Developing a Tropical Economy
For the past six years, Advance Cairns has actively been pursuing opportunities to identify and develop a Tropical Economy for Tropical North Queensland. Former CEO David McGuire penned an issues paper on emerging industry opportunities for Tropical Expertise in November 2004, prompting the running of an industry forum with the Queensland Chief Scientist a year later.
More recently, under contract arrangements with the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI), Advance Cairns has for the past two years been responsible for the concept development, implementation, website administration, member communications and administration for the Australian Tropical Expertise Consortium (ATEC) website.
In addition, Advance Cairns actively provides training and development assistance to ATEC members, of which there are more than 220 Queensland-wide, by undertaking activities such as investment attraction and business matching events, tender writing workshops, international and domestic trade missions, networking events — all in conjunction with its Tropical Expertise partners: DEEDI, James Cook University, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, and the Cairns Chamber of Commerce.
Defining Tropical Expertise — An Emerging Industry
Businesses and research organisations in Tropical North Queensland have developed specialist skills and knowledge to adapt to the environmental challenges presented by the region’s tropical climes. This body of skills and knowledge is called Tropical Expertise.
The Tropical Expertise sector is defined as:
Businesses utilising or delivering research, innovation, science, knowledge/skills and practices, which are particular to tropical products, production, outputs or services.
The developed world comprises of only a small part of the tropics, creating an opportunity for Australia to export its professional services from northern Australia to our neighbouring tropical countries.
Tropical Expertise can be seen in:
- The construction of roads and highways to mitigate flooding during the monsoon season
- Clinical practices to prevent bacterial infections in humid conditions
- Wine produced from tropical fruits
- Training Micronesian countries in sustainable, eco-friendly tourism practices
What makes North Queensland the centre for Tropical Expertise?
- Proximity and access to the Asia Pacific region
- Significant capacity in research and development
- Strong partnerships between industry and research institutes
- An extensive network local stakeholders
World Leading Technical and Management Expertise in the Tropics
Living and working in the tropical environment of northern Queensland has given businesses and research organisations the opportunity to develop unique ways of working in the demanding tropical conditions typical of the Asia Pacific Region and other tropical regions.
Whether it is in protected area management, tropical health, planning and project management of tropical buildings, infrastructure and construction or water management, the Australian Tropical Expertise Consortium offers innovative and practical solutions to global tropical economies.
Many individuals in ATEC are recognised as international experts in their field. Institutional members include James Cook University, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies.
Management bodies such as Wet Tropics Management Authority create best practice governance platforms for natural resource and protected area management. The ATEC network includes international engineering firms such as ARUP, Maunsell and GHD.
Become a Member of ATEC
To learn more about the Australian Tropical Expertise Consortium, and the benefits of becoming a member head to the ATEC website here.