DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY, SCIENCE AND RESOURCES.
The Australian Government has released a Critical Technologies Statement, outlining its vision and priorities for critical technologies. The statement identifies eight key enabling critical technology fields that have a high impact on Australia’s national interest:
- Advanced manufacturing and materials technologies
- Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies
- Advanced information and communication technologies
- Quantum technologies
- Autonomous systems, robotics, positioning, timing and sensing
- Biotechnologies
- Clean energy generation and storage technologies.
The government’s vision is to seize the opportunities of critical technologies while managing their risks. To achieve this, the government will:
- Carefully consider any impacts on Australia’s national interest.
- Encourage uptake across the economy.
- Help universities and businesses keep doing world-class research and development.
- Encourage local and international investment.
- Work with other nations to develop technologies, protect supply chains and agree on technology standards.
- Balance Australia’s economic prosperity, national security and social cohesion when making decisions about critical technologies.
The government’s actions to protect and promote critical technologies include:
- Investing in research and development.
- Providing tax breaks and other incentives for businesses to adopt critical technologies.
- Developing a skilled workforce in critical technologies.
- Securing supply chains for critical technologies.
- Working with other countries to develop international standards for critical technologies.
The government’s Critical Technologies Statement is a significant step forward in Australia’s efforts to seize the opportunities of critical technologies and manage their risks. The statement provides a clear vision for Australia’s future in critical technologies and outlines a range of actions that the government will take to achieve this vision.
