WHAT INNOVATION MEANS TO THE ENVIRONMENT

WHAT INNOVATION MEANS TO THE ENVIRONMENT 

 

Since the dawn of the industrial age, man's footprint on the environment has accelerated the build-up of CO2 equivalents to the highest levels recorded in more than 400,000 years. Holistic reassessment of energy production and consumption and resource depletion will be the only means by which we reverse our seemingly endless desire to destroy the world for our grandchildren. It will be innovation that finds ways to restore sustainable water resources to a world that has thus far treated them as an endless gift of nature.

Through the lens of 35 years in the photographic industry, I have seen some of nature's most wonderful places, species and achievements. It's hard to contemplate; but relentless disregard by modern society for the impact it has on the world could put all those wonders at risk.

New thinking in how we design our homes and workplaces, the products we buy, the food we eat and the water we drink, can result in reductions in CO2 emissions of 60% or more. But that means radical innovation and Factor 4+ thinking in renewable energy, transmission, consumption and waste. We need all of that just to arrest further degradation. Sustainability does not mean we abandon all we have achieved. But we have to start to change now.

We must embolden governments to make sustainability a national and international imperative, driven by innovative thought, funding, resources and political thinking. If we do not, our grandchildren will be the last generation that can sit on the shores of Port Philip Bay, Sydney Harbour, the Swan River or the Daintree River and reflect on man's
achievements. Let innovation in the environment be our watchword and sustainability our flagstaff.

John Swainston, deputy chairman,
Maxwell Optical Industries

Source

WHAT INNOVATION MEANS TO MINERAL EXPLORATION

WHAT INNOVATION MEANS TO MINERAL EXPLORATION 

 

Innovation is one of the pillars of Benthic Geotech. Through fostering the natural innovative dynamism of our people, we have been able to take some really good ideas and turn them into a product package that is changing the way our industry operates globally.

Benthic Geotech has created a sophisticated remotely operated deep sea drilling and testing machine that operates at much lower cost than current state-of-the-art drill ships. In the early stages of our commercialisation, we have delivered services as far as field as Korea, United States, New Zealand, and at home. We have identified very profitable niches and are rapidly refining both our technical and commercial offerings.

Discovering better ways to do things and successfully engineering practical methods of delivery is very exciting. Successful innovation is very rewarding and this shows in the enthusiasm that our people infectiously spread to all of those who work alongside us.

Of course, successful innovation, when well managed, is also financially very rewarding. With the generous assistance of Australian government R&D assistance and the benefit of patient supportive shareholders, we have been able to establish a business that has very good growth prospects and will continue to generate considerable export income.

Peter Williamson, CEO,
Benthic Geotech

Source

WHAT INNOVATION MEANS TO DEFENCE

WHAT INNOVATION MEANS TO DEFENCE 

 

Innovation is the lifeblood of defence. Being more capable than your potential adversaries in the art and science of warfare is essential if we are to have a secure Australia, and we need to find innovative solutions in many contexts to overcome the potential disadvantages of a small military and a large country.

We use innovation to do more with less: not only in new technology developments but also in the smart use of all relevant technologies that we adapt so the Australian Defence Force (ADF) can fight and win. This is especially apposite now with the emergence over the last few years of new, non-traditional, methods of warfare. The ADF has an enviable reputation for innovation ranging from the ability of diggers to adapt anything handy to solve a problem in the heat of the moment through to large systems such as the use of over-the-horizon radar to survey our northern approaches.

The organisation that I lead, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) is proud to be at the forefront of innovation in Australia's defence. Besides the inherent satisfaction that scientists, technologists and engineers get from coming up with innovative solutions to difficult problems, there is the additional motivation that such solutions are essential to the protection of all of us in these uncertain times.

Dr Roger Lough, chief defence scientist,
Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO)

Source

WHAT INNOVATION MEANS TO DESIGN

WHAT INNOVATION MEANS TO DESIGN 

 

The ability to think creatively, to solve a problem, any problem - innovation is unpredictable: it springs from different thinking, not from a textbook. It can be a recipe for business success and a path to prosperity. But like any recipe, it needs a vital ingredient: design, the invisible thread that holds innovation together.

Design in its broadest, most creative sense. Design that reduces the commercial risks associated with any new innovation or idea trying to break into the market. Design that taps into the needs and demands of customers, from design strategy to product design, packaging design, production, market positioning and design communication. Design that translates innovation into products and services that are appropriate, useful, affordable, functional and attractive. Design that reflects deeper insight into consumer behaviour and that will result in the innovation being a great success or just another idea that could have been.

Australia has many success stories where great innovations have succeeded through strategic investment in professional design. Through Standards Australia's Australian Design Awards, these stories are being told. The awards expose Australian business success where the power of innovation coupled with good design is leading the way, stimulating others.

Australia needs more of these stories, more exploitation of its creative skills and more internationally recognised brands built on the back of good design and good innovation. More need to be convinced of the power of design.

Brandon Gien, director, Design and
Communications, Standards Australia;
and director, Australian Design Awards

Source

WHAT INNOVATION MEANS TO ENGINEERING

WHAT INNOVATION MEANS TO ENGINEERING 

 

Innovation is driven by culture, and the ability to implement. This can be achieved by harnessing the creative power of your greatest asset - your people. The goal is to turn them into opportunistic entrepreneurs who are constantly looking for new ways of doing business. And although I firmly believe that innovation is not directly linked with age, I do believe young people these days are inherently innovative.

Our education systems, lifestyle, access to technology and an unlimited amount of knowledge, personal freedom, as well as freedom of choice has resulted in our youth being encouraged to innovate and question and break traditional boundaries.

Young people are not experienced enough to know that something can't be done, so it is imperative to encourage them to come forward with new ideas; new ways of solving old problems; the use of enabling technologies to add to a sustaining technology; or indeed to invent a disruptive technology.

Paul Salteri, group managing director,
Tenix Pty Limited (from The Warren Centre Innovation Lecture 2005)

Source