FACTBase Bulletin 4 - Can a resource economy be a knowledge economy?

Using the Western Australian nickel industry as an example, this paper will highlight how numerous characteristics, or hallmarks, associated with knowledge economies are indeed present in the Western Australian resources complex.​

Key Findings

• In Western Australia, the resource and knowledge economies play a complementary role rather than a competitive role as these two types of economies are traditionally known in the Western world, to exist separately.
• Agglomeration of the power-bases for resource extraction companies is the first hallmark for the coexistence of knowledge and resource-based economies.
• A second hallmark is applying software techniques. Innovation and technology is needed to make resource extraction companies more efficient, where there is agglomeration of these knowledge and technological firms, there is advancements in mining technology.
• Universities play a key role in knowledge economies, where in Perth, both Curtin University and The University of Western Australia have created dedicated centres for knowledge and innovation in the mining industries of Western Australia.
• The coexistence of both knowledge and resource economies in Western Australia and Perth is key to perpetuating competitive advantage.