SA Innovation Briefing: Why South Australia needs to boost innovation and SA State iAwards Winners Presentation
Three Facts:
- Falling productivity: Despite being one of only three advanced economies to record positive growth during the Global Financial Crisis, Australia’s productivity has declined at 1.2% per annum since 2003-04. Productivity growth is essential for Australia’s long term economic prosperity.
- Diversity required: The success of our mining industry is masking our productivity decline. This is not sustainable in the long term. In addition, the mining boom is boosting our exchange rate, making imports cheaper, exports more expensive and creating real challenges for other industries. Australia must create innovative sustainable industries that prosper beyond the mining boom.
- Global competition: Australia is falling behind in innovation, ranking last in industry collaboration with universities within the OECD, 18th in the global innovation index and below the OECD average for expenditure on research and development.
That’s why the ICT Industry has invested for many years in Australia’s leading technology innovation awards program and with this backdrop invites you to help celebrate some of South Australia’s most excellent digital innovation.
At this year’s ‘SA Innovation Briefing’ our keynote speaker, The Hon. Jay Weatherill, Minister for Information Economy, will pay homage to the importance of innovation from our sector to the long term success of SA.
Mystery guest!
Joining Hon. Jay Weatherill will be a special guest who will also help us celebrate the best of SA’s ICT innovation when the SA state iAward winners are announced. Winners of the SA awards will go on to represent SA at the national iAwards and will also have the opportunity to participate in the Innovation Showcase in Melbourne in August 2011. This year marks a special year with the iAwards where ACS, AIIA and Pearcey Foundation have combined their strengths to drive further focus on innovation outcomes.
This is a fantastic opportunity to network with likeminded achievers who are passionate about innovation and Australian ICT.
So come and join us to help celebrate the SA ICT industry and all it has to offer and applaud the winners at this special award ceremony.
