A Sustainable Development Industry Growth Centre?
Paul Hodgson
Director, Centre for Hydrogen and Renewable Energy & Executive Director Regional Futures - Energy Transitions, CQUniversity | Vice Chair, Hydrogen Flight Alliance | Chair, Queensland Manufacturing Institute
Later this month, countries will have the opportunity to adopt a set of global goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda. In all, 17 goals are being considered to replace the Millennium Development Goals from now until 2030 (https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/).
If adopted, they will provide a 15 year global focus and be a driver for new products, services and business models.
At the same time, Australia is considering where to focus its domestic education, research and industry capabilities to capture global opportunities, most visibly through the Industry Growth Centres initiative (https://www.business.gov.au/advice-and-support/IndustryGrowthCentres/Pages/default.aspx). The website states that:
"(Industry Growth Centres) will lift competitiveness and productivity by focusing on areas of competitive strength. This will help Australia transition into smart, high value and export focused industries."
In addition to achieving global social, economic and environmental outcomes, each of the seventeen goals will provide significant enterprise opportunities. Fortunately for Australia, we already have strong capability in many of these goals such as food security, education, health, innovation, infrastructure and environmental management. In truth, we are already deploying much of this globally but without integration and a clear focus.
There is also the opportunity to link the 17 Sustainable Development Goals with the new $200m Global Innovation Fund (https://www.globalinnovation.fund/) of which Australia is a contributor. The GIF invests in social innovations that aim to improve the lives and opportunities of millions of people in the developing world.
What a great opportunity for Australia to match domestic capability with global opportunity, displaying international leadership, inspiring our people and lifting national prosperity. A Sustainable Development Industry Growth Centre would provide such a mechanism to help us realise both national and global goals.
Director, Centre for Hydrogen and Renewable Energy & Executive Director Regional Futures - Energy Transitions, CQUniversity | Vice Chair, Hydrogen Flight Alliance | Chair, Queensland Manufacturing Institute
9 年Thanks everyone for your feedback and comments!
CEO & Co-Founder, Bionics Gamechangers Australia
9 年A great read on a vital topic with lots of embedded opportunities for new sustainable growth initiatives. Thank you for sharing.
Cool. The words growth and sustainability within the same concept always messes with my head, though.
Empowering focused investigators to work with the Generative "Source-MIND" to expand your self-knowledge, develop transformative thinking, and easily make confident critical decisions as you realise your ideals.
9 年Agree Great Idea - excellent opportunity for a university to develop a program that would also train the facilitators and stakeholders in co-creative problem solving for sustainable development - try the International Projects Group at the University of the Sunshine Coast