Opportunities in tropical science, knowledge, research and innovation for Queensland THIS REPORT HAS BEEN PREPARED BY A QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE Dear Premier Please find attached the Smart State Council working group report on ‘Opportunities in Tropical Science, Knowledge, Research and Innovation for Queensland’. The report draws attention to emerging opportunities for knowledge-based industries focussed on the provision of food, health, building, environmental and education services to the tropical world. The report notes that Queensland’s R&D base and tropical location give us a huge competitive advantage in the development of these industries, but that capitalising on that advantage will require major efforts to coordinate and commercialise our research. Finally, the report outlines ways in which industry, research and government can work together to capture this opportunity for Queensland. I commend it to you. Professor Peter Andrews Queensland Chief Scientist and Chair, Standing Committee Smart State Council © The State of Queensland (Department of the Premier and Cabinet) 2006. Published by the Queensland Government, 9 August 2006, George Street, Brisbane. Qld. 4000. The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of information. However, copyright protects this document. The State of Queensland has no objection to this material being reproduced, made available online or electronically but only if it is recognised as the owner of the copyright and this material remains unaltered. Copyright enquiries about this publication should be directed to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, by email to [email protected] or in writing to PO Box 15185, City East Qld 4002. Copies of this publication can be obtained at www.smartstate.qld.gov.au Smart State Council Working Group Opportunities in Tropical Science, Knowledge, Research and Innovation for Queensland i WORKING GROUP Chair Professor Russell Reichelt, CEO, Marine and Tropical Science Research Facility Members Lt. General John Grey AC, Chancellor, James Cook University; Board Chair, Wet Tropics Management Authority Mr Michael Rayner, Partner, Cox Rayner Architects Dr Ian Gould, Chair, Australian Institute of Marine Science Dr Stephen Prowse, CEO, Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre for Emerging Infectious Disease Professor Lesley Johnson, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Griffith University Professor James Dale, Director, Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Queensland University of Technology SMART STATE COUNCIL The Smart State Council was established in June 2005 as a central advisory body to provide high level advice to the Queensland Government on emerging Smart State issues and trends, and to propose measures to position Queensland to respond to challenges and opportunities. The Smart State Council is chaired by the Premier of Queensland and comprises Government Ministers, the Queensland Chief Scientist and representatives from Queensland’s business and research communities. This paper was prepared by an independent working group for the Smart State Council. The views expressed in this paper are those of the group and do not represent Queensland Government policy. Smart State Council Working Group Opportunities in Tropical Science, Knowledge, Research and Innovation for Queensland ii Executive summary 1. The Opportunity Queensland has the opportunity to become a world leader in tropical know-how by servicing the increasingly sophisticated needs of rapidly developing tropical nations, while simultaneously improving the quality of life of Queenslanders and Australians living in the tropics. The increasing wealth and population growth in the tropical world and the likely environmental impacts of these trends is escalating demand for a range of goods and services such as health, environmental management, agriculture, urban renewal, and education. As one of the few developed regions within the tropics, Queensland is well placed to capitalise on this emerging global demand. The State has a mega-biodiverse environment, world-class capabilities and infrastructure in tropical knowledge, a modern economy, and is close to the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific region. Queensland has the opportunity to become an international centre in tropical research, knowledge and innovation, building industries that service the needs of tropical nations, and returning substantial economic gains to the State. Aside from the economic benefits, which would generate regional growth and employment in tropical Queensland, there would also be a range of environmental and social outcomes that would benefit Queenslanders living in the tropics and remote communities. There are substantial opportunities for Queensland in the application of research, knowledge and innovation to the basic needs of all tropical communities, but most importantly in the areas of: 1. enhancing tropical health expertise and capacity 2. maximising value from the environmental and cultural assets of tropical Queensland 3. transforming tropical primary industries 4. promoting and capitalising on tropical living and design 5. extending tropical knowledge and influence through education and capacity-building. Seizing these opportunities and developing a sustainable niche sector of the Queensland economy based on tropical knowledge and expertise requires: • coordinating and building on our tropical know-how • bringing our tropical know-how to market. Smart State Council Working Group Opportunities in Tropical Science, Knowledge, Research and Innovation for Queensland iii 2. Coordinating and building on our tropical know-how Queensland is recognised internationally for its tropical science skills, programs, and infrastructure. However, these resources and capabilities are fragmented, geographically dispersed and are not aligned to exploit the benefits and synergies that could be derived from critical mass. This situation could be remedied and a competitive niche advantage for Queensland could be built through coordination, networking and clustering of our capacity in the five areas of opportunity identified in the previous section. 2.1 Tropical health – There is potential to build on existing capacity in medicine, public health and veterinary science in Queensland. Opportunities for scientific discovery and commercialisation exist at the interface of human health and medicine with emerging zoonoses (diseases transmissible from animals to man), such as BSE, avian influenza, or leptospirosis. Strong partnerships and linkages could be formed with public health researchers across northern Australia and with internationally recognised expertise in the subtropics. 2.2 Tropical environmental sciences and management – Efforts to enhance critical mass, reduce duplication of research, attract significant funding to the region, and foster the development and commercialisation of specialist research and development (R&D) services for environmental outcomes would be highly beneficial to Queensland. Strategic alignment of the significant R&D capacity in environmental science and management in the State would provide the knowledge platform to foster industry engagement in ecosystems management of the developing tropical world. Opportunities would also exist to utilise Indigenous knowledge in the development of education, ecotourism, biodiscovery, and commercial ventures. 2.3 Tropical primary industries - Potential exists to better link the technological capacity and expertise in life sciences centred in South-East Queensland with the significant network of government supported research facilities and programs based in the north of the State. By smarter integration of the innovative outputs in tropical primary industries with real- world experience and field-based industry assessment, Queensland could capitalise on its status as a significant centre for agricultural biotechnology in the Asia Pacific region. 2.4 Tropical living – There are opportunities to coordinate Queensland’s capacity and scientific knowledge in tropical living across a wide range of interconnected fields, including environmental science, health, planning, urban renewal, building design, and environmental design. Such coordination could place Queensland in a unique position to encourage and promote a substantial export industry based on urban renewal of mega- cities in the developing tropical world through integrated solutions. Smart State Council Working Group Opportunities in Tropical Science, Knowledge, Research and Innovation for Queensland iv 2.5 Tropical education - Strategic, tailored, and coordinated education services of specific interest to the tropical world could be developed by better coordination of education services in tropical science, knowledge, research and innovation. A more strategic approach to deliver Queensland-based education programs could lead to increased employment opportunities through growth of the tropical science knowledge industry, international recognition of Queensland as a centre of excellence in tropical science, and ultimately, strong ties and mutually beneficial relationships between our State and the future leaders of the tropical world. 3. From opportunities to markets Queensland has a poor record in commercialising and marketing products, services and intellectual property to support the development of industries based on tropical know-how. Effective management, financing, and marketing of the areas of opportunity outlined above would create a sustainable