EXCITE Strategy

Dr HARVEY (Newland) (14:59): My question is to the Minister for Innovation and Skills. Can the minister update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is supporting science and the innovation industry, as well as research and development in South Australia?

The Hon. D.G. PISONI (Unley—Minister for Innovation and Skills) (14:59): Yes, I can, and I thank the member for Newland for not only his interest in science but also his practice in science. He was a practising scientist before entering this place. Affectionately, we call him Dr Harvey. Last Friday—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —I had the pleasure of launching the EXCITE Strategy.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: The Marshall Liberal government's 10-year science strategy and innovation strategy is designed to attract research and investment and to take South Australian products and services to the world, making South Australia the state of science.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for West Torrens!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: The EXCITE Strategy is a result of extensive consultation across our research industry and innovation ecosystems. EXCITE has been led by our Chief Scientist for South Australia, Professor Caroline McMillen, in consultation with business and research leaders in industry, education providers, regional community leaders and the commonwealth government.

The strategy was developed around five key pillars: excellence, collaboration, innovation, translation and an enabled future workforce. The strategy complements the state government's growth initiative and the Future Industries eXchange for Entrepreneurship, our FIXE strategy. Hosted by Professor McMillen, the EXCITE Strategy launch event included a panel discussion with key research and industry leaders from priority growth sectors.

The EXCITE Strategy has a clear goal to place South Australia in the top 25 per cent of OECD nations for key measures of performance in the research and innovation value chain over the next 10 years. The EXCITE strategy is key to economic growth, employment and increased productivity, as well as delivering better health and climate outcomes. The strategy aims to transform Adelaide into a vibrant, magnetic city, attracting young wealth creators and global innovators committed to building a healthy economy, environment and community.

It is focused on bringing together leaders from industry, government and education ensuring that our brightest South Australians can access pathways to successful careers, and those careers right here in South Australia. It is about containing the brain drain—bringing more people here to South Australia with those sorts of skills so that the economy can grow.

The strategy will connect South Australian businesses with major research infrastructure and game-changing ideas, leading to the creation of new products, services and processes. The establishment of the mask testing facility at Flinders University and the University of South Australia enabled Detmold and other manufacturers to develop personal protective equipment (what we know as PPE), and it is just one example of the EXCITE strategy in action.

This benefits the community, and it created, of course, long-term jobs again right here in South Australia, creating a product that had never been created here before. The global impact of COVID-19 has demonstrated the importance of the role of science innovation in society. The Marshall Liberal government is committed to harnessing the state's science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM), a research and innovation value chain.

The Marshall Liberal government had made an initial investment of $8 million from the Economic and Business Growth Fund to implement the EXCITE Strategy through two initiatives: $7 million for the Innovative and Translation Intermediaries Program, creating stronger links between industry and research within our innovation districts; and a $1 million budget for the South Australian Innovation Challenge, which aims to pose a global challenge to solve major problems, harnessing disruptive technologies that will accelerate industry growth and development in South Australia. The EXCITE Strategy is crucial to supporting South Australia's economy.