Purpose
An Expert Forum for Enabling Technologies foresighting will be established under the National Enabling Technologies Strategy (NETS). The Forum will identify new and converging technologies to inform government policy and strategy, and to improve how science and technology are utilised by industry, government and society in general.
The Expert Forum will assist in identifying:
- the possible applications and benefits to the community, industry and the economy; and
- the possible health, safety, environmental, economic and social impacts and how this may affect enabling technology policy.
The Expert Forum will, where appropriate, seek to collaborate with other foresighting activities currently being undertaken by:
- Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC)
- Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organisation (CSIRO)
- Department of Broadband, Communication and the Digital Economy
- National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).
The Expert Forum’s foresighting activities will focus on foresighting developments within the next five to ten years.
Definition of Enabling Technologies
The work of the Expert Forum is supported by funding allocated to the National Enabling Technologies Strategy. For the purposes of the Strategy, “enabling technologies” are defined as new technologies or new uses of existing technologies that enable new or more efficient processes.
Structure
The Expert Forum will:
- be composed of foresight experts, researchers and members of industry;
- meet at least once a year; and
- operate for the duration of the Strategy, after which it will be reviewed, and a decision will be made on whether to disband it or to continue it.
The Secretariat function for the Expert Forum will be provided by the Enabling Technologies Policy Section in the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.
Membership
Members of the Expert Forum have been appointed by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (the Minister). All members will be provided remuneration and payment for travel expenses for undertaking their role in the Forum, in accordance with the Remuneration Tribunal requirements.
All members will be appointed for two years. If any member is unable to continue in their role on the Forum, the Minister will appoint a replacement.
Activities
1. Assist in identifying new and converging technologies
- Through the personal knowledge, reading and networks of members, identify what new and converging technologies are under development domestically and overseas.
- Assess the likelihood of these technologies’ adoption in Australia, including likely timeframes.
- Consider the possible applications of these technologies.
- Highlight potential issues emerging from research or development of the technologies that may have implications for their uptake (e.g. health, safety and environment issues, and access to the technology).
2. Consider the implications of other foresighting activities taking place in Australia and overseas, including
- Seek to complement the work of other groups undertaking foresighting (such as PMSEIC and CSIRO).
- Assess reports and other outcomes from Australian and international foresighting activities and discuss the relevance of these findings for enabling technologies in Australia.
3. Consider the role of emerging technologies in addressing issues of significant global and national problems including, but not limited to, climate change, water management and energy security.
4. Suggest areas where further study could assist in understanding issues.
5. Participate in an annual open forum with a range of stakeholders.
Reporting
The Expert Forum will report to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research after each meeting by way of a report from the Chair. The Enabling Technologies Policy Section will disseminate relevant advice and outcomes from the Expert Forum to other stakeholders or groups (including the NETS Stakeholder Advisory Council and HSE Working Group) and to State, Territory and Commonwealth governments.