An Expert Forum of eight people has been established to guide the National Enabling Technologies Strategy's technology foresighting activities. The forum prepares policy makers, regulators, industry and the broader community for future developments in enabling technologies. View the terms of reference for the Expert Forum.
The forum identifies challenges and opportunities arising in the next five to ten years from enabling technologies. The forum keeps the National Enabling Technologies Strategy and other government agencies who have an interest in emerging technologies informed with these findings.
The forum’s activities will complement other foresighting activities currently being undertaken in Australia by the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council, the Future Manufacturing Industry Innovation Council and the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).
Activities of the Expert Forum
Public Consultation - An Australian Roadmap of Enabling Technologies
The department invites comments and feedback on the draft Enabling Technologies Roadmap (ETRM) to be considered in finalising the document. The ETRM, commissioned by the department, was prepared by the Australian Institute for Commercialisation.
Foresight Workshops to Facilitate the Uptake of Enabling Technologies
Building Products Industry
A Foresight Workshop on the uptake of enabling technologies in the Building Products industry was held on 30 March 2011. The workshop was in collaboration with the Built Environment Industry Innovation Council and a report is available from NETS. The workshop used foresighting to examine drivers, opportunities and threats relating to the building products and industry's uptake of enabling technologies.
It concluded that the most significant development in the building industry is the potential for virtual building information modelling and supply chain integration to enable building products to become intelligent objects in integrated construction. Regulation is likely to be a significant driver for the uptake of new building products emphasising energy and sustainability efficiencies, as uptake is contrained by cost in a fragmented industry with low profit margins, particularly in the housing sector. For a copy of the report, contact NETS Policy Section enablingtechnologies@innovation.gov.au.
Aged Care Sector
A Foresight Workshop on uptake of the enabling assistive technologies in the Aged Care Sector was held on 6 June 2011 with Queensland Health, the Council on the Ageing, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. The key outcomes of the workshop were the identification of the most significant enabling assistive technologies, major issues and challenges and the policy implications in achieving a new vision of aged care in Australia. One recommendation was to establish a multi-disciplinary, cross-sector network that builds on these discussions and seeks to create ongoing opportunities for dialogue and collaborative partnerships. A report will be made available.
Food Industry Workshop
The food industry foresight workshop focused on the Australian food industry, post farm gate. The workshop considered drivers changing the nature of the Australian food industry, the potential for new enabling technologies, and the issues and challenges affecting the uptake of enabling technologies in this industry. A report will be made available.
Annual Event
The Expert Forum Annual Event was held at Royal Institute of Australia (RiAus) during the Adelaide Festival of Ideas on the 8 October. Invited speakers explored how three technologies, regenerative medicine, zero emission cities, and synthetic meat may change the way we live, and how we can best manage such rapid and transformative changes. More information is available on the RiAus website.
Foresight - Strategies for the Future
Professor Ron Johnston, Chair of the Expert Forum, gave a presentation ‘The Future is coming….how to prepare for it '. Professor Johnston proposed that the development of a strong foresighting capacity within government has much to offer. He outlined the various approaches to and roles of foresighting in a range of countries, and explored the implications for policy development, especially for innovation policy. If you would like a copy of the talk, please contact enablingtechnologies@innovation.gov.au
Meetings of the Expert Forum
7 October 2011
At the fourth meeting, members were updated about the Enabling Technologies Roadmap and how it can inform future activities involved with policy development of enabling technologies. Members supported a proposal for a Regulatory Review for enabling technologies and discussed the recent foresight workshop on assistive technologies for aged-care – refer to the meeting summary.
21 July 2011
The third meeting discussed current NETS projects to understand health, safety and environmental issues related to nanotechnology, industrial uses of biomass, and international collaboration. It discussed progress on the Enabling Technologies Roadmap study, and terms of reference for a proposed regulatory review to complement this study, as well as the recently completed workshops on building products and assistive technologies for the aged - refer to the meeting summary. The next meeting is scheduled for 7 October 2011 alongside the Expert Forum Annual Public Foresighting Event.
18 March 2011
The second meeting discussed the development of an Enabling Technologies Roadmap, including a definition of enabling technologies to help focus the task, its program of industry uptake workshops, and ideas for an annual foresighting event in October 2011 – refer to the meeting summary.
22 November 2010
The first meeting discussed the nature and application of foresighting, developed a strategic framework, and started to develop a workplan – refer to the meeting summary.