Through this, the Hub embodies what the Oslo Manual( OECD, 2018) calls the“ innovation management capabilities”, creating the conditions for ideas to emerge, develop, and deliver results. For Cockburn, that means shifting from talk about“ innovation” to demonstrable outcomes with new businesses, upskilled SMEs, and stronger industry participation in national supply chains.
As Rodriguez-Pose( 2013) argues,“ regions that adapt and embed innovation in their economic systems are the ones that achieve sustained growth, while those that fail to evolve risk stagnation”. Cockburn’ s focus is therefore not just on attracting investment but on ensuring that innovation and capability uplift are deeply embedded, delivering measurable value for businesses, residents, and the wider economy.
UPSKILLING THE SUPPLY CHAIN One of Cockburn’ s most important roles is ensuring that local SMEs are ready to participate in highly regulated and technologically demanding industries like the blue economy, defence and shipbuilding. Without this foundation, opportunities tied to the Cockburn Sound, AMC and Henderson could bypass local businesses. While AUKUS presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the City’ s focus is broader. Our priority is preparing local businesses to compete across the
defence and blue economy industries nationally and internationally, recognising that success requires long-term capability rather than reliance on a single program.
The City contributes by being at the forefront of local collaboration, working with community, businesses, and academia to ensure that opportunities are well understood and accessible. A key part of this is helping build social licence that allows the community to see the benefits of defence-related growth, while ensuring SMEs are positioned to take advantage of these opportunities.
The City has responded by investing in:
• Defence and blue economy readiness workshops delivered in partnership with industry bodies, helping SMEs assess the defence readiness of their business, and understand pathways to accreditation such as ISO9001( quality management), DISP( Defence Industry Security Program) and marine sustainability and innovation.
• Supporting international accreditation process that enable access to US and UK defence supply chain requirements, including pathways to meet standards such as ISO19443.
• SME capability forums, where businesses can directly connect with defence prime and Tier 1 contractors to understand procurement processes, building trust and reducing barriers to entry.
• Specialist workshops on topics such as digitalisation, pitching to industry partners, conflict resolution, and managing psychosocial hazards equipping businesses with the broader organisational skills expected in both defence and marine industries.
Together, these efforts form a critical part of Cockburn’ s quiet revolution: ensuring that local businesses are not only ready for today’ s opportunities but positioned to thrive in the decades ahead.
WORKING ACROSS SECTORS: CONVERGENCE AS AN INNOVATION ADVANTAGE Cockburn’ s innovation advantage lies in the convergence of industries that are traditionally separate. Defence, marine, technology and sustainability now share overlapping challenges and transferrable solutions. Advances in subsea robotics, for example, serve both naval operations and aquaculture, while expertise in advanced coatings or composites apply equally to shipbuilding and offshore renewable energy infrastructure.
As Porter( 2000) observed,“ clusters capture important linkages,
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