The Government has recently released its $1 billion package to boost Australian manufacturing and innovation which has prompted industry association Consult Australia to call for the establishment of an Innovation Precinct for engineering and related professional services.
The Government plans to invest more than $500 million in establishing up to 10 Industry Innovation Precincts to drive business innovation and growth in areas of Australian competitive advantage.
Megan Motto, Consult Australia’s chief executive officer said:
“It is critical that the Government includes engineering and related industries in those innovation precincts to be announced in the year ahead.”
“This would mark a welcome and necessary step towards giving due recognition to the vital role the industry plays in Australian innovation, productivity and competitiveness,” said Motto.
Motto made reference to the built environment consulting industry’s 240,000 employees and its forecast 2014/15 revenue of $40.5 billion to highlight the critical role it plays in the Australian economy.
“Half of our industry is made up of sole practitioners and of the remainder, 93 per cent are small firms so any support for these businesses to participate in major projects is a welcome initiative.”
The first two Precincts will be a Manufacturing Precinct with locations in South East Melbourne and Adelaide and a Food Precinct headquartered in Melbourne.
Former chief executive of member firm Worley Parsons, John Grill has been appointed as Chair of the National Precincts Board.
