Dealing with Industry Partners Presented by Liz Visher, Director, Programme Partnerships Australian Research Council and Louise Fleck, Macquarie University Veena Sahajwalla, The University of NSW

The Policy Context Industry Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda Boosting the Commercial Returns from Research Strategy New research priorities and industry growth centres Understanding and conveying Research Impact Reducing red tape vs baseline accountability The international context… Web: arc.gov.au I

2014–15 Federal Budget (Approx. AU$415 billion) Australian Government support for science, research and innovation shown in red (Treasury omitted)

Commonwealth Investment in R&D 2015–16 (%) Web: arc.gov.au I

OECD 2013b—firms collaborating on innovation with higher education and public research institutions Web: arc.gov.au I

Sources of ideas or information for innovation-active Australian firms Australian Innovation System report 2011, Chapter 4 Web: arc.gov.au I

ARC—working with industry So what really is the intent of Linkage? What dealings does the ARC have with industry in Pre- and Post-award? The scale of ARC investments—encouraging industry to collaborate (one to many participants) An business appetite for collaboration, risk and innovation? Partnerships types—differing strategies Web: arc.gov.au I

61% of all relinquishments and terminations of LP projects were related to Partner Organisations not meeting their contributions Variation typesTotal Addition of Partner Investigator(s)15 Addition of Partner Organisation15 Addition of Partner Organisation and Partner Investigator(s)13 Change of Partner Investigator(s)86 Change of Partner Organisation57 Change of Partner Organisation and addition of Partner Investigator(s)5 Change of Partner Organisation and Partner Investigator(s)25 Change of Partner Organisation and Removal of Partner Investigator(s)4 Removal of Partner Investigator(s)25 Removal of Partner Organisation40 Removal of Partner Organisation and change of Partner Investigator(s)1 Removal of Partner Organisation and Partner Investigator(s)20 Overall Total of PO/PI changes306 38% of VFAs are related to Linkage Projects and ITRP (January 2013 to July 2015) Web: arc.gov.au I

VFA’s submitted January 2013 to July 2015— by discipline

are unable to meet their cash-contributions. This is being reported to the ARC before, during and after the Project has been completed are dissatisfied with the level of collaboration and inclusion in the Project. This is reported to the ARC both via the Research Office and from Partner Orgs have relationships which break down due to poor ongoing engagement and management with researchers. Have IP disagreements, don’t understand that the project commencement is deferred because of long contract negotiations, and also have trouble understanding how student placements work with ITRP refuse to complete final reports because the university spent the ARC funds first but the research project is still continuing with PO funds Web: arc.gov.au I Partner Organisations

Web: arc.gov.au I Say Linkage provides: A long-term professional relationship — the contacts and ongoing relationships developed through the project often led to other projects or the ability to discuss issues and keep in contact: this was highly valuable to each party Important research outcomes — these included new knowledge or solving particular problems through the research project(s) Building capacity — training and developing skills was an important factor identified by universities and their academic staff. Student placements are beneficial as potential new recruits or emerging researchers that know industry issues very well Better connected and leveraged research capability — the projects brought together different expertise, knowledge and /or resources that would not have been available to the individual parties involved Partner Organisations

Partner Organisation participation Linkage Projects scheme Web: arc.gov.au I

Partner Organisation Views: Why use LP Scheme? Web: arc.gov.au I

Some questions What could ARC do to improve collaboration? (Pre and Post award) What could Research Offices do to better facilitate collaboration? What can researchers do to improve engagement with existing and new industries? What could industry do to engage with the research sector? Commissioned services versus research outcomes Web: arc.gov.au I

Other perspectives Research Office Industry Working Group—early findings of survey work - Louise Fleck, Director, Research Office, Macquarie University An ITRP director’s perspective - ARC Laureate Fellow and Scientia Professor Veena Sahajwalla, The University of NSW

Thank You