The Australian Sport Innovation Network Strategy will create an aligned and thriving sports innovation ecosystem.
This will bolster our elite athletes, drive economic growth and give value to Australians for generations to come.
Put simply, it will be the front door for entrepreneurs, investors, researchers and sporting bodies.
The Australian Sports Commission cannot do it alone. These four objectives to connect, power, grow and sustain are the shared light on the hill for the ecosystem.
THE OBJECTIVES
More successful partnerships, targeted innovation, cutting-edge technology, better and cheaper products.
The Australian Sports Commission’s role:
Sport Australia connects the network; facilitating relationships, linking ideas with capital, increasing transparency, reducing duplication and deepening technology development.
Sport Australia acts as a ‘front door’ and navigator for international innovation participants and investors.
World-class data and knowledge platform to securely deliver robust data and analytics services to enable design, test and validation of emerging sport technologies.
Better and timely data delivered securely and specifically to design, test and validate technology, products and services.
The Australian Sports Commission’s role:
Sport Australia delivers data capability to fuel innovation.
Bigger and better opportunities by scaling and supporting the network.
Support pathways between capital and industry, building bigger and better technology, opportunities and products.
The Australian Sports Commission’s role:
Sport Australia supports industry to imagine, seize and scale opportunities.
Sport Australia creates post high-performance career opportunities in sport innovation and technology businesses.
Stronger linkages between innovation and sport leadership.
Extend the value and investment in high performance sport into Australia’s community and economy.
The Australian Sports Commission’s role:
Sport Australia uplifts leadership capability to accelerate uptake and value of innovation.
Sport Australia supports integrated entry and exit to sport throughout life stages from volunteering, participation and high performance sport.
LUKE MCCANN, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, SPORT AUSTRALIA
THE SERVICES
Sport Australia will deliver six services that work together, creating a value cycle that builds and amplifies within a coordinated network.
Connecting sport problem owners with solution providers, start ups, researchers and developers. Support investors and collaborators by establishing and developing networks with adjacent markets, precincts, hubs, researchers and companies.
A service for sports and participants to share data in exchange for expert insights. Custodian of national data strategy and longitudinal data assets.
A collaboration platform to tackle complex problems in sport that can be more efficiently and effectively addressed through knowledge sharing and aggregation, rather than inefficient replication in siloes.
Physical and digital community engagement platform providing in-person and virtual network and education events. Includes a Showcase and Exploration Centre to inspire young people and the Australian community.
Physical and digital camps to accelerate ideas to impact. Focused on delivering value for individuals/teams with early stage ideas that require support to continue design, prototyping and testing.
Seed grants and commercialisation support to sports-related innovations prioritised on the basis of impact. Sport Australia provides grants, and in partnership, with other government and private organisations.
THE VALUE
These six services work together, creating a value cycle that builds and amplifies within a coordinated network.
Future innovation will be driven by alignment and purpose, to maximise the potential of new technologies and knowledge.
Key to these services is the data and knowledge centre to securely facilitate new innovations, collaborations and sports data protocols.
Through data aggregation, visualisation, and artificial intelligence - we will work with Australia's best and brightest minds from academia, practitioners and entrepreneurs to deliver new data, digital health, mass participation and athlete solutions to assist all Australians.
By centralising data from multiple sources, Australia can benchmark best-practice information for national, state bodies and enterprises, with the support of experts from academic industry.
THE GROWTH OF SPORT TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
Australia’s economic growth story of sports technology and innovation is impressive.
As we look forward to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games there is significant opportunities through connection, data-power, growth and sustainability. There is untapped potential that can be a major export, boosting jobs and technology and innovation companies that will not only enhance the economy but also benefit the broader public by promoting health, wellbeing and social cohesion.
THE OPERATING MODEL
Forward thinking strategies are the only way to prevent homegrown talent and ideas from venturing offshore in search of support.
Moreover, creating centres of innovation create collaborative research agendas that reduces redundant duplication in different parts of the system and amplifies the collective impact of different players that enables Australia to advance its position as a global technology leader.
To bat above our average, Australia’s comparative advantage is in partnerships. Simply put, we are better together.
A sports innovation network will facilitate access to the sharpest minds and innovative ideas, attracting and growing talent to underpin Australia’s success in Brisbane and beyond.
Furthermore, forward thinking strategies that prioritise collaboration are the only way to prevent homegrown talent and ideas from venturing offshore.
A cohesive innovation ecosystem amplifies both the individual and collective impact of the different players within the network, and empowers Australia to advance its position as a global technology leader.
Transactional partner
Transactional partnership between Sport Australia and partner. An agreed and defined scope.
Lead partner
Sport Australia has a change agenda, agreed on with multiple partners to achieve an outcome (perhaps funded).
Aligned partnership
Sport Australia and partner have similar goals and aligned approaches. Integrated knowledge sharing and learning.
Attached partnership
Industry has a change agenda, Sport Australia may seek to fill some unmet needs and/or add value through knowledge.
Immersed partnership
Industry has a large, or ongoing body of work and Sport Australia seeks to fund and meet resource needs (maybe to embargo a competitive edge).
Case Study
THE ROADMAP
Sport Australia have identified five initiatives to benefit the network.
ACCESS to talent and ideas earlier in their life cycle minimising the risk of them slipping through our fingers
Play a role to FOCUS early-stage innovation on the deep tech problems we need solved
COMMERCIALISE technology for the benefit of HP sport, driving a more sustainable system
CONNECT with successful innovators and companies over time that can give back to sport through financial or in-kind contributions and partnerships
EHNANCE recognition and credibility in the contemporary innovation landscape
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Connect with us to keep up to date with the Sport Innovation Network Strategy.