Adjunct Professor and scale up specialist Peter Rossdeutscher has been appointed the federal government’s top innovation adviser after decades working across the quantum, mining, robotics, and startup sectors.
The current Quantum Australia chair, Mr Rossdeutscher was named as the new chair of Industry Innovation and Science Australia (IISA) on Monday by Industry and Science minister Ed Husic on a three-year term.
IISA is the government’s independent statutory board advising it on innovation, managing flagship programs and promoting investment. It had been led for the last six years by former chair Andrew Stevens.
An experienced board director, Mr Rossdeutscher has chaired the government funded Quantum Australia since its launch last year to catalyse the sector’s innovation and research translation through better connections.
He is also the co-founder of the Atomic Sky startup hub and founder of QuantumTX, a cross-industry incubator focused on scaling up companies in high tech sectors like mining, energy and defence.
Mr Rossdeutscher will chair IISA as the government looks to uplift a national innovation system facing systemic challenges like low investment and an outsized reliance on SMEs.
His predecessor Andrew Stevens’ work on a ‘missing middle’ of innovative export focused businesses. Mr Stevens called for a policy shift to address Australia’s peculiar industrial structure that he warned was blocking collaboration and commercialisation.
Mr Rossdeutscher has previously advocated for government programs that connect smaller companies with larger projects through government procurement conditions.
In addition to the innovation advice, IISA also oversees the government’s flagship innovation programs and incentives, including the Industry Growth Program and R&D Tax Incentive.
The appointment of Mr Rossdeutscher on Monday fills a brief gap in IISA leadership, but several other board spots remain unfilled.
In a statement, Mr Husic said Rossdeutscher was the “standout” candidate to lead IISA.
“His track record leading start-ups and mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs to scale-up their firms, something the IISA has identified as a key priority,” he said.
“Given the need to strengthen business dynamism more broadly in our economy, having someone with Peter’s experience will prove to be especially valuable.”
A spokesperson for the minister told InnovationAus.com, “Further board appointments will be announced shortly.”
Mr Rossdeutscher also co-chairs First Nations X, a not-for profit organisation focused on Indigenous innovation and startups, and previously led Quantum Girls at the University of Western Australia.
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