Professor Veena Sahajwalla ARC Laureate Fellow Director, Centre for Sustainable Materials Research & Technology Dealing with Industry Partners Industry Collaboration & Innovation

Materials Science and Engineering Challenges that researchers might face –Early career researchers may not have worked with industry –Need to develop skills for proactive engagement with industry –Understanding the needs of industry and the ‘Big-Picture’ (essential for innovation and collaboration which can deliver benefits to industry and humanity)

Materials Science and Engineering Understand the ‘Big-Picture’ - Why Innovate? –New opportunities for business through innovation –Recognise and identify future challenges, for example environment, resources, social issues etc. –Economic benefits and value for business

Materials Science and Engineering Collaboration & Innovation Industry is looking for ideas that are often unexpected that are generated from diversity of thinking

Materials Science and Engineering Collaboration & Innovation Collaboration increases the human capital contributing to the generation and development of new ideas to improve and grow a business

Materials Science and Engineering Collaboration & Intellectual Capital –Regular engagement with a broad range of partners to continually generate ideas and encourage feedback –Innovation framework needs to go beyond isolated ideas and discoveries –To progress rapidly beyond ideas and discoveries, we need to develop research and technological partnerships

Materials Science and Engineering Partnerships –Industry and academic partnerships have a significant influence on enhancing and promoting innovation –Research and development plays an important role in fostering these connections, facilitating innovation and developing technology

Materials Science and Engineering What is innovation? –Innovation can be anything that improves people’s lives –This ranges from ideas that lead to improved safety, health, greater efficiency, user-friendly and cost-effective solutions –It leads to advances in technology –It provides competitive advantages for business

Materials Science and Engineering Innovation Innovation can come in many forms It can be used for more than the development of new technologies, it can also improve on traditional products and practice –Transforming knowledge into improved outcomes – micro innovation –Innovation can also create radical transformations – macro innovation (game-changing solutions)

Our journey of long-term partnerships with industry –Moving from ‘idea’ to ‘impact’ – resulting in technological advances in Australia and exporting these advances to the world –The collaboration between the research knowledge of academia and the practical skills of industry has led to win - win outcomes for both –Moving beyond the first success to further successes for both industry and academia (eg ARC Hub)

Materials Science and Engineering What the Research Office could do to facilitate collaboration Establish an Advisory Group, with complementary skills, to advise researchers well in advance of starting new collaborations with industry and enhancing existing collaborations – advising on, for example: –Engagement strategy development (short term) and encourage ‘big-picture understanding’ –Opportunities for seed funding –Terms of engagement and potential for developing long-term collaboration, enhancing intellectual capital –Develop networks with SMEs and local councils –Encourage strategic thinking

Thank you Australian Research Council– Industrial Transformation Research Hub Laureate Fellowship Linkage Projects Discovery Projects Industry Partners– OneSteel, Arrium Mining Consumables Brickworks Building Projects, TES-AMM Australia Jaylon Industries,Tersum Energy, Hyundai Steel