Scaling Ambition: Enabling the next generation of globally competitive scaleups

This report examines the barriers facing innovative manufacturing businesses in NSW that are trying to scale. It explores the targeted policy actions that have been used internationally to support scaleups and makes recommendations for both government and industry.  

Why the report matters

Scaling Ambition is not just about growing individual companies, it’s about shaping the future of our economy, our communities and our national resilience.

Supporting innovative businesses to scale is one of the greatest opportunities to improve the productivity and sustainability of the New South Wales economy.

Scaleups deliver extraordinary value: breakthrough innovations, high-value jobs, sovereign capabilities, and the seeds of entirely new industries. However only a small number of business manage to grow from a startup into a scaleup.

This report highlights a series of systemic challenges that scaleups in NSW face. It looks at the different policy approaches used by governments around the world to support scaleups, and explores key actions for policymakers and innovation ecosystem actors to help scaleups overcome barriers.

What’s in the report

The report:

• explains the importance of scaleups, including their impact on economic growth, job creation, and productivity improvements
• explores insights from interviews with NSW-based businesses in medical device manufacturing and renewable energy technologies
• highlights four main barriers for businesses wanting to scale in NSW
• is informed by a review of more than 80 resources and 300 unique policy actions targeting scaleups globally
• includes case studies and strategies from around the world to help NSW improve how it supports scaling businesses
• sets out policy principles to inform the design and delivery of interventions aimed at helping innovative businesses scale
• provides 11 recommendations for government and innovation ecosystem actors to support scaleups.