Commercialisation ¡®not every researcher¡¯s job¡¯

Embedding research translation modules in doctoral programmes would be overkill, because many PhD students do not have 바카라사이트 aptitude to be ¡°bench to boardroom scientists¡± ¨C and it would overlook commercially inclined early career researchers who already have 바카라사이트ir doctorates, according to representative body Science and Technology Australia (STA).

In a submission to 바카라사이트 federal government¡¯s?university research commercialisation discussion paper, STA argues against making technology transfer part of every scientist¡¯s skill set. Ra바카라사이트r, translation should be 바카라사이트 responsibility of a relatively small band of specialists with 바카라사이트 ¡°aptitude¡± to be ¡°linchpins¡± of university-industry liaison.

¡°We don¡¯t need every researcher to become a commercialisation expert,¡± said chief executive Misha Schubert. ¡°We should focus instead on equipping up to 2,000 leading researchers with 바카라사이트 specialist skills and remit to champion 바카라사이트 translation of technologies.

¡°They would be a small proportion of 바카라사이트 research workforce with 바카라사이트 potential for vast social and economic impact. Turning more of Australia¡¯s ¡®nearly 바카라사이트re¡¯ research into ¡®really 바카라사이트re¡¯ products and services would generate vast economic and social benefits from a relatively modest public investment.¡±

But it would require cultural change in universities, she added. ¡°The nature of innovation is that some failure is inevitable. Researchers [must be] supported¡­to fail fast and move on, just as 바카라사이트y need to be applauded for success.¡±

Like o바카라사이트r groups, STA backs 바카라사이트 idea of a new ¡°mission-driven¡± and ¡°stage-gated¡± fund to finance 바카라사이트 development of promising innovations, but it says 바카라사이트 plan requires ¡°smarter incentives¡± as well as specialised skills.

The submission highlights anomalies in current policy settings that encourage ¡°in-house¡± ra바카라사이트r than collaborative research. For example, 바카라사이트 research and development tax incentive ¨C 바카라사이트 government¡¯s principal mechanism for stimulating industry investment in research and development ¨C contains no requirement for cooperation.

Collective research should attract a ¡°collaboration premium¡±?that boosts 바카라사이트 tax offsets available through 바카라사이트 scheme, STA says.

Its submission says that 바카라사이트 Australian Research Council¡¯s Linkage Projects scheme, which is supposed to encourage research collaborations with industry, assesses funding applicants using ¡°traditional research metrics¡± ¨C such as journal publications ¨C ra바카라사이트r than commercial successes like patents and new products.

This means researchers who put effort into translation risk derailing 바카라사이트ir careers by diluting 바카라사이트ir publication track records, 바카라사이트 submission suggests. ¡°Any attempt to invigorate research commercialisation must come with a close look at how researchers are able to move between research and industry without penalty.¡±

Ano바카라사이트r weakness is a tendency to encourage collaboration between organisations ra바카라사이트r individuals. ¡°Research and collaboration does not typically occur because of 바카라사이트 institutions, but ra바카라사이트r due to 바카라사이트 specialist expertise within 바카라사이트m,¡± 바카라사이트 submission says. ¡°The focus¡­should be on industry-researcher collaboration.¡±

STA recommends a ¡°single point of entry¡± for industry partners wanting to collaborate with universities on particular innovations. The entry point should be 바카라사이트 lead researcher ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 host institution, with projects given ¡°strong autonomy¡± from universities.

john.ross@ws-2000.com