2.35 In a recent international comparison conducted by the OECD, Australia fell behind some of its major competitors, including the US and Germany, with a relatively poor innovation efficiency ranking of 81st of 143 nations.[42] Moreover, Australia is one of only three nations to fund research and development activities, both within academia and in industry, without
2.39 However, while Australia’s overall research workforce is average in size for a country with a population base of nearly 24 million people, with approximately four scientists and engineers for every thousand people, only 30 per cent of this country’s research and development workforce is employed in industry. Compared to other advanced economies – such as the US, where the rate of employment in industry is closer to 80 per cent – Australia rates poorly on the level of industry-led innovation.[47]those investments on an overarching innovation strategy.
