To mark the launch, CSIRO Futures has released a report on how businesses can prepare for an uncertain future.
The reportAustralia 2030: navigating our uncertain future outlines four scenarios for Australia's future and identifies growth opportunities under each. It also presents a framework to guide business planning and investment in research and development.
The service will be delivered by CSIRO’s advisory and foresight group CSIRO Futures, led by James Deverell.
Mr Deverell has 20 years of experience delivering technology strategy projects for both government and Global 2000 commercial clients across four continents.
"Science and technology are rapidly reshaping industries around the world and creating new opportunities. Australian companies will need to grasp these opportunities if they want to remain competitive," Mr Deverell said.
"We work with our clients to help them understand what these opportunities mean for their business and develop strategies to take advantage of them."
The CSIRO Futures team will draw on CSIRO’s research expertise and a range of strategic planning tools.
The service builds on previous work with industry and government clients including Woodside Petroleum, the Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association, and the South Australian Government.
CSIRO Futures is a key element of CSIRO’s Strategy 2020 goal of being an innovation catalyst for the nation and is an example of using our science to help business and communities address major challenges.
"To build the future, we must deeply understand coming challenges, and leverage our great science to transform those challenges into opportunities," CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Larry Marshall said.
"Australia has great potential to unlock new sources of growth – but rather than simply producing raw materials we must go a step further to deliver the higher value fruits of a knowledge economy – making informed decisions today, will map our path to future prosperity."
CSIRO has been researching megatrends for a number of years but this new approach will put that into practice by working with industry to explain how they can set their businesses up for the opportunities and challenges these megatrends might present.
The next stage of this work will be to develop specific roadmaps for Australia's key industry sectors including METS (mining equipment, technology and services); advanced manufacturing; medical technologies and pharmaceuticals; oil, gas and energy resources; and food and agribusiness.
CSIRO is looking to work with major Australian businesses to help them better prepare for what's in store for the future.
