Category: Europe

Twinsterphoto/Shutterstock Australian workers have to overcome some significant barriers in navigating their careers. Some may lack the training or work experience opportunities needed to make themselves stand out and take the next step. Others may be extensively qualified, but face limited new job or promotional opportunities relevant to their skill set. But there’s another common barrier that’s often overlooked: post-employment restraints. Among the most well-known are non-compete clauses, but these aren’t the only kind. These tools are designed to protect … Continue reading “Non-compete agreements and other restraints can end up hurting Australian workers – and all of us pay the price”

Only humans can be awarded patents, but AIs can do a lot of the work to earn them. lineartestpilot/iStock via Getty Images The advent of generative artificial intelligence has sent shock waves across industries, from the technical to the creative. AI systems that can generate viable computer code, write news stories and spin up professional-looking graphics have inspired countless headlines asking whether they will take away jobs in technology, journalism and design, among many other fields. And these new ways … Continue reading “When humans use AI to earn patents, who is doing the inventing?”

GrAl/Shutterstock South Africa has about 700 state-owned enterprises. They operate across sectors like transport, energy and public utilities, and some are among the largest employers in those sectors. Entities like these are created and controlled by a country’s government to provide essential services and drive economic development. In South Africa, they were formed in the 20th century, when the government recognised the need to support local industries by providing services such as rail transport, financing and electricity. As the country … Continue reading “South Africa’s state-owned entities are flagging – how innovation, research and development could revive them”

One of President Donald Trump's first executive orders in his second term called for developing an AI action plan. Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Imagine a not-too-distant future where you let an intelligent robot manage your finances. It knows everything about you. It follows your moves, analyzes markets, adapts to your goals and invests faster and smarter than you can. Your investments soar. But then one day, you wake up to a nightmare: Your savings have been transferred to a … Continue reading “Beyond AI regulation: How government and industry can team up to make the technology safer without hindering innovation”

Cities, and on a smaller scale, neighbourhoods and meeting places, play a significant role in promoting innovation. (Shutterstock) There is an enduring myth that many technological innovations have come out of garages, bedrooms and basements. One of the most famous garages is the one at Steve Jobs’ parents’ house where he was rumoured to have designed the Apple I computer, along with Steve Wozniak and some colleagues. The myth was so persistent, that the garage was designated as a site … Continue reading “Beyond the garage: How important are spaces to business creation?”

Mr.paripat niyantang/Shutterstock Small businesses across Australia and New Zealand are facing one of their toughest periods in decades. A flat economy and shifting consumer behaviour have put pressure on already thin operating margins. A 2024 survey by business finance company ScotPac found 29% of Australian small businesses say they could face insolvency if they lose a major client. Accounting organisation CPA Australia’s latest small business survey shows only 48% of New Zealand’s small businesses grew in 2023. This is significantly … Continue reading “A website is not enough: businesses that use digital tools without a strategic plan will struggle in a tough economy”

NicoElNino/Shutterstock When it comes to turning research into real-world success, New Zealand has a problem. Despite the country’s NZ$3.7 billion research and development spending in 2023 – a 17% jump from the previous year — too many New Zealand businesses fail to commercialise innovation. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, New Zealand ranks 21st for innovation inputs. This means we’re good at investing in research and development. But we rank 45th in knowledge outputs and 78th in industry diversification. … Continue reading “Ignore the ‘ivory tower’ clichés – universities are the innovation partners more Kiwi businesses need”

Shutterstock It’s hard to remember a time the United States seemed as tense and divided as it does today. That should serve as a stark reminder of just how important it is to monitor the health of our own nation. Today, our new report card on Australia’s progress will be launched in Canberra. It assesses progress on 80 economic, social and environmental targets and models a range of policy shifts that could boost progress. We find that progress on more … Continue reading “A new report card shows inequality in Australia isn’t as bad as in the US – but we’re headed in the wrong direction”