Smart State vision and strategy
What does Smart State mean?
Smart State is the Queensland Government’s vision of a state where knowledge, creativity and innovation drive economic growth to improve prosperity and quality of life for all Queenslanders.
The vision is for Queensland to develop into a knowledge-based economy and diversify its traditional economic base of mining and agriculture.
While Queensland currently enjoys a strong economy with low unemployment, it needs to continue broadening its economy and developing new industries or risk being left behind in the future.
Smart State Strategy 2008-2012: a new direction
The Smart State Strategy is the Queensland Government’s signature policy to create a Smart State: a state where knowledge, creativity and innovation can flourish.
The Smart State Strategy 2008-2012 signals a change in direction for the government’s Smart State investment program.
Over the last decade, the government has invested strongly in education and training reforms, research and development infrastructure and broadening the state’s industry base. In that time, $3.4 billion was invested in R&D and innovation, resulting in 36 new research institutes and creating 60 000 jobs in industries such as aviation, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing and creative industries.
Having laid this solid foundation, it’s time to invest more in our people, to make the most of our research infrastructure.
The highlight of the 2008 strategy is a trebling of investment in people including:
- $23.3 million to attract and retain some of the brightest minds in science and industry through the Innovation Skills Fund
- $25 million to attract leading clinical researchers via the Health and Medical Research Program.
Download the full strategy document (PDF, 422 KB) or (.doc, 53 KB)
View the strategy document in HTML
Smart State Strategy 2005-2015: laying the foundation
The Smart State Strategy 2005-2015 was published in April 2005 after wide public consultation.
The strategy outlined Queensland’s short to mid-term investment program, with funding concentrated in the following areas:
- innovation
- new technologies and industries
- research and development infrastructure
- education and training reforms
- infrastructure
- commercialisation
Read full strategy document
Smart Queensland: Smart State Strategy 2005-2015
Read strategy progress reports
Annual performance reports on knowledge-economy indicators such as economic foundations, education and skills, research and innovation, and sustainable development.
Last reviewed 22 May 2008
