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

• IP
o 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
o they feel intimidated by academics even though they are highly qualified
o The people feel ‘so small that what could they contribute?”
o S Australians don’t ‘talk up’ the innovative infrastructure of SA when they
visit other areas
o People don’t want to double our population – don’t want the change
o Close-knit community – don’t know everyone is capable of and they stay
secular
o There is not a good model for IP transfer in this area. Researchers
shouldn’t ‘beg for money’
o Spinning out IP from a CRC to a new company is not a good model
currently – it inhibits new business and depletes university resources
(inventor leaves)
o There is no ‘norm’ for rewarding inventors
• The crown law is the first step (they ‘protect’ the government) impede the
development
• To keep youth in, support young entrepreneurs getting involved in innovations or
services for the aged (use what you have, and create a social sense between
young and old).
Issues/Possible solutions:
• IT is “doing very well” in the private sector where they have control of
infrastructure.
• There are many opportunities for growth since they could pull back from imports,
they have a lot of research and potential IP from CRC
• 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
• Mentoring is happening and isn’t talked about a lot. More communication about
this is needed
• Action item for SA is to get the real figures on young people wanting to leave SA
• A good slogan would be “Globalization via Localization”
Interview Notes
Intellectual Property
• What is being done to protect IP coming out of Australian research? It is an issue
and goes back to how do you reward the inventor. There is not a good model in
this area. Researchers shouldn’t ‘beg for money’ – it should be up to someone
else to provide the money.
• What happens to a great discovery coming out of the CRC. The crown law is the
first step (they ‘protect’ the government) impede the development. CRC has a
center agreement that provides a path for commercialization. CRCs have a
mechanism in place. CRCs are better than universities.
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