Output 8.2 Innovation, Trade and Investment

Overview

The directorate is responsible for the implementation of Confident & Business Ready: Building on Our Strengths, the ACT Government’s business development strategy. This strategy supports the ACT Government’s strategic priority aims to diversify Canberra’s economy through creating the right business environment; accelerating innovation to create wealth and jobs; and supporting business investment in future growth areas. Following the Administrative Arrangements 2016 (No 1) that took effect from 22 January 2016 the Training and Tertiary Education branch transferred from the former Education and Training Directorate to CMTEDD Output 8.2. The new Administrative Arrangements also increased Output 8.2’s reporting responsibilities to include supporting the newly created portfolios for the Minister for Higher Education, Training and Research and the Minister for Small Business and the Arts, in addition to its existing responsibilities to the Minister for Economic Development.

Throughout 2015-16 the directorate delivered a range of programs to support the ACT Government’s Strategic Priorities with a particular focus on economic diversification and growth, including managing the Government’s relationship with the CBR Innovation Network, the Innovation Connect and Trade Connect grant programs, the Small Business Innovation Partnership program, Invest Canberra, Brand Canberra, Study Canberra, the Skilled and Business Migration program, ministerial and sector-led international trade delegations and export development initiatives. Through Skills Canberra the directorate facilitated the management of vocational education and training in Canberra, including the administration, monitoring and auditing of Territory and national funds for a variety of programs addressing skills development.

In addition, the directorate facilitated the ACT Government’s economic development focus in its relationship with the higher education, research and training sector, and worked to develop Canberra as Australia’s higher education and research capital. To achieve these goals the directorate worked with the higher education and research sector to promote and develop ACT capabilities in areas such as cyber security, the space and spatial economy, sports technology, health innovation, agriculture and environmental sciences, ICT and e‑government, and international education.

During the year the directorate delivered a number of significant achievements to support the priorities identified in Confident and Business Ready: Building on Our Strengths, including the establishment of the Small Business Innovation Partnerships program; continued growth of the CBR Innovation Network; implementation of the CBR Innovation Development Fund; delivery of three industry-led trade missions to priority international markets; induction of 19 Study Canberra Student Ambassadors; enhanced support for the local business sector to engage with the Defence and cyber security industries; engaged more than 2,000 Canberrans in Skilled Capital funded training to address the ACT’s highest skills needs; and continued delivery of key business programs including Innovation Connect, Trade Connect, the ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards, and the Skilled Migration Program.

Highlights

Against this output in 2015-16 the directorate:

  • launched the pilot Small Business Innovation Partnerships program, assisting local businesses to engage with ACT Government Directorates to deliver products and services for Government;
  • launched the CBR Innovation Development Fund to encourage collaboration between business and industry with the 2015-16 funding round supporting eight applications from numerous sectors including sport technology, health, venture capital and social enterprise;
  • continued growth of the CBR Innovation Network, with:
    • King & Wood Mallesons and PricewaterhouseCoopers announced as the Network’s inaugural Gold Partners;
    • the Entry29 co-working space growing to 150 members across 50 companies;
    • the Griffin Accelerator receiving 55 applications for its third intake of new innovative companies with $250,000 committed for investment;
    • the KILN Incubator receiving 57 Launchpad applications for its first group of high potential growth companies;
    • more than $10 million worth of contracts supported through CBR Innovation Network activity; and
    • the Network’s monthly First Wednesday Connect networking events regularly attracting upwards of 200 attendees;
  • met all 2015 milestones under the National Partnership Agreement on Skills Reform;
  • engaged more than 2,000 Canberrans in Skilled Capital funded training to address the ACT’s highest skills needs;
  • reviewed the ACT Australian Apprenticeships Program (User Choice) and implemented a new funding model to better target Government funding to meet the needs of the ACT;
  • released the new ACT Funding Agreement for the delivery of Government subsidised training in the ACT, designed to ensure only quality training providers operate in the ACT;
  • funded 32 local businesses and entrepreneurs through the Innovation Connect program to accelerate the development of innovative products and services;
  • supported 59 applications for funding support through the Trade Connect program to undertake export market development activities including market visits, participation in trade shows, supporting incoming buyer visits, developing market research and undergoing trade mentoring;
  • delivered three international trade and investment delegations to priority markets including the United States and Japan in October 2015, Singapore in November 2015, and Singapore and China in April 2016;
  • continued the rollout of CBRfree Wifi to the Dickson, Belconnen, Manuka and Kingston town centres (including Kingston Foreshore), as well as provision of CBRfree mobile units to service specialised events such as Floriade and Summernats, and a trial of CBRfree Wifi on five ACTION buses, with the CBRfree Wifi also utilised as a communication backbone for the Smart Parking trial undertaken in Manuka from April 2016;
  • expanded the complement of field officers to support and promote a quality vocational education and training system in the ACT, with visits to 600 employers and 700 Australian Apprentices;
  • established agreements with the new Australian Apprenticeships Support Network providers to ensure seamless support for Australian Apprentices in the ACT;
  • continued a staged release of additional functionality for the ACT Vocational Education and Training Administration Records System;
  • funded the delivery of the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Enterprise Development Program via the CBR Innovation Network;
  • approved 307 Employer Sponsored skilled migration applications and 511 Skilled Independent Nominated applications;
  • supported the ACT Vice‑Chancellors’ Forum, chaired by the Chief Minister and comprising Vice‑Chancellors from the Australian National University, University of Canberra and Australian Catholic University, the UNSW Canberra Rector and the CEO of Canberra Institute of Technology, to oversight the implementation of initiatives to develop Canberra as Australia’s education and research capital;
  • delivered Study Canberra projects to promote Canberra nationally and internationally as a study destination including:
    • the Student Ambassador program;
    • partnering with ANU to create the ANU‑Study Canberra India scholarship program;
    • partnering with local company Yellow Edge to deliver executive education scholarship programs in China and India;
    • partnering with the Australian-American Fulbright Commission to establish the ACT Fulbright Scholarship; and
    • marketing and engagement activities at university Orientation Weeks, the Canberra Airport Student Welcome Desk, the Canberra CareersXpo and Tertiary Open Day;
  • enhanced opportunities for regular communication and collaboration between vocational education and training stakeholders and collaborated with industry to share and gather evidence to inform skills and training policy;
  • conducted workshops for registered training organisations to support compliance with the ACT Standards for the Delivery of Training and Compliance Guides for ACT Government subsidised training initiatives;
  • supported the Canberra Institute of Technology to further enhance the delivery of Australian Apprenticeships by the public provider; and
  • completed the migration of the Canberra Institute of Technology to the ACT Vocational Education and Training Administration and Records System, aligning the public provider payment model for the training of Australian Apprentices with private providers.

The directorate met seven of its sixteen accountability indicator targets against this output, and exceeded the other nine.  The major variances were:

  • (a)(i) Innovation Connect (ICon) new client connections, where the target was exceeded by 58 per cent  and (a)(ii) Innovation Connect (ICon) successful grant applications where the target exceeded by 113 per cent due to the increased activity in the local innovation sector and the importance of the Innovation Connect program as a source of support and market entry for Canberra’s innovators and entrepreneurs;
  • (c)(i) Trade Connect grants delivered was exceeded by 195 per cent due to the broadening of eligibility criteria for Trade Connect funding along with the introduction during the period of export development programs delivered through the partnership agreement with the Canberra Business Chamber; and
  • (d)(iv) Average number of monthly visits to Canberra. Create Your Future website, where the target of 12,000 visits was exceeded by 92 per cent, due to a higher than anticipated demand indicating that the resource is valuable and well used by its client market.

Future Direction

In 2016-17, the directorate will:

  • continue implementation of the priorities outlined in Confident and Business Ready: Building on Our Strengths to support economic growth, innovation and investment in the ACT;
  • enhance the design of the ACT’s training programs, User Choice and Skilled Capital, based on evidence‑based research and consultation;
  • identify robust measures of the effectiveness and efficiency of the ACT vocational education and training system in improving economic, social inclusion and employment outcomes;
  • launch the first International Education Strategy for the ACT;
  • support development of Canberra’s key capability sectors including cyber security, the space and spatial economy, sports technology, health innovation, agriculture and environmental sciences, ICT and e‑government, and international education;
  • continue to enhance Canberra’s status as a higher education destination of choice through the ACT Vice-Chancellors’ Forum and Study Canberra program activity;
  • leverage investment in Data61 to assist the ACT Government towards its smart city and digital transformation goals;
  • implement the full rollout of the Small Business Innovation Partnerships program to increase capacity for ACT Government Directorates to utilise locally developed technology solutions and support local businesses to commercialise their products;
  • support the continued growth of the CBR Innovation Network;
  • develop a strategic framework and action plan for improving access and equity in vocational education and training;
  • enhance consumer information through user friendly and accessible publications; and
  • continue to support the Canberra Institute of Technology to continue governance reform and enhance Australian Apprenticeships Program delivery.

For further information contact:

Jeff House
Deputy Director-General
Enterprise Canberra
+61 2 6207 7279
Jeff.House@act.gov.au

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