Partnerships and collaborationWorking together: good for business, good for research

Jane Dorrian Marketing and Communications Managerbusiness.gov.au Branch, Small Business DivisionDepartment of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (Department of Innovation)

Presentation overview

1) Provide an overview of why the Australian Government invests in industry-research partnerships

2) Benefits of industry-research partnerships

3) Provide insights on the engagement and communications approach of two established programs Commercialisation Australia and Enterprise Connect.

4) Inform you about a recently announced initiative from the Australian Government – Industry Innovation Precincts.

1. Why does the Australian Government invest in building industry-research partnerships?

Innovation and collaboration are high priorities for the Australian Government and are key factors in its vision to build more profitable, sustainable and export-focused industries.

The Australian Government provides a wide range of support and financial assistance for businesses and researchers that want to collaborate.

2. What are the benefits from industry-research partnerships?

Working with researchers can help businesses to:

Develop new ideas, products and services.Reduce research costs through access to state and federal government funding schemes and modern research infrastructure.Get expert advice and access to the latest knowledge, technology and equipment. Gain access to skilled and work-ready researchers.Gain access to national and international networks.

2. What are the benefits from industry-research partnerships?

Collaborating with businesses and industry can help researchers to:

Produce high quality and relevant research that translates directly into commercial outcomes.Produce research that leads to greater social, economic and environmental impacts.Build valuable networks and contacts.Build a reputation as a high-class research institution.

The Department of Innovation has a wide range of assistance and support programs to enable industry-research partnerships:

•Researchers in Business grant (Enterprise Connect)•Commercialisation Australia•Industry Innovation Precincts•Small and Medium Enterprise Engagement Centre (CSIRO)•R&D Tax Incentive (AusIndustry)•Flagship Collaboration Fund•Cooperative Research Centres•Linkage Projects•Industrial Transformation Research Program•National Measurement Institute

Visit www.business.gov.au/researchcollaboration for more information on each of these programs.

What is Commercialisation Australia (CA)?

• A competitive, merit-based assistance program offering funding and resources to accelerate the business building process for Australian companies, entrepreneurs, researchers and inventors looking to commercialise innovative intellectual property.

• Offers a range of funding options as well as multi-layered networking opportunities. Participants in the program work with dedicated Case Managers and benefit from CA’s Expert Network.

• CA has funding of $278 million over the five years to 2014, with ongoing funding of $82 million a year thereafter.

• Video overview of CA - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lvx2OL1NdZQ

To view the Commercialisation Australia video, visit: http://youtu.be/Lvx2OL1NdZQ

Commercialisation Australia’s Case managers

•Expert third-parties

•26 experienced Case Managers around Australia

•Expertise in key industries, technologies and markets

As at April 2013

• As at A

Researchers in Business program (Enterprise Connect)

Researchers in Business Grant

• Supports the implement a new idea with commercial potential. placement of researchers from universities or public research agencies into businesses, to help develop and

• Enterprise Connect will provide businesses with funding for up to 50 per cent of salary costs to employ researcher, to a maximum of $50,000.

• Aim is to help break down the cultural divide between business and the research sector by speeding up the distribution of knowledge and expertise and accelerating the adoption of new ideas and technologies.

• Enterprise Connect’s facilitators guide businesses through the Researchers in Business Grant process including identifying suitable projects and sourcing an eligible researcher from a Public Sector research organisation.

• Examples of eligible research projects include:

– product innovation – developing and testing new, or improved products or services targeted to new or existing markets

– process innovation – addressing production or process issues (e.g. improve manufacturing efficiencies or quality through new or improved technologies)

– marketing innovation – analysing brand, product or service consumer perceptions and impact in the market

– environmental sustainability – identifying and measuring of pollution, and reducing waste (water, energy, recycling etc).

To view the Researchers in Business video, visit: http://youtu.be/MbuoZfyCP_U

As at December 2012

Insights on engagement and communications approaches of Commercialisation Australia and Enterprise Connect:

1.They leverage the credibility, trust, networks and contacts of independent experts they partner with:

- business advisors

- research institutions

- case managers

- expert networks

- engage industry groups early.

Insights on engagement and communications approaches of Commercialisation Australia and Enterprise Connect:

2. They develop tools and systems that facilitate and enable quality networks:

- online restricted databases to find most relevant experts

- facilitating introductions

- online networking tools eg. LinkedIn groups

- cross-government events and expos

- promote the success stories of participants and expert third-parties and case managers widely

Insights on engagement and communications approaches of Commercialisation Australia and Enterprise Connect:

3.They deliver key messages and formats that are easily digestible, attractive.

-Simple “business speak”, not technical or bureaucratic.

- Expert stories and success stories promote the program to attract new participants, stories profiling partners (editorial, website, videos, fact sheets, brochures at face to face advisory services.

Industry Innovation Precincts

• Funding of $238.4 million over the period 2012-13 to 2016-17.

• Industry Innovation Precincts will be led by industry and will help businesses and researchers collaborate, share knowledge, deploy technology, create products and services and take advantage of business opportunities.

• Program guidelines, application information, partner declaration forms, overview of the application process, available on the www.innovation.gov.au website.

More information and case studies

Full list of Department of Innovation’s programs that support industry-research collaboration:www.business.gov.au/researchcollaboration

Commercialisation Australia www.commercialisationaustralia.gov.au

Enterprise Connectwww.enterpriseconnect.gov.au

Industry Innovation Precincts:www.innovation.gov.au