IP protection key to export success: Carr

THE Federal Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research has launched a national seminar series aimed at reducing risks faced by small businesses in trying to protect their intellectual property when exporting.

Innovation Minister Kim Carr said the seminars, to be conducted in all Australian states and territories between now and the end of the month, were a tool for small businesses unsure of how to protect their intellectual property when venturing overseas.

The ‘IP Passport’ seminars explain how Australian businesses can better protect their valuable IP, including patents, trade marks and designs, before they export their goods and services.

“IP protection overseas can be a minefield for businesses, particularly in Asia” Senator Carr said. “I encourage small businesses to familiarise themselves with the IP laws in export markets so they can effectively manage their IP assets when dealing with overseas business partners.”

Recent research estimates there are over 40 000 exporting businesses, with around 15 per cent of all small to medium enterprises (SMEs) now actively engaged in exporting.

Many SMEs are also moving beyond traditional exporting and importing and are globally engaged through licensing, franchising, strategic alliances and global supply chain. IP can be an integral bargaining chip in negotiating deals to access new markets overseas.

“Intellectual property is something that a business needs to get right from the start if they want to be successful,” IP Australia director general Phillip Noonan said.

“If you make an IP mistake when you first commence exporting, it can be virtually impossible to recover.”

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Carr strengthens India research ties

AUSTRALIAN Innovation Minister Kim Carr has met with his Indian counterpart and says the two countries are working toward strengthening science and technology relationships.

Senator Carr met the Indian Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Kapil Sibal in Melbourne last week to discuss the bilateral relations between the two countries.

These include forthcoming jointly-funded workshops the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund.

“Australia and India share many common areas of research interest and there are many exciting and world leading projects currently taking place between the two countries that will provide benefits to both our nations,” Senator Carr said.

“As part of our commitment to mutually beneficial research the Australian Government will support two collaborative workshops in emerging fields of biotechnology where we have complementary strengths,” he said.

The Indian and Australian governments have already committed to supporting two collaborative workshops in emerging fields of biotechnology where we have complementary strengths.

These include a joint workshop next month sharing developments in the research fields of nutraceuticals and functional foods, and another workshop on commercialised transgenic crops as well as those under development.

"The Australian Government remains committed to the relationship with India, particularly through our largest bilateral research arrangement - the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund.”

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Carr reviews R&D support programs

LESS than three months into the job, the Rudd Government has moved to review its research and development support programs, opening the door to an increase in the R&D tax concession rate.

Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Minister Kim Carr yesterday announced a broad review of the Australian ‘national innovation system’, to be headed by consultant and CSIRO board member Terry Cutler.

Senator Carr said the review would look at ways to streamline government assistance, possibly reducing the number of different federal R&D support initiatives and eliminating duplication with State government programs.

Senator Carr is a long-time advocate of the Commonwealth’s 125 per cent R&D tax concession as a means of driving innovation and improved productivity in Australia, and the review presents the first opportunity to introduce such a change.

“This review represents a watershed opportunity for the development of ideas that will ensure Australia reaches its full potential as a dynamic, internationally competitive and prosperous nation,” Senator Carr said.

“In particular, we need to find ways to increase innovation performance across the economy, to ensure that business has better access to new ideas and new technologies and to bridge the divide between industry and research,” he said.

Senator Carr said that central to the review would be to examine the bewildering array of government innovation and industry assistance programs.

“At last count there were 169 programs in Australia, across all levels of government, aimed at supporting innovation,” Senator Carr said.

“The review will allow the Rudd Government to work with the States and Territories to streamline these programs, reducing fragmentation and improving effectiveness.

The committee conducting the reviews includes BHP Billiton technology vice-president Dr Megan Clark; Macquarie Bank and Telstra director Catherine Livingston; and Commonwealth Chief Scientist Dr Jim Peacock.

Senator Carr also announced a review of the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) program as part of a broader review of the national innovation system. The review will identify areas to further promote and encourage investment and collaboration between research and industry.

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Carr moves on Research Council

ONE of the nation’s best known ICT industry research executives Professor Arun Sharma has been appointed to the Australian Research Council’s new advisory body as government moves to give researchers greater independence.

Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Minister Kim Carr said the appointment of the ARC advisory council was the first stage of Federal Labor’s election promise to restore independence to the Australian Research Council.

Prof Sharma is deputy Vice-Chancellor for research and commercialisation at the Queensland University of Technology and has played a leadership role in ICT research and development in Australia.

Prof Sharma was involved in the founding of National ICT Australia (NICTA) and was the inaugural director at the NICTA Sydney research laboratory. Prior to that, he had been head of the prestigious School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of NSW>

He was also involved in the founding of the Cooperative Research Centre for Smart Internet Technology and has been on the ICT Sector Advisory Committee of the CSIRO.

Senator said the appointment of the advisory committee would improve the independence of research in Australia. The committee is so far comprised of six appointees from a variety of disciplines from ICT, pharmaceuticals, physics and the humanities.

“Research is not a political plaything to be toyed with at the whim of the Government,” Senator Carr said.

“Research is a matter of vital national importance, the outcomes of which have a significant impact on Australia’s ongoing prosperity and standing in the world,” he said.

“It is our responsibility to seek and respect the views of those individuals most able to provide valuable insight into the issues faced by researchers and shape an environment that will deliver the best possible results for all Australians.”

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ICT get a boost in new Cabinet

THE technology industry has been given a major profile boost in Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s first Cabinet, with the appointment of two senior Ministers with responsibility for ICT-critical issues.

Stephen Conroy was appointed as Minister to the newly-named portfolio of Broadband, Communications and Digital Economy. Senator Conroy has been shadow IT and communications spokesman since 2004, and had been expected to retain those responsibilities – largely because of the incredible complexities of telecommunications regulation (and Telstra-related regulatory issues).

Senator Conroy was a driving force behind Labor’s bold A$4.7 billion national broadband pledge, made in March.

Less expected was the appointment of fellow Victorian Senator Kim Carr as Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Senator Carr had been shadow Industry Minister, but Mr Rudd bolstered the portfolio with the addition of Innovation.

Senator Carr will oversee the implementation of industry assistance programs – which will play a huge role in the development of indigenous software companies.

The appointments have been welcomed by the industry.

“We are pleased that the Prime Minister-elect, Kevin Rudd, has acknowledged technology as the driving force of our nation’s economic prosperity and reinforced this stance by including the ICT portfolio in Cabinet,” said the Australian Computer Society’s out-going national President Philip Argy.

“Innovation is a pivotal force in building our national economy and energising our industry. Our prosperity is dependent on productivity gains underpinned by innovation in information and communications technologies,” Mr Argy said.

Lindsay Tanner’s appointment as Finance Minister in the Rudd Cabinet has also been welcomed. Mr Tanner has been a Shadow Communications Minister and is very familiar with the industry.

As a technology buyer, the federal government wields, tremendous influence through the Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO), which falls within the Department of Finance.

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