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Should Australia Focus on Businesses to Drive Innovation?

October 21st, 2015

The Turnbull government have voiced their opinion on changing Australia to be more innovative, namely by endorsing start-ups. Early this month, Wyatt Roy, the Assistant Minister for Innovation, cited about how Israel transformed itself into a modern economy with more start-ups per capita than any other country, and how Australia could do the same to position ourselves as a world leader. The Turnbull government has already revealed that they are working on a major innovation agenda with crowdfunding for start-ups and tax breaks for ‘angel investors’ taking top priorities.

However, start-ups are not the only answer in ensuring Australia drives an economy of innovation. Businesses already operating in Australia can propel innovation in their company by investing in research and development. Certainly, Australia has quite small capital in comparison to other countries, but we are a strong, capable player in the global research system and that is a great asset.

The most suitable, recent example of harnessing innovation in established businesses is, rather surprisingly, mining. In the past 20 years, Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) sector has greatly evolved in Australia. For example, in 2013 there was over 1,000 METS firms with a turnover in the A$70-90 billion range and employing more than 300,000 people. Furthermore, in the 2012 financial year, the mining sector invested at least A$1.5 billion in R&D.

More recently, Rio Tinto has been driving innovation through implementing driverless mining trucks. The trucks are currently moving high-grade iron ore that is mined at Pilbara, Western Australia. The trucks are controlled by an operations centre in Perth and can run 24/7, vastly reducing the possibility of dangerous mistakes and fatigue in a normally high-risk job.

Although start-ups are a great idea to boost innovation in Australia, established organisations that invest in R&D can expedite innovation and create returns for their own business. Additionally, R&D can assist in creating long-term economic value and a competitive advantage for Australia. Undoubtedly, creating new opportunities for innovation is crucial and incentives are a big enabler of this. The R&D Tax Incentive is one of the most effective methods of support for research. Over the last ten years the US venture capital market invested four times more than Australia (per capita). R&D Tax Incentives can play a substitute role where venture capital cannot be raised and by investing in established organisations, individual companies can assist in driving innovation nationally by increasing competitive advantage. For more information, or to find out if you may be eligible for this grant and how it will affect your claims under the R&D tax incentive, contact one of our specialist advisers.

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 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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 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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         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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