The federal government should adopt recommendations from its almost forgotten inquiry into innovation as a solution to boosting productivity, the lead author of the report, Bill Ferris says.

Mr Ferris, who headed Innovation Science Australia from 2016 until this year and led a broad review of innovation – the Australia 2030: Prosperity through innovation report – for the Turnbull government, said there were plenty of proposals never taken up by the government that would help provide the lift needed.