1. Improving Australia’s Competitive Position
Hutch Ranck, July 2008

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. Clean energy solution

13. 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.

14. Questions