1. Grants and Industry Engagement Issues Advantages and Disadvantages
Prof. Sati Bhattacharya
Rheology and Materials Processing Centre
School of Civil, Environmental & Chemical Engineering
RMIT University
Rheology and Materials Processing Centre

2. Grants and Industry Engagement
Advantages:
Focused industry related research
Encourage collaboration with Industry
Boost IP creation
Increased IP revenue for University
Effective way to move research results from academic laboratories to the market place
Flexible offering of Salary and Scholarships
Less time spent in writing grant applications

3. Grants and Industry Engagement
Advantages: …continued
Induce closer ties with Industry
Generate more income
Research training on industry-relevant projects
Good job prospect at the end of project
May lead to further consulting

4. Grants and Industry Engagement
Disadvantages:
Confidentiality
Relatively short life cycle
Demand on deliverables
Short-term deliverables expected
Less opportunity of fundamental research
Require good communication / negotiation skills
More reports / presentations required
Limited public exposure of research

5. Grants and Industry Engagement
Effect on IP or Publications:
Confidential Materials cannot be published
Publications may be restricted
Thesis may be classified
Usually Industry approval is required before publication
IP may or may not be owned
Patent application costs may be paid / shared by Industry

6. Grants and Industry Engagement
Effect of Industry Timeline on Academic Progress:
Industry focuses on deliverables
Industry project plan may conflict with student project plan
Industry may ask for more report and feedback on progress
Industry may ask for student participation in meetings, writing report, etc.

7. Grants and Industry Engagement
Impact from changing Industry priorities:
Change in Project Plan
Change in project objectives / outcomes
Reduced / increased activities
Funding may be stopped or renegotiated for lack of perceived progress

8. Grants and Industry Engagement
FURTHER ISSUES….
Conflict of Interest
Commitment of Time
Consulting vs. Contract Research
Maintaining Research Integrity
Academics having interest in Research Outcome

9. Grants and Industry Engagement
CASE STUDY
Successful ARC Linkage Grant
For 3 years ( 1 PDF + 1 APAI )
But…
Change in Industry Management
Industry Un-willing to Continue
Negotiation Led to Some Change in Project Direction
Further Industry Management Change after 1 Year
Dispute after 2 Years
Resolution after Intense Negotiations
Eventually the Project Finished Very Successfully