Micro-Nano-Bio Technology Regional Clusters in Victoria

摘要

'Small' technologies such as nanotechnology, microtechnology and biotechnology will over the next few decades radically transform they way we live. For example, by 2008 more than $100 billion in products are expected to involve nanotechnology. Australia has unique strengths in structured nanomaterials, bionanomaterials and micro-devices. While some innovative products based on micro and nanotechnology have been developed, sustainable and high economic impact business growth is still a major challenge. In many cases the efforts have come out of fragmented and uncoordinated research from public research institutions and universities without the support of anchor industries, local markets, capital and a good skill base that larger economies tend to have. The Victorian State Government's AUD $620 million Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Initiative is a unique Australian regional program aimed at building the State's science and technology capabilities for industry growth. It has helped to strengthen and consolidate unique competencies in micro-nano-bio technology over the last five years. This policy intervention on existing research structures is facilitating the growth of some successful integrated research clusters focused on microtechnology, nanotechnology and biotechnology. To make these clusters more effective business growth environments the challenge is to attract increasing local and international industry investment and businesses themselves into the clusters.