Jit, Joytishna --- "Commentary: Australia's National Framework for Marine Research and Innovation" [2009] AUJlMOA 4; (2009) 1(1) Australian Journal of Maritime and Ocean Affairs 29

• COMMENTARY: Australia’s National Framework for Marine Research and Innovation
• Introduction
• Framework rationale
• The key elements
• Critical requirements
• Conclusion

COMMENTARY: Australia’s National Framework for Marine Research and Innovation

Joytishna Jit^[1]

Introduction

The Australian government launched its first strategy on marine research and innovation in March 2009. A Marine Nation: National Framework for Marine Research and Innovation provides ‘the rationale for, key elements of and critical requirements for a national framework for marine research and innovation’.^[2] The framework represents the basis for collaboration among marine science providers, government, industry, and community stakeholders.

The framework was prepared under the Marine Science Steering Committee under the umbrella of Australia’s Ocean Policy and Science Advisory Group (OPSAG), and in response to the development needs within the marine sector. OPSAG comprises government marine science and related agencies, State research institutions and non-government marine science interests.^[3] This commentary highlights and analyses the main issues described in the framework.

Framework rationale

The authors of the framework envisage that it will increase the efficiency of research and innovation at the national level ensuring that benefits derived from Australia’s marine assets are maximised.^[4]

The national innovation system involves the process of knowledge production, entrepreneurial application of this knowledge and the diffusion and adoption of the applied knowledge.^[5] A review of the Australian innovation system recommends a reappraisal of the system and a review of its policies, consistent with global trends.^[6] Innovation and research are essential for Australia’s prosperity and its ability to compete in world markets, particularly during and following periods of uncertainty in the global financial and economic markets.

Improved coordination and greater investments in marine science, industry engagement, education and training and infrastructure are priorities for enhanced research and innovation within the marine sector.^[7]

In particular, marine industry innovation is vital for significant advancements in the private sector.^[8]

Australia’s marine environment, in which marine industries such as tourism, maritime transport and fisheries are engaged, is the third largest in the world. It is 13.6 million square kilometres, including the significant extension of its territorial jurisdiction through a submission that was confirmed by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in 2008.^[9] Although the entire area is socially, environmentally and economically invaluable, it lacks adequate Australian investment.^[10]

In this context, the framework is an appropriate and timely initial approach for developing marine industries.

The framework identifies and addresses five major areas of opportunities and challenges currently facing Australia: economic and energy security, marine conservation, protection of the coastal environment, climate change, and national security and safety.^[11]

For instance, a vast majority of the oil and gas fields in Australia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and extended continental shelf are yet to be fully explored. Innovative technology is required to increase oil and gas recovery rates. There is also a need for more onshore processing plants and new shipping facilities. Other examples include challenges in dealing with complexities in the management of the multiplicity of coastal uses and impacts, and the development of operational ocean forecasting capabilities to improve defence operations, navy patrols and border security.^[12]

The key elements

The framework consists of four interlinked core elements that include the five areas of opportunities and challenges. These elements are referred to in the framework as programs.

Firstly, the exploration, discovery and sustainability program will be based on integration and collaboration, and serve as the foundation for improved knowledge-based management of marine resources and maritime boundaries, including the seabed. Specific areas within this broad program have been highlighted and include intensive mapping, new discoveries and long term studies to ensure that economic uses of the marine resources remain environmentally and socially sustainable.

Secondly, the observations, modelling and prediction program will be directed at understanding the ocean processes and dynamics through integrated marine and coastal observations and studies to enable the development of predictive models. Three hierarchies within the program include the global approach, coastal and regional approach, and the local approach. Jointly these approaches will enable researchers to represent complex behaviour through models and applications useful for ‘adaptive and sustainable management’ of marine resources, protected areas and coastal zones, and for predicting climate change aspects.^[13]

Thirdly, the marine industries development program will involve the development of innovative technology, solutions and partnerships. Innovative technology development is to provide ‘competitive advantage and environmental effectiveness’.^[14] Innovative solutions include the development of new and improved applications for surveying and mapping, ocean forecasting applications for maritime transport and safety, and the development of materials for use in applications. Innovative partnerships are to build and formalise strong relationships between innovation providers and industry and government end users.

Fourthly, the engagement and knowledge transfer program will facilitate effective engagement for knowledge transfer between research providers and stakeholders. This will occur when stakeholders specify their requirements, and research and innovation providers use this information to target the requirements to meet stakeholder demand. Three key groups of stakeholders identified in the framework are industry, government and the community. Industries include fisheries, aquaculture, seabed and subsea resources, tourism, ports, maritime transport, infrastructure and safety. The government, as a stakeholder, is concerned with priority-setting and policies at Commonwealth, State, Territory and local levels for matters relating to biodiversity, coastal zone management, climate prediction, climate change and maritime safety and security. Communities are linked to the level of public interest and support for marine programs and, in particular, indigenous engagement in marine management.

The four programs are interlinked. For example, the development of potential investment strategies to fund technology innovation for exploration depends on government engagement. Technology innovation also requires partnerships with research providers and the marine industry. In addition, ocean modelling and prediction tools will be advantageous in the successful design and trial of innovative exploration technology.

Critical requirements

The framework describes substantial limitations relating to skills, infrastructure, networking and collaboration that impede research and innovation.

The marine sector needs specialised skilled graduates. The education and training challenges are to attract the brightest and most innovative students into the marine sector, counteract acute graduate shortages in specialist areas including taxonomy, economics and engineering, increase education and training courses on hydrographical surveying, and construct career pathways among early researchers with a view to retaining them within the marine sector. Capabilities in education and training may be developed through partnership with national and state agencies because this would allow a closer relationship among educators, students and the industry.

Advanced infrastructure is essential for research and innovation. A number of major elements have been identified in the framework. For example, access to multi-discipline equipped research vessels and marine observing systems for wide ranging scientific work, within and beyond the EEZ. Furthermore, novel technologies for monitoring, surveying, mapping and sampling underwater parameters are required to expand current research efforts in biodiversity measurement and environmental marine data collection and interpretation. Other areas requiring infrastructural and capability investments are remote sensing, ocean monitoring equipment for examining trends in climate change and other long term coastal variations, localised research stations Australia-wide, high performance supercomputing, electronic infrastructure to allow open access to databases across agencies, digitisation of marine science collections, and biocontainment facilities for pest and disease control.

Networking and collaboration is at the core of this research and innovation framework. Networking and collaboration needs to be efficient at the national and international level. OPSAG exists as the only formal network of marine science providers in Australia. Opportunities for high-level networking are required to ensure that national policies adequately reflect marine sector priorities. A ‘broad, integrated approach’ to marine research and innovation funding is recommended in the framework.^[15]

A strategy for investment is recommended by the authors to overcome limitations such as skill, infrastructure and networking. It is impossible to decipher a value for the amount of investment required to overcome limitations from the framework. The framework states that a whole of government policy interface with a national steering committee for marine research and innovation is critical for directional setting, coordination and investments in the marine sector. This is because, under current arrangements, responsibilities for the marine domain are shared by a number of government departments and all levels of government. Annual reporting and accountability for investments is also imperative. The national steering committee for marine research and innovation would be high-level and responsible for developing, managing and implementing the framework.

Conclusion

Research and innovation is a long term investment for any country and will potentially provide significant financial, economic and social returns. A renewed and strong national direction for research and innovation on the marine environment has the potential to strengthen development, generate highly qualified workers, improve industry relations and diversify the national economy in areas of sustainable advantage. The importance of collaboration among government, industry and community has been identified early in the development of this new framework. Effective implementation of the framework will depend on such collaboration.

There are examples of strategies on research and innovation in other countries, but only a few of these are specifically focused on the marine sector. In 2007, Ireland’s strategy for marine research and innovation, Sea Change, was commended during a stakeholders’ conference on the European Unions Maritime Green Paper.^[16] Sea Change focuses on market-led opportunities in sustainable energy, food production, transport, technology and environment. Apart from Ireland’s competitiveness, there is also a focus on sustainability of coastal communities. An investment of €365 million was estimated over the seven year duration of the strategy.^[17]

There are no fixed time-scale or investment estimates provided within Australia’s current research and innovation framework. A Marine Nation: National Framework for Marine Research and Innovation is therefore expected to basically provide the initial momentum for a more detailed approach towards increasing the marine sector’s social, economic and environmental values.

In its current form, the Australian framework does not provide a strategic itemisation of short, medium and long-term targets required to effectively administer the extensive changes it necessitates. Any risks during implementation of the framework should also be assessed, accepted and incorporated in innovation initiatives.^[18]

Furthermore, the basis on which the core programs have been selected is not evident. For example, there may also be value in expanding core research programs to include Australia’s unique and lucrative seafood industry. A detailed analysis of the key elements, with specific research and innovation needs and priorities, could provide a systematic way forward.

The framework is timely and appropriate in the current global climate, although its reliance on large investments makes it vital to consider associated risks, structured costs and timelines.

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^[1] PhD Candidate, Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, University of Wollongong.

^[2] OPSAG/ Marine Science Steering Committee, A Marine Nation: National Framework for Research and Innovation (2009), 2, Australian Government’s Ocean Policy and Science Advisory Group website <http://www.opsag.org/pdf/ opsag-marine-nation-01.pdf> at 26 March 2009.

^[3] Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, ‘Australia’s Oceans Policy’ (2008), Australian Government’s Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts website <http://www.environment.gov. au/coasts/oceans-policy/index.html> at 26 March 2009.

^[4] OPSAG, above n 1.

^[5] Cutler and Company Ltd, Venturous Australia Report (2008), 11, Australian Government’s Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research website <http:// www.innovation.gov.au/innovationreview/Pages/home.aspx> at 26 March 2009.

^[6] Ibid 1.

^[7] OPSAG, above n 1, 5.

^[8] Ibid 4, 11. Other priority areas for innovation in the private sector include resource industries, space and astronomy, finance and risk management. In the public sector, climate change, food and agricultural security and population health were among those listed.

^[9] See United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, Summary of the Recommendations of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) in Regard to the Submission made by Australia on the 15 November 2004 (Recommendations adopted by CLCS on 9 April 2008).

^[10] Cutler and Company Ltd, above n 4, 115.

^[11] OPSAG, above n 1, 8.

^[12] Ibid 8-11.

^[13] Ibid 14.

^[14] Ibid 15.

^[15] Ibid 18.

^[16] Sea Change; A Marine Knowledge, Research and Innovation Strategy for Ireland 2007-2013 (2006). Available at http://www.marine.ie/home/SeaChange.htm; See also: John Brown, ‘National Stakeholder Conference on the EU Maritime Green Paper’, (2007) Speeches by Minister of State, Irish Government’s Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources website <http://www. dcenr.gov.ie/Corporate+Units/Virtual+Press+Room/Speeches/2007/National+Stakeholder+Conference+on+the+EU+Maritime+Green+Paper.htm> at 26 March 2009.

^[17] Ibid iii.

^[18] See Cutler and Company Ltd, above n 4, 125.