Improving Australia’s Competitive Position Hutch Ranck, July 2008

Strengthening Australia’s position in the new world order As I reported in December last year: Recognising the remarkable growth of China and India and the implications for Australia’s economic well-being, the working group was tasked with examining the growth of these two countries and advising the Government on the threats, opportunities and strategies to improve Australia’s global position in research and innovation capability Today Prime Minister, we will outline the findings of the working group and present to you the resulting three recommendations that the working group believes will successfully position Australia for the future It is the clear view that Australia today faces a serious and intensifying challenge with regard to our competitiveness and therefore our future balance of trade, economic standing and our standard of living Australia must mount a systematic and strategic response to improve its science and technology capability and value-added exports, so that we are not washed over by the tidal wave of economic development of China and India as they develop innovation and knowledge-based economies Insights from the Working Group on Asia Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) Report of the Working Group on Asia to the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council, 2 June 2006

Insights from the Working Group on Asia, PMSEIC As I reported in December last year: Recognising the remarkable growth of China and India and the implications for Australia’s economic well-being, the working group was tasked with examining the growth of these two countries and advising the Government on the threats, opportunities and strategies to improve Australia’s global position in research and innovation capability Today Prime Minister, we will outline the findings of the working group and present to you the resulting three recommendations that the working group believes will successfully position Australia for the future It is the clear view that Australia today faces a serious and intensifying challenge with regard to our competitiveness and therefore our future balance of trade, economic standing and our standard of living Australia must mount a systematic and strategic response to improve its science and technology capability and value-added exports, so that we are not washed over by the tidal wave of economic development of China and India as they develop innovation and knowledge-based economies Australia needs to: “Simplify private company access to publicly funded intellectual property.” Report of the Working Group on Asia to the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council, 2 June 2006

Insights from the Working Group on Asia, PMSEIC As I reported in December last year: Recognising the remarkable growth of China and India and the implications for Australia’s economic well-being, the working group was tasked with examining the growth of these two countries and advising the Government on the threats, opportunities and strategies to improve Australia’s global position in research and innovation capability Today Prime Minister, we will outline the findings of the working group and present to you the resulting three recommendations that the working group believes will successfully position Australia for the future It is the clear view that Australia today faces a serious and intensifying challenge with regard to our competitiveness and therefore our future balance of trade, economic standing and our standard of living Australia must mount a systematic and strategic response to improve its science and technology capability and value-added exports, so that we are not washed over by the tidal wave of economic development of China and India as they develop innovation and knowledge-based economies Barriers to commercialising publicly funded research: Rush to publish Bureaucratic barriers in universities State Government requirements Report of the Working Group on Asia to the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council, 2 June 2006

The DuPont experience Collaborations long part of DuPont history Gentlemen’s agreement with Father Julius Nieuwland of the University of Notre Dame in 1925 Worked to polymerize acetylene Formalized fellowship program in late 1920’s “to form broad and favorable contact between the DuPont Company and high grade colleges of the country” Show a picture of a University ???? The working group has observed that there is a real need to simplify the transfer of intellectual property from the public sector to industry because excellent science does not automatically result in innovation As the UK Lambert Review stated: “The main challenge … is not about how to increase the supply of commercial ideas from the universities into business. Instead, the question is about how to raise the overall level of demand by business for research from all sources” The working group has identified that there are barriers to the transfer of intellectual property from the public sector to industry such as: The rush to publish Bureaucratic and approval frameworks in universities And state government requirements for approval These issues produce time delays, administrative burdens and concerns from commercial partners about confidentiality, which are perceived to inhibit the commercialisation of IP The following are recommended Simplifying of the arrangement of transferring and commercialising intellectual property from universities and publicly funded research organisations Clear incentives for this research to get out into the marketplace Encourage IP protection prior to publication I will now hand over to Professor Peter Hoj who will present the rest of our recommendations Father Julius A. Nieuwland, C.S.C.

DuPont-Massachusetts Institute of Technology Alliance DuPont-MIT Biotechnology Alliance established in 2000 Bioelectronics Biosensors Biomedical materials Bioengineering Biopolymers Link MIT’s capability to create unique technology with DuPont’s understanding of the marketplace and capability to develop and commercialize technologies Alliance expanded in 2005 to include nanocomposites, nanoelectronic materials, alternative energy technologies, and next-generation safety and protection materials

Unique attributes for success with MIT Breadth of academic department participation Proposals initiated by either MIT or DuPont Joint research: DuPont liaison for each project Program administration/oversight Intellectual property rights Educational component Management School participation

Principles for effective technology transfer Be aware of what you have and what you need Build networks, determine players, establish relationships Start engagement with industry early Work with tech transfer groups to quickly narrow the field Patent before publishing Recognise global realities

Why Australian Universities? DuPont currently has 3 active collaborations and 4 other collaborations under evaluation with Australian universities The quality of Australia’s researchers Relevance to DuPont Technology gaps Importance of networking

National Innovation Framework BCA and Society for Knowledge Economics Report Five Priorities for a New National Framework Agree a National Innovation Strategy – COAG to lead Strengthen Business-Public Sector Collaboration Increase Support for Public Research And encourage business research and development Skills for Innovation through Education and Training National Infrastructure such as world class broadband

Singapore’s clean energy solution: a whole of government innovation strategy

Clean energy solution

to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. DuPont Vision To be the world’s most dynamic science company, creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere.

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