University of Tasmania, Australia

The Cradle Coast Authority and Enterprise Connect requested the AIRC to provide a quantitative overview of the Tasmanian manufacturing sector using data from the 2007 Tasmanian Innovation Census.

This project served to profile of the Tasmanian manufacturing industry, and to provide knowledge about its structure and needs.  Data from the Tasmanian Innovation Census would provide the intelligence/evidence base upon which business advisors from the Enterprise Connect (manufacturing innovation) Centre could provide services to the manufacturing sector through the Enterprise Connect Program.

The project also sought to:

• identify growth areas in the manufacturing industry
• provide an indication of business’ participation in various innovation activities
• identify target markets for EC services
• map industry structure and composition
• identify business environment enablers/constraints to productivity, competitiveness, innovation and growth
• characterise enterprise-level strengths, needs and constraints to productivity, competitiveness, innovation and growth
• document existing access to technology/information/advice and networks
• specify tools to determine best prospects (clients and services) for targeted delivery of services
• identify regional and industry factors outside the scope of EC services, but which could be addressed in parallel with EC programs

• Smith, K and O’Brien, KH, 2008, Structure, Business Demographics and Innovation in Tasmanian Manufacturing, Hobart, Tasmania.
• Smith, K and O’Brien, KH, 2008, Structure, Business Demographics and Innovation in Tasmanian Manufacturing, TIC/0308, Working Paper, Australian Innovation Research Centre, University of Tasmania.

Members

• Kieran O'Brien
• Keith Smith

Members (External)

• Sophie Jerrim