Fostering innovation in manufacturing
Background:
Largely due to size, the Australian dairy industry lacks the availability of incentives and strong motivating drivers for researchers/innovators which can provide them with recognition and capability development.
Global evidence suggests that rewarding and promoting innovators can significantly enhance skills and capability and provide four times the returns on investment. These incentives can motivate innovators to stay with our industry and select our industry as their preferred career option.
Project objective:
The objectives of this project are: a) to promote a culture of innovation in the industry b) to reward and retain young and promising innovators in the industry.
Project scope:
The initiatives in this project focus on offering awards to promising innovators. The Science Award is in collaboration with the Federal Government's ABARES (Australian Bureau of Research and Science). It provides $20,000 to a promising young researcher and innovator from the dairy supply chain. About 10 other primary industries are sponsors of awards for other agricultural industries.
The 'Innovation in Dairy Manufacturing Award' is a Dairy Australia initiative since 2008 providing encouragement and recognition to innovators in dairy manufacturing. It provides a $20,000 grant towards an innovative project results of which are shared industry wide to improve productivity and sustainability. During 2011-15, five innovators will be awarded recognition through this award.
Outcomes/benefits:
These awards drive the industry towards continuous and successful innovation by promoting a culture of innovation through all aspects of dairy supply chain, particularly manufacturing. It aims to achieve this outcome by:
- rewarding one young innovator in dairy across supply chain
- rewarding one innovator in dairy manufacturing
- sponsoring events relevant to strategic priorities of Dairy Australia to promote and foster a culture of innovation in the industry
Overall, these awards will benefit the industry by fostering a culture of innovation and retaining young and promising innovators in the industry thus contributing to value adding.
More information:
For more information, please contact Dr Mani Iyer, Program Manager Product Innovation.