Innovative Road Products

Overview

Project status: In progress

Australia's infrastructure in water, energy, health, education, transport and communication is the platform for our future prosperity and growth. In response to long standing deficits, Australian governments are embarking on the most significant investment programs in our history. Our ability to deliver these programs efficiently and effectively relies heavily on the promotion of innovation in the delivery phase.

This project contributes to this major challenge by identifying how diffusion of innovative products can be maximised on infrastructure projects, focusing on knowledge flows within open innovation systems. The study will provide tools to optimise delivery of a world-class and integrated infrastructure network to meet Australia's future social and economic needs.

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Grantor
Australian Research Council Linkage Projects Scheme - Maximising Diffusion of Innovative Products on Public Infrastructure Projects: A Qualitative Management Study of Open Innovation Systems.
Research leader
Research team
QUT External collaborators
  • Professor Jane Marceau, University of New South Wales
Organisational unit
Lead unit Science and Engineering Faculty Other units
Research area
Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Strategy
Keywords
innovative road products, road construction, infrastructure research

Contact

Contact Dr Tim Rose (Project Manager) for more information on this project.
 

Details

Project goal

To maximise the value of Australia's infrastructure investment plans, by developing methods to increase adoption of innovative products during construction.

A promising new approach is adopted- extending open innovation system theory, by reviewing the role of knowledge intermediaries, absorptive capacity and governance arrangements. This approach reveals gaps in knowledge flows that impede the uptake of innovations. In the past, identifying these gaps has been difficult given deficiencies in existing theory.

The knowledge maps produced enable informed policy advice to effectively harness the power of knowledge networks, increase innovation diffusion and improve the performance of infrastructure projects.

Project background

This study maximises the value of Australia's road infrastructure investment plans by developing methods to increase adoption of innovative products during construction. A promising new approach is adopted. We extend open innovation system theory, by reviewing the role of knowledge intermediaries, absorptive capacity and relational governance arrangements. This approach will reveal gaps in knowledge flows that impede the uptake of innovations. In the past, identifying these gaps has been difficult given the lack of nuance in existing theory. The knowledge maps generated by our approach enable informed policy advice to effectively harness the power of knowledge networks, increase innovation diffusion and improve the performance of infrastructure projects.

After 20 years of underinvestment, the nation faces a crisis of inadequate infrastructure in transport, energy, water, communication, health and education. In response, Australian governments have developed the most ambitious infrastructure investment plans in our history. Innovation in the operation and delivery of road infrastructure projects can add considerable value to government investments. We address a costly practical problem - inadequate uptake of innovation on road infrastructure projects - and a constraining theoretical problem - the absence of integrated construction/general management approaches to infrastructure project delivery.

Australia's infrastructure is considered to be seriously inadequate. A landmark report by CEDA (Committee for Economic Development of Australia) identified problems across many infrastructure types, including land transport, sea and air ports, energy and water. Deficiencies have also been identified in social infrastructure such as hospitals and schools. The aging of existing infrastructure is a key issue. The CEDA report diagnosed a (deep seated infrastructure delivery problem) stemming from declining real infrastructure investment nationally since the 1980s. Our focus on the efficiency of road infrastructure addresses this problem.

Infrastructure is the foundation for other productive processes. Effective infrastructure reduces transaction costs and enhances the opportunities for access and exchange. Particularly important is road infrastructure, which is the focus of this research.

Projects

Project stages and outputs

The Innovative Road Products Project aims to improve diffusion of new products in the road industry. It is split into three key project stages. Each project stage has deliverables that inform the preceding stages. The project stages are as follows:

Stage one pilot study: 2010

The first stage of the project aims to acquire an in-depth understanding of industry stakeholder issues relating to new product adoption on Queensland road and bridge projects. This is a key input to shaping the scope of the next stages of the research. Stage 1 involves in-depth interviews with research project stakeholders. The stakeholders selected will represent views from both the client and the head contractor in the project supply chain. Stage 1 will produce a project stakeholder report involving a literature review of the research conceptual background and a discussion of the key problems impeding product innovation uptake.

Innovative Road Products Report 1: Background Study 2010 (PDF file, 318.91 KB)

Stage two national survey: 2011

The second stage of the project aims to map the product innovation process in the Australian road and bridge industry. This involves an extensive survey targeted at the four key stakeholders in the product innovation system: the client, contractor, consultant and product supplier. This survey will contribute to understanding the roles of the various stakeholders and the critical relationships within the flow of innovative product knowledge. This survey will also identify, describe and rank obstacles to the uptake of innovative products. The key output in this stage will be an industry report, with the findings disseminated through a large scale industry publication program.

Innovative Products Survey Report 2011 (PDF file, 1754.84 KB)

Stage three national workshops: 2012

The third stage of the project will comprise Australia-wide focus groups/workshops involving the four key project stakeholders in the innovation system: the client, contractor, consultant and product supplier. The aim of this stage is to achieve industry wide consensus on actions to address the obstacles in the uptake of innovative products. The key output to this stage will be a final report presenting the results of the research and industry recommendations to improve the uptake of innovative products on road and bridge projects. This report will be followed by an extensive research dissemination process.

Innovative Products Focus Group Report 2012 (PDF file, 1151.79 KB)

Partnerships

Universities

  • RMIT University
  • Queensland University of Technology

Government

  • Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads
  • Queensland Department of Public Works

Industry

  • Construction Industry Institute of Australia
  • Leighton Contractors
  • Baulderstone Hornibrook