Commonwealth builds innovation capability

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The peak body, Innovation Australia, has added two new international experts to its advisory board, drawing on industry know-how from the US and Israel.

The Commonwealth’s peak body, Innovation Australian, has added two new experts to its board, drawing on know-how from the US and Israel. These members are Elizabeth Comstock from the US, and Saul Singer who represents Israel. Both are appointed to the board for a three-year term.

Comstock brings a global strategic focus to developing innovation within business. She is currently the Vice Chair of General Electric, and is helping drive GE’s transformation into a becoming a digitally-enabled organisation.

Comstock is also a member of Nike’s Board of Directors and Trustee President of the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum.

The other appointee, Saul Singer, is a widely-published author and co-wrote Start-up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle. This best-seller investigates Israel’s innovative prowess, and international standing as an innovative nation.

The Innovation and Science Australia board is chaired by Bill Ferris, together with the high-profile chief scientist Dr Alan Finkel.

In other news, the Commonwealth has announced a Digital Literacy Schools Grants. This grant enables schools and other organisations to apply for funding of between $10,000 and $50,000.

These grants support new curriculum around the uptake of digital technologies. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis. Priority goes to projects that demonstrate genuine innovation, are sustainable and deliver positive educational outcomes.