatin in Suth Australia (Gvernment f Suth Australia: 2004) utlines the Gvernment s key aspiratins, strategies and perfrmance targets relating t the develpment f science, technlgy and innvatin in Suth Australia fr the ten years t It dcuments what Suth Australia des well, identifies challenges fr the State, 9 The STI 10 visin included implementatin thrugh the Adelaide Innvatin Cnstellatin (nw knwn as Cnstellatin SA), linking five physical precincts in a virtual cllabrative envirnment. Cnstellatin SA has evlved directly frm STI 10 and is nw the verarching prgram fr its implementatin. 47

48 and prpses strategies fr imprvement. These include building capability and infrastructure, strategic leadership by the State Gvernment and develping peple and cmmunities. A key strategy invlves cllabratin acrss disciplines, including a specific fcus n supprting scial sciences and innvatin, fr example, by linking HASS and STEM researchers. The scial sciences can be and have been influential but nt in a linear way Mre ften than nt, it s an idea r even a slgan that s picked up that relates and is assciated with ther ntins and ideas that seem t have relevance in the institutinal and plicy and plitical cntext. Lance Wrrall, Public Sectr Perfrmance Cmmissin Since the launch f STI 10 a new rganisatinal framewrk called Cnstellatin SA has been develped t strengthen cllabratin between researchers, within and acrss disciplines, and imprve the interface between the research cmmunity and end users s that research findings are taken up and used fr practical purpses. The initiative has been prmted as a vehicle t enhance the effectiveness f public sectr research in cntributing t innvatin in industry and t prvide the framewrk fr Gvernment funding f research. Seven alliances cllectively make up the verarching framewrk. The alliances themselves cmprise research clusters, which reflect the specific themes and research strengths f the State within that particular area. Cnstellatin SA is supprting cllabratins in a range f areas including agriculture, fd and wine; defence and advanced manufacturing; health and medical sciences; minerals and energy; natural resurce management and climate change, the arts and sciety and the citizen. The CSA framewrk is supprted by State gvernment investment designed t build a critical mass f capabilities in the pririty areas, drawing upn the $100m plus devted t R&D/innvatin per annum (Keighley James: 2008). The challenge in develping these cllabratins is t embed multi disciplinary prcesses within them and between them. In rder t fster cllabrative appraches t tackling pressing scial prblems, the State gvernment established The Scial Inclusin Initiative. Launched in March 2002, the initiative supprts the develpment f whle f gvernment appraches, plicies and prgrams in a number f pririty areas including Abriginal health, disability, hmelessness, mental health, schl retentin and yung ffenders. The Scial Inclusin Initiative is supprted by the Scial Inclusin Unit based in the Department f Premier and Cabinet. The wrk f the Unit is infrmed by the Scial Inclusin Bard which is chaired by the Cmmissiner fr Scial Inclusin. The Scial Inclusin Unit partners with Suth Australia s universities in research prjects fcusing n specific areas f interest t the Scial Inclusin Agenda. Fr example, it wrked with the Australian Institute fr Scial Research in the design f a research tl t measure scial inclusin, scial exclusin and cmmunity capacity and applied this t cmmunities in Adelaide s Nrthern Regin (Spehr, Wilsn, Barnett, Watsn Tran and Tth 2007). The Thinkers in Residence prgram makes an imprtant cntributin t fstering innvatin in Suth Australia. Each year the Premier f Suth Australia invites tw r three wrld class thinkers t Adelaide t assist in the State s strategic develpment. Appintment as an Adelaide Thinker in Residence is a prestigius award which recgnises bth exceptinal talent and utstanding leadership. The Thinkers undertake residencies f 2 6 mnths, in which they assist Suth Australia t build n its climate f creativity, innvatin and excellence. They prvide the State with strategies fr future develpment in the arts and sciences, scial plicy, envirnmental sustainability and 48

49 ecnmic develpment. Each f the Thinkers has engaged in a tailred prgram f activities, invlving research, master classes, public lectures, mentring, writing and publishing. Their impact has been evident in numerus areas, having led t the develpment f a number f initiatives and changes in plicy directins. In 2008 the State Gvernment fcused attentin n public sectr innvatin and perfrmance thrugh the establishment f the Public Sectr Perfrmance Cmmissin. One f the key initiatives f the Cmmissin has been the establishment f high level crss gvernment actin teams wrking in the areas f Leadership Develpment, Prductivity and Perfrmance Imprvement, Innvatin, Citizen Centric Gvernment and Strnger Families. Clse cllabratin between the Cmmissin and the Australian Centre fr Scial Innvatin has the ptential t generate significant plicy, prgram and rganisatinal innvatins that better psitin Suth Australia t meet key bjectives utlined in Suth Australia s Strategic Plan. Cnstellatin SA, The Scial Inclusin Initiative, the Public Sectr Perfrmance Cmmissin and the Australian Centre fr Scial Innvatin variusly recgnise the imprtance f cllabrative appraches t the develpment f the State. The challenge ahead is t build n this fundatin fr fstering innvatin and cllabratin thrugh the develpment f a partnership between Cnstellatin SA the Scial Inclusin Initiative, TACSI and the Public Sectr Perfrmance Cmmissin. These initiatives enable Suth Australia t be a natinal leader in multi disciplinary appraches t innvatin. T build n this strength there is a need t cnsider practical strategies that fster and supprt cllabratin acrss a wide range f disciplines, sectrs and institutins State f Innvatin In terms f innvatin perfrmance, the State has perfrmed better n prcess imprvement than n new gds and services r marketing (EDB, 2009: 87). Between and the Suth Australian Gvernment invested $1 billin in R&D, representing sme $160 millin per annum. Hwever, the level f business expenditure n R&D in Suth Australia has traditinally been lwer than the natinal average and well belw the OECD average, thugh the mst recent figures shw a slight imprvement. The apparent reluctance f the State s business sectr t engage with new technlgy and scientific ideas required fr develpment f new innvative prducts and services reflects the State s business structure. Mre than 90 per cent f cmpanies in Suth Australia turn ver less than $2 millin a year typical f the verall Australian landscape and small firms tend t lack the capacity fr high risk R&D. The fact that larger crpratins are ften headquartered elsewhere means that much prduct develpment and marketing innvatin is undertaken in ther lcatins (EDB: 2009). The Ecnmic Develpment Bard (2009) has fcused attentin n the imprtance f innvatin t the State s develpment and grwth, arguing that Suth Australia has a brief windw f pprtunity t build n its unique natural advantages in generating slar, wind, wave and gethermal electricity and establish itself as Australia s leading clean energy State. T achieve this, the EDB argues, the Suth Australian Gvernment shuld implement strategies t prmte technlgical innvatin. 49

50 The EDB has further indicated that (renewable technlgy) innvatin will be driven by the private sectr, but there are strng reasns fr public supprt fr research and develpment. These relate t the strng ecnmic spillver benefits frm these new technlgies, as well as the ptential t deliver brader public benefits thrugh faster emissins reductins and the creatin f new industries (ibid: 6). Hwever, as discussed in Sectin 3.7, it is nt just technlgical innvatin that is required in managing key challenges, the HASS have an equally imprtant rle t play in changing human thinking and behaviur t reduce envirnmental pressures, and t apply new technlgies apprpriately. The EDB (2009) pints t a number f weaknesses in the State s innvatin system including the lack f linkages between industry and the State s public sectr research base, reflecting pr alignment f R&D fcus between the tw sectrs. Health, ther life sciences and agriculture are key research strengths in the State s universities and public sectr research agencies. Apprximately 50 per cent f the State Gvernment s R&D funding is allcated t Primary Industries and Resurces (PIRSA) and 25 per cent t Health. By cntrast, business expenditure n R&D is targeted mainly at manufacturing (41 per cent) and mining (29 per cent). Manufacturing accunts fr ver 50 cents in every dllar business spends n R&D ( figures), with mining being the next mst significant area (12 per cent f business R&D spend). This prfile is reasnably cnsistent with the cmpsitin f exprts f gds and services frm Suth Australia (EDB 2009: 95). A multi disciplinary apprach is likely t yield significant scial as well as ecnmic benefits t the Suth Australian cmmunity by harnessing knwledge and skills frm bth the physical and scial sciences. Slving the challenges we face as a cmmunity requires a cmmitment t a cllabrative innvatin agenda which explicitly acknwledges and actively engages expertise frm the sciences and the scial sciences. This has imprtant implicatins fr gvernment and industry supprt fr innvatin. The challenge fr gvernment plicymakers is t build a mre slid fundatin fr innvatin by fstering and resurcing lng term cllabratins. Apart frm relying n cllabratin that brings tgether diverse skills and experience, innvatin als demands a skilled wrkfrce (nw recgnised as the fundatin f a knwledge based ecnmy) and wrkplaces that prmte and supprt creativity. It als requires an investment f resurces designed t build the capacity We have a culture that respects and values the diversity f views but that means that we dn t get a single message t g in an cean, r prcesses in an cean. I think that s a significant failing as far as scial sciences as a discipline. We present difference, we present plarity and we shuldn t be ding that if we want t secure funding and recgnitin fr ur rle. Prfessr Andrew Beer speaking abut the scial sciences, Flinders University f Suth Australia Certainly there s lts f things that Suth Australia culd and shuld be ding, a mre practical edge acrss each f the technlgy spaces and capturing scial science inputs int that. Dr Ian Chessell, Chief Scientist 50