“Quicklook” Assessment of Greater Adelaide's Assets & Challenges ...

• Found that there is an (embryonic) industry in health. Called it Australian Health
Industry (not SA because it is national) – 5yrs-. Barbara came on board.
• Still seems that the government is not serious about biotech. They want to see the
money on the table. They still don’t have resources or a decent budget.
• They see health as being able to ‘cluster’ like other industries (e.g. defense) and
leverage talents.
• $4B R&D in health industry in Australia ($7B at J&J in comparison)
• Her opinion of CRC model: they should be run by business – because academics
have a horizon that keeps going out. They have great academics, but she’d like to
see more business structure.
• Like to see incubators
• Like to see SMEs and more small businesses. The state has 64,000 businesses,
54,000 have only 2 o3 three employees. They are “small with a capital S”
• They have people who do not have degrees who are running companies, but they
feel intimidated by academics even though they are highly qualified and have
developed -they’ve ‘managed on the smell of an oily rag’
• Family businesses fill a very important role, Calypso, Michelles, Coopers, wine
industries
• How do we get family businesses out of the cycle of ‘success’ to reinvest and
come out of their comfort zone? They think, “Why should I?” They have done it
really tough and they are beaten and feeling fragile. They don’t want to try again
because they’ve been beaten around so much. They have comfortable lifestyles
now, but don’t want to engage in business again.
• Mentoring happens through “business vision 2010” It is happening and isn’t talked
about a lot. More communication about this is needed. Could we play on their
sense of responsibility? It would be good to raise awareness through business
SA. The people feel ‘so small that what could they contribute?” They are largely
ignored.
• The x-ray, Xerox came out of this state, but it wasn’t commercialized here.
• They are organizing a forum for the health industry to get academics, business
people, etc. so that they can collaborate to increase their business.
Facilitators:
• Major training, resource and product research area
• Center is in proximity to south pacific countries
• Pioneering work in IT (includes telemedicine)
• Women are starting to make inroads into government
• Australian Health Industries was established
• They see health as being able to ‘cluster’ like other industries (e.g. defense) and
leverage talents. Clustering engages leaders and working through opportunities
• Family businesses fill a very important role, Calypso, Michelles, Coopers, wine
industries
• Mentoring happens through “business vision 2010”
• They are organizing a forum for the health industry to get academics, business
people, etc. so that they can collaborate to increase their business
Barriers/Obstacles:
• Health is not recognized as an industry by the government
• They import most of their products (11B), 90%
• They still don’t have resources or a decent budget
• Cultural
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