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Throughout Australia and the world, science, knowledge and innovation have emerged as fundamental drivers of sustainable economic growth and prosperity. Important links have been recognised between scientific research, innovation and competitive growth in established industries such as mining, agriculture, construction and tourism.

The Northern Territory's government, business and research sectors are working together to foster a diverse and thriving economy capitalising on ideas; matching research and innovation to industries such as mining, manufacturing, and information and communication technology. Benefits from the application of science, knowledge and innovation also extend to areas such as environmental management, social, cultural and environmental issues and health.


The Government has established a Research and Innovation Board and Fund to further stimulate and foster research capability, capacity and innovation in the Northern Territory as one of a number of initiatives to support a knowledge-based economy. To datae, grant outlays from the Fund of $530,000 have been used to leverage $4.76 million of external research funding into the Territory.

Click here to learn more about the Research and Innovation Board and Fund

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Partnerships which facilitate the Territory's entry into the knowledge economy are welcomed. The Northern Territory Government already has one significant partner in Charles Darwin University.

Desert Knowledge
Desert Australia has an international reputation for monitoring and managing arid lands. They draw from formal resources as well as a large base of informal knowledge held by individuals, communities, businesses and other organisations. Desert knowledge is being captured in a number of key Alice Springs-based initiatives, including:

  • the Desert Knowledge Precinct – a focal point for Desert Knowledge Australia; a $30 million capital works program has commenced in Alice Springs.
  • Desert Peoples' Centre – a consortium of three indigenous training and education providers; and Education and Learning and Education Services Delivery;
  • Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre – consolidating research and development, university, business and government partnerships across Australia.

Click here for more information on Desert Knowledge.

Tropical Knowledge
Darwin is located at the centre of the tropical region of northern Australia, and is the home of key research into tropical architecture, tropical medicine, tropical savannas, tropical wetlands, tropical flora and fauna and tropical marine environments. These activities are supported by world-class research institutions, including:

  • Charles Darwin University and the School for Environmental Research
  • Menzies School of Health Research
  • CSIRO
  • Arafura-Timor Research Facility – A Partnership between the Northern Territory Government, the Australian Institute for Marine Science and the Australian National University
  • The Cooperative Research Centres for Tropical Savannas and Aboriginal and Tropical Health
  • Environmental Research Institute for the Supervising Scientist

Remote area and environmental management and technologies
Territory agencies are specialists in remote area services. They offer expertise in remote area telecommunications, remote area survey and mapping (geophysical and geographic information systems and remote sensing), potable water and salinity detection, groundwater pumping and waste management. These directly address the problems of distance, large land areas and small, isolated communities. In particular Territory experts are world-class managers of natural resources, rangelands and bushfires.

Potential clients for this knowledge are venture capitalists, governments and businesses operating in remote parts of the world.

Indigenous traditional knowledge and sustainable future
Traditional Indigenous knowledge – including pharmacology, sustainable use of wild resources, cultural knowledge and contemporary adaptations – is a unique and highly prized asset. The value of this knowledge extends beyond the existing markets for Indigenous art, Indigenous tourism and eco-tourism. Although Indigenous traditional knowledge raises complex intellectual property issues, the Territory Government seeks solutions which will advance Indigenous aspirations and contribution to the social and economic development of the Territory. The Northern Territory's government, business and research sectors are working together to foster a diverse and thriving economy capitalising on ideas and innovation.

Creative solutions have been required to meet the challenges posed by the Territory's unique physical environment. The Territory's resource-based industries – primary production and manufacturing in the minerals and energy, petroleum and rural, fishing and agribusiness industries – offer an established scientific, technical and business knowledge base built on prior and ongoing innovations.