Collaborative Research and its Value to the grains industry Prof. Chris Blanchard Director, Functional Grain Centre
Outline Australia s research strengths Translating research Government agenda Evolution of the FGC Benefits/Challenges of industry collaboration
Australia s Research 2013: contributed 3.9 % of world's research output from 0.3 % of the world's population Ranked 9th in the OECD.
Translating research Australia performs poorly in translating publicly funded research into commercial outcomes. Rank 29th and 30th out of 30 OECD countries on the proportion of large businesses and SMEs collaborating with higher education and public research institutions on innovation. Ranks 23rd out of 32 countries on the % of total research publications co-authored by industry and the research sector.
Firms collaborating on innovation
SMEs collaborating on innovation with higher education institutions
Large firms collaborating on innovation with higher education institutions
Researchers working in businesses Australia has difficulty capitalising on its public investment in research due to insufficient transfer of knowledge between researchers and business.. 60% of Australian researchers are employed by the higher education sector, compared to around 30% in Germany, Canada and Sweden
Where do businesses source their research? Only 3% of Australian businesses involved with innovation activity sourced their ideas from universities 59% sourced their ideas for innovation from within the business or company Only 9.7% of innovative businesses had collaborative arrangements with universities
Research training Currently, most PhD programmes place limited focus on IP awareness, business management and entrepreneurship
What is the government response? - Assessment National impact and engagement assessment: how universities are translating their research into economic, social and other benefits and encourage greater collaboration between universities, industries and other end-users of research.
What is the government response? - Funding Industry Growth Centres (FIAL) CSIRO RDCs
What is the government response? - Funding Funding Schemes: Research connections Entrepreneurs' Programme SME Growth Program Research and Development (R&D) Tax Incentive Biomedical Translation Fund (BTF) Supply Chain Facilitation Incubator Support Small Biz Connect Advanced Food Manufacturing Grants Program SA Premium Food and Wine Credentials Grant Program Agribusiness Growth Program SA
What is the government response? - Funding ARC Industrial Transformation Research Program Industrial Transformation Training Centre Industrial Transformation Research Hub
The Functional Grain Centre: Evolution of an ARC ITTC Who is the FGC? What do we do? Where did we come from?
Who is the Function Grains Centre? Centre aims: Train the next generation of Grain Scientists Transform the grains industry from a low value commodity-based industry to a high value food and feed industry Launched 16 Feb 2015
What do we do?
Where did we come from? PhD: CSU/CSIRO/GRDC Postdoc: CSIRO/Wheat Quality CRC Academic: CSU/CRC for Sustainable Rice Production Consultant: GRDC Southern Regional Panel Research funding: CRC-> ARC Linkage -> GRDC -> ARC ITTC ->?
Tips for seeking industry focused funding Ask not what industry can do for you, but what you can do for industry
Benefits of Industry collaboration Industry assist in prioritisation of issues Outcomes more likely to be adopted Outcomes more likely to have benefit/impact Industry can provide valuable samples/advice Allows access to a range of funding opportunities Industry can provide links with other industries
IP Challenges of working industry collaoration Can be focused more on short term goals Tight timelines More demanding that funding bodies Variable engagement levels Can be difficult for PhD students to deliver Students can be treated like technicians Publication can be delayed/limited
Questions?