Since the Australian-engineered and manufactured bionic ear was launched in 1985, more than 250,000 people across 120 countries have benefited from Aussie innovation.
The invention is widely lauded as both a humanitarian and commercial success; unfortunately, triumphs on the scale of the bionic ear are too few and far between, Deakin University Chancellor and Bionic Institute Chairman John Stanhope (pictured above) says.
“[The bionic ear is] a good example of the translation of a great idea into a product that obviously generates revenue, but also has a fantastic patient outcome,” Stanhope explains.
“But now that’s more than 30 years old – nationally, we struggle to take ideas and innovation to commercial reality.”
It is an issue Stanhope has witnessed first-hand; he says some promising innovations from Deakin have struggled to find support in the Australian market.
“There’s been a number of advanced manufacturing ideas that have looked for Australian support – and in the end it’s come from overseas,” he says.
As part of his presentation at the Australian Engineering Conference, Stanhope, drawing on his extensive experience in governance, finance, accounting and business strategy, will argue engineers can – and must – be a catalyst for properly managing Australia’s transition to an ‘innovation economy’.
“We’re missing out on nationally creating jobs, and therefore growth in the economy – we need to have growth that is different from the traditional areas of mining and resources,” Stanhope says.
And, failure to do so will inevitably mean losing greater numbers of engineers to bigger and better opportunities overseas.
“People are going overseas, because the ideas are being commercialised overseas and people follow the money,” Stanhope says.
With a background in telecommunications, including roles as Telstra’s Chief Financial Officer and Group Managing Director of Finance and Administration, Stanhope pointed out the role engineers played in the industry's inception.
“Fifty years ago, engineers were fundamental and basic to the growth of the nation,” he says.
“When I started [in telecommunications] back in 1967, engineers were telecommunications; then, over time, marketers came along, and the status of engineers declined, and the recognition that engineers bring more than just their technical engineering declined.
“I think engineers can bring more than just the technicality of engineering – perhaps they need to step up and do it again.”
Stanhope says there is also one central question he intends to answer at the conference: what do we mean when we talk about ‘innovation’?
“Since there’s been innovation statements written and a lot of talk about innovation, I’ve heard people say the word innovation is on the beak of every pet shop parrot,” Stanhope laughs.
“Let’s cut to the chase: what does it mean, what can we do about it to really progress the country, and what might be an engineer's role in it?”
To learn more, secure your spot at the Australian Engineering Conference where John Stanhope, Chancellor of Deakin University, will talk about the role of engineers in transitioning business in this age of disruption.