Tech & Innovation

Conventional wisdom states that entrepreneurs are unmanageable and, thus, make poor employees. While it's true that salaried entrepreneurs can prove a handful, the most...

Ben Kaufman, who also founded mophie and kluster, is back with a new variation on NameThis: quirky. The premise is this: entrepreneurs and creative people in general are bubbling with far more product ideas than they can possibly pursue. Consequently, these ideas end up dormant or exploited by someone else. Described by Kaulfman as a "social product development company", quirky invites users to submit their product ideas for US$99 each - this ensures that only the best ideas are lodged. The quirky community selects one product from the pool of submitted ideas every seven days. From there, the community (known as "influencers") weigh in by voting, rating and influencing other people's product ideas.

The place of interaction between government and industry is often clouded with confusion, perplexity and frustration, where it seems as though no one is...

Activities to foster innovation often focus on the sexy-subject of product innovation (including Anthill's SMART 100). According to Peter Bryant, innovation strategist and Senior Fellow of the Kellog Innovation Network, Australian businesses might be better off looking inward and using innovation as a tool to enhance operational efficiencies. It's time to think inside the box!

Instead, I hope that you (dearest Anthillians) find value in these seven business observations and tips from seven weeks of travel.

Instead, I hope that you (dearest Anthillians) find value in these seven business observations and tips from seven weeks of travel.

Today, our Government Grants specialist, Adrian Spencer, considers the post-Budget winners and losers. Looking for a Government Grant? Here's your cheat sheet.

Adobe didn't get to where it is today by playing defence. And, as Brad Howarth discovers, the company knows it must keep innovating to stay on top. It's a lesson for us all.

Following on from his first report plotting the impact of the closure of Commercial Ready Grants on Australian innovation, Nick McNaughton provides his assessment of the 2009 Budget and looks specifically at the impact of the announcements relating to the improved R&D Tax Concession and the introduction of the Commonwealth Commercialisation Institute (CCI).

Nearly 12 months after the Federal Government's surprise decision to axe the popular Commercial Ready Grant Scheme, Nick McNaughton embarked on a mission - to plot the impact of its closure on Australian innovation. In his first report, McNaughton heads to the coal-face, seeking feedback from those most affected by the cut - technology developers and members of the early-stage investment community.

These basejumpers grew board of just jumping off cliffs, falling for a bit then popping a shoot. So they built sugar-glider wing suits and began to fly. That wasn't quite doing it for them, so they went to Norway and began flying close - really close - to cliffs and rocks... even roads.

Anthill Magazine teamed up with market research firm Colmar Brunton and 1,600 'mavens' to identify 100 of Australia's most promising product innovations. Introducing... the inaugural Smart 100.

Anthill Magazine teamed up with market research firm Colmar Brunton and 1,600 'mavens' to identify 100 of Australia's most promising product innovations. Introducing... the inaugural Smart 100.

Gotta love Google. It's not enough that they have a kick-arse global business. They have a wicked sense of humour, too. In October last year, Google...

As the world wakes up to the danger and promise of global integration, Australia's business and political leaders have a choice. Will we content ourselves with surviving the storm, or will we use this opportunity to change the game by infusing intelligence into the systems that support our economy and our society?

The American writer Dorye Roettger observed in 1932 (a tough time for optimists), "There are no problems - only opportunities." This spirit animates the many brilliant, committed people who haven't let doom and gloom stop them from innovating. The TED conference is where the best and brightest share the fruits of their dreams and labours.