8101.0 - Innovation and Technology Update (Newsletter), Jun 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 07/07/2003   
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6 KNOWLEDGE BASED ECONOMY AND SOCIETY (KBE/S) FRAMEWORK AND INDICATORS

In response to the needs of Australia’s policy makers to better understand the economic and social dynamics of knowledge-based activity, the ABS released a Discussion Paper Measuring a Knowledge-based Economy and Society - An Australian Framework (cat. no. 1375.0) on 28 August 2002.

The Discussion Paper presented a descriptive framework for measuring the knowledge-based economy and society (KBE/S) through use of relevant statistics. The Framework proposed a range of indicators grouped in broad dimensions to enable assessment of the degree to which Australia is a knowledge-based economy and society. The dimensions are:

  • Context
  • Innovation and entrepreneurship
  • Human capital
  • Information and communication technology (ICT)
  • Economic and social impacts.

Within each dimension, there are a number of characteristics and associated statistical indicators (about 125 indicators in total).

Current work on the project is directed towards populating the framework with statistics. A web-based product is nearing finalisation and is expected to be released early in the second half of 2003. The content of the product is planned to be built up over time, with the first release covering a large proportion of the Innovation and entrepreneurship, Human capital and ICT indicators proposed in the Framework.

If you would like more information about the Framework or the KBE/S product, please contact Tricia O'Reilly whose email address is tricia.oreilly@abs.gov.au.