Productivity and Innovation
The National Innovation and Science Agenda has committed significant amounts of funding to twenty eight action areas, which include de-risking start-ups; investing in STEM; attracting and keeping overseas entrepreneurs; and improving university-industry connectedness, amongst others. These measures signal that promoting a culture of innovation is essential to Australia’s economic growth and future prosperity.
Projects under this theme explore the opportunity and challenges for businesses, individuals and government to drive prosperity through improved productivity and innovation. Research under this theme investigates issues such as barriers and enablers to productivity, and the impacts of infrastructure development and investment, public services, as well as tax and regulatory burdens on economic growth in WA, and opportunities and barriers to innovation for micro-businesses and SMEs, which make up a significant proportion of all businesses in the Australian economy.
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Supporting small businesses through the business of electrification
Modelling the economic value of the east-west supply chain
Canning Vale Food Value Add Precinct
Australia’s First Regional Digital Innovation District and City
Relationships between metropolitan, satellite and regional city size, spatial context and economic productivity
Making Connections: Housing, Productivity and Economic Development
Related Publications
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Unemployment rate rises from 4.3 per cent to 4.5 per cent in April. Employment down by 18,600, with women bearing the brunt of job losses. The rise in unemployment may buy some time on another interest rate rise, but the... Read article
Innovation and research and development (R&D) investments are central to regional economic growth. Yet, in the UK, these activities are heavily concentrated in the Greater South East, which receives the majority of public and private R&D spending. This imbalance has... Read article
Unemployment rate holds steady at 4.1 per cent. Odds firm for a further hike in interest rates in the first half of 2026. Real wages likely to continue to fall over 2026. Catch 22 in wages data The January labour... Read article
Unemployment rate falls from 4.3 per cent to 4.1 per cent on the back of a rebound in jobs. Since the rate peaked at 4.4 per cent in September, the labour market has remained significantly tighter than anticipated in key... Read article
Unemployment rate falls back to 4.3 per cent, down from ‘surprise’ 4.5 per cent in September. Growth in full-time employment, hours worked, and vacancies, and a fall in under-employment all underscore resilience in employment conditions. No interest rate relief on... Read article
Anaemic jobs growth in September sees unemployment rate rise to 4.5 per cent Participation remains high despite weakening labour market conditions Upcoming September quarter CPI figures key to RBA interest rate decision on Melbourne Cup Tuesday Don’t panic ( just... Read article
The Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre team acknowledges the Wadjuk Nyungar people as the traditional owners of the land on which the Centre is situated.