Built Here: Connecting Australian innovation with Australian industry

Australian innovation took centre stage at Parliament House, with Cooperative Research Australia’s Built Here Parliamentary Showcase and National Innovation Policy Forum bringing together researchers, industry leaders, Cooperative Research Centres and policymakers to explore how Australia can turn innovation into stronger, globally competitive industries.

The Built Here Showcase transformed the Great Hall into a snapshot of Australian ingenuity, with more than 50 organisations demonstrating technologies and partnerships spanning defence, medtech and advanced manufacturing.

AMCRC was proud to showcase the potential of additive manufacturing through innovations from Fusetec, Conflux Technology and RMIT Centre for Additive Manufacturing. From high-performance heat exchangers and complex metal components to healthcare training solutions, the exhibits demonstrated how additive manufacturing is already being applied to solve real-world challenges.

The showcase also created an opportunity to put Australian innovation directly in front of decision-makers. Simon Draper PSM, Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, joined parliamentarians and policymakers in exploring the exhibits and meeting the people behind the technologies.

These practical examples provided a fitting backdrop to the National Innovation Policy Forum, where discussions focused on sovereign capability and advanced manufacturing, emerging technologies and productivity, net zero and industrial transformation, and regional economic growth.

Opening the Forum, Minister Tim Ayres highlighted the opportunity presented by emerging technologies, including AI, to strengthen productivity and global competitiveness, while Shadow Minister Aaron Violi MP emphasised long-term investment, stable policy settings and support for businesses to commercialise innovation.

A clear message emerged across both events: Australia does not lack ideas, talent or research excellence. The challenge is connecting the innovation ecosystem so those strengths can translate into commercial outcomes, sovereign capability and industries that grow here in Australia.

The day concluded with the Ralph Slatyer Address from Katherine Bennell-Pegg, Astronaut and Australian of the Year 2026, encouraging the audience to imagine a future that does not yet exist and recognise Australia’s ability to help build it.

Built here, scaled here and creating impact here. The opportunity is to connect Australia’s innovators, researchers, manufacturers, investors and policymakers to turn great ideas into the industries of the future.