Table 15. Opportunities to strengthen Australia’s energy innovation system INNOVATION SYSTEM FUNCTION
LEARNING-BY-DOING
PORTFOLIO APPROACH DEMAND LED
Knowledge development
Encourage meta-learning and coordination of existing knowledge development activities including identifying the cumulative learning of all the pilots, trials, demonstration projects for the energy system.
Build non-technological capabilities alongside technological capabilities into the knowledge development phase so questions of market and business model are considered early.
Encourage ambition in the setting of targets and stretch goals e.g. multiple universities pledge net zero campus with an open innovation model. Encourage other system actors to create similar stretch goals.
Build data transparency and democratisation (as opposed to regulations) into knowledge development projects so these issues are flagged and can be addressed early.
Knowledge diffusion
Creation and development of intermediaries to connect actors across the clean energy sector
RACE for 2030 to establish coordination to work across each of the levers of change and how RACE for 2030 projects enhance each other’s value.
Adopt challenge-led approach similar to Germany and the US, linked with market formation and Guidance of Search activities.
Target policy to aggregate and stimulate early demand, e.g. government procurement and investment in buyer-side capacity building
Guidance of search (GoS)
Develop reflexivity in our approach to GoS
Ensure (through procedures and collaborative methods) that GoS delivers diversity of energy innovation options.
Include multiple stakeholders in the GoS process, not just usual or easily accessible stakeholders. This will involve building the capacity for participation of some of those less experienced.
Link GoS to knowledge creation and diffusion, and coordinate with market formation, resource mobilisation and entrepreneurial activities.
Entrepreneurial Map start-ups/ entrepreneurs and activities provide additional support to develop collaborative networks and ecosystems
Ensure start-up cohort matches diversity of energy options expected to form the energy innovation systems, this includes ensuring diversity of entrepreneurs and new venture types.
Strengthen the governance and existing accelerator programs. Map closer connections between corporates (including CVC) and start-ups.
Change government policy on risk to unlock opportunities for innovation, and for start-ups to be part of government programs
Market formation
Experimental and portfolio Build transformational leadership capacity in key approach to market government, industry and formation finance stakeholders.
Public sector capabilities for learning to form and support new markets
Adopt a challenge-led approach, similar to Germany and the US.
LEVERAGE POINTS
Establish a shared vision and linked missions across state and federal government departments and local governments
E3 Opportunity Assessment: Developing the future energy workforce
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