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The Importance of Innovation in the Manufacturing Sector…

May 9th, 2016

A characteristic feature of economic booms is that those caught up in the commotion believe they will go on perpetually. In this regard, Australia’s recent mining boom was no exception. Following the pattern of resource-based economies, a commodity price hike increased our terms of trade without any special effort on our part — adding 15 per cent to our national income over a six year period.

Consequently, Australian industrial research and development (R&D) in the second half of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was largely focused on the agriculture and mining industries. As the mining industry procured the focal point of the Australian economy, other industries in Australia became subordinate. For example, consider Australia’s high-tech manufacturing industry which contributes to less than 1 per cent of Australia’s total output.

However, Australia’s boom ended in predictable symmetry with the way it began — a commodity price collapse. This precipitated the biggest reversal of our terms of trade in five decades with immediate impact on our national income. In light of the collapse of the mining boom, Australia’s challenge is to identify new sources of growth based not just on our comparative advantage in raw materials, but on the ‘competitive advantage’ conferred by knowledge and ingenuity. Fundamentally, this will mean rethinking our approach to manufacturing.

Correspondingly, Turnbull has preached his ideology to replace the Australian mining boom with an ‘ideas boom’ – a boom which is meant to be more enduring. This was most directly reflected in the government’s $1.1 billion innovation agenda, which was released in December.

Ultimately, the manufacturing economy in Australia is at a critical juncture and innovation is what is going to push the economy forward as a new avenue of growth. The R&D tax incentive in Australia, in particular, can provide companies with a legislative platform to allow them to offset the cost of innovation. In brief, the R&D tax incentive is available to businesses that create or develop new, improved or technologically advanced products, processes or software solutions. In certain cases, it entails a 43.5% refundable tax offset to firms generating less than $20 million in annual revenue and a non-refundable 38.5% tax offset to other companies.

Undeniably, our past has relied too much on the mining boom which has subsequently condensed other industries. However, unless there is a leap in investment and a long-term effort to innovate in “what we are good at producing”, a downward trend in the wealth of the original country is to be feared. As described above, Australia is currently seeking to overcome the mining boom with an increased focus on innovation, hence the importance of R&D to drive national metamorphosis and technical change is indeed escalating.

If you would like to discuss the R&D Tax Incentive further, please do not hesitate to contact one of Swanson Reed’s offices today.

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 11. August, 2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  I have been using Swanson Reed for my clients for more than a decade.  Having a specialist firm that can provide practical and commercial advice that produces real outcomes is very important and we have received great feedback from our clients. Highly recommended.
  
 
 
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   Rueben Rajasingam  
 6. June, 2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Experienced responsive Team. They have been a great help to me and my company navigate the R&D tax claim process and have provided invaluable advice.
  
 
 
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 6. June, 2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Damian and the team at Swanson Reed have been extremely helpfully and professional during all of our consultations. Highly recommended.
  
 
 
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   Jess at Y&C  
 3. June, 2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  
  
 
 
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   Anatole Kononewsky  
 2. June, 2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  The Swanson Reed team have provided our company with exceptional professional advice and assistance for all of our R&D claims for many years - have always achieved great results with excellent value for their services.
  
 
 
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   Payam Toloo  
 2. June, 2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Damian Smyth and his team are very helpful, supportive and experts in their field of R&D Tax claims. I'm always happy with the work they do and been a customer of their for over 5 years.
  
 
 
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   Melissa Doddy  
 31. May, 2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  The Team at Swanson Reed are very experienced R&D Tax Advisors and gave us ongoing support with all of our R&D Claims, the consultants ensured we were always working with current legislative guidelines, gave us assistance with compiling technical and government documentation and went out their way to ensure they were with us for the entire process from beginning to end.  Highly recommended to anyone who needs assistance with working through what can at times be a daunting process.
  
 
 
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   Gary Watson  
 31. May, 2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  We can highly recommend Swanson and Reed as an R & D accountant. We have worked with them for several years now as they make our R & D claim so easy and communicate quickly with both us and our accountant.
  
 
 
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   Rob van den Bergh  
 31. May, 2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Always professional.
  
 
 
  
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         Posted on Google  
   
   Daniel McGregor  
 11. August, 2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  I have been using Swanson Reed for my clients for more than a decade.  Having a specialist firm that can provide practical and commercial advice that produces real outcomes is very important and we have received great feedback from our clients. Highly recommended.
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   John  
 15. June, 2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Damian and the rest of the team at Swanson Reed have been supporting us for several years.  We always appreciate their insights, expertise, and efforts.
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Rueben Rajasingam  
 6. June, 2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Experienced responsive Team. They have been a great help to me and my company navigate the R&D tax claim process and have provided invaluable advice.
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Enrique Esquivel  
 6. June, 2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Damian and the team at Swanson Reed have been extremely helpfully and professional during all of our consultations. Highly recommended.
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jess at Y&C  
 3. June, 2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Anatole Kononewsky  
 2. June, 2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  The Swanson Reed team have provided our company with exceptional professional advice and assistance for all of our R&D claims for many years - have always achieved great results with excellent value for their services.
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Payam Toloo  
 2. June, 2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Damian Smyth and his team are very helpful, supportive and experts in their field of R&D Tax claims. I'm always happy with the work they do and been a customer of their for over 5 years.
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Melissa Doddy  
 31. May, 2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  The Team at Swanson Reed are very experienced R&D Tax Advisors and gave us ongoing support with all of our R&D Claims, the consultants ensured we were always working with current legislative guidelines, gave us assistance with compiling technical and government documentation and went out their way to ensure they were with us for the entire process from beginning to end.  Highly recommended to anyone who needs assistance with working through what can at times be a daunting process.
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Gary Watson  
 31. May, 2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  We can highly recommend Swanson and Reed as an R & D accountant. We have worked with them for several years now as they make our R & D claim so easy and communicate quickly with both us and our accountant.
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Rob van den Bergh  
 31. May, 2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Always professional.
  
 
 
  
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