THE GLOBAL RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT HOW MIGHT AUSTRALIA PARTICIPATE MORE EFFECTIVELY?

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1 THE GLOBAL RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT HOW MIGHT AUSTRALIA PARTICIPATE MORE EFFECTIVELY?, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Global Engagement ) Pro-Vice Chancellor (Industry Engagement & Commercialisation) The innovation landscape has changed Competitors are providing long term strategies, investment and a consistent international message regarding research collaboration Focus on solutions to complex challenges (socio-economic) Need to integrate global capabilities and tailor them to local needs Redistribution and competition in the global innovation workforce Relative growth in solutions oriented funding Universities broadening beyond their knowledge creation role Increasing entrepreneurship amongst researchers and students 9 th October,

2 As have the issues impacting participation Clients expect networks to self-form (open-innovation) Comprising select partners specialising in parts of the solution Locally tailoring delivery, governance and financing models Co-investing or providing initial development Nationally, Australia lacks a strong-form international strategy with systematic mechanisms for global initiatives Do we maximize the benefit of our connections to global players What is our response to other nations globalising their research What is our strategy for joining global schemes, e.g. for ERC How do we garner long term political will to engage/compete 9 th October, Many models exist for international partnering Emerging Evolving Traditional 9 th October,

3 Australia must engage more at the higher tiers This is a real cost of doing international research 9 th October, Its collaborations must build pathways... Need /Concept University / Government Translation to Community Socioeconomic Outcomes Much innovation globally comes from NoE models, e.g. Europe s Framework based networks Australia s international CoEs and CRCs Various issues specific networks Involves many stakeholders (internationally) to create critical mass and pathways around the major challenges Leverage array of local and international funding opportunities as well as capabilities 9 th October,

4 Provide comprehensive offerings Comprehensive Activities 9 th October, And allow the funds and time for transition 9 th October,

5 Some issues Australia needs to act upon Need to determine where and how to strategically engage; Take a long term perspective and strategically support it Raise its visibility within global stakeholder community Select which models to engage (scale, funding, time-horizon) Establish solutions to systemic issues; Cross-border issues (e.g. funding, shared quality frameworks) Staff and student mobility (and HR challenges) IP and coordinated industry approaches Catalytic funding < fundable ideas Capturing and rewarding international performance 9 th October, Samples of major integrated networks (Mid-tier) Eliminate Dengue Program: supported by the Gates and Tahija Foundations with nodes in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Brazil EMBL Australia: only non-european partner laboratory of EMBL, connecting various Australian partners to Europe CRC for Water Sensitive Cities: collaboration of over 70 local and international research, industry and government partners Australia-China Research Centre for Light Metals (ACCLiM): headed by Monash University and Central-South University, China 9 th October,

6 Joint research academy model (Top-tier) IITB-Monash Research Academy Deeply connects both organisations Focus on global and industry issues Established 2007 Over 120 PhD students Plan to have PhD students and 30 postdocs at any given time. Thematic multidisciplinary research in 6 areas: Advanced computational engineering, simulation and manufacture Infrastructure engineering Biotechnology and stem-cell research Clean energy Water Nanotechnology 9 th October, Alliance model: Warwick-Monash (Top-tier) Warwick University is strongly positioned within Europe; Strong in manufacturing; chemical sciences; mathematics and simulation; health; arts and social sciences A large array of high-quality thematic research centres Innovative in undergraduate and postgraduate training Strategy aligns with and compliments Monash s; Seeking to innovate relative to peer group Range of high quality research and training capabilities Linked to quality international (delivery) networks Unique models for translation of R&D and training to industry 9 th October,

7 Summary Traditional academic to academic partnering and global research capability access should be free-flowing and empowered Strategic (critical mass) areas need facilitation within a broader national strategic framework, requiring; Long-term, consistent political support (cf. Europe) Understanding of how Australian strategies fit into global picture Creation of (global) critical-mass at minimal cost Greater capacity to position within the solutions value-chain Linking of research to education in areas of impact 9 th October,