The innovation statement, released in December, unveiled a $1.1 billion plan to foster innovation with 24 new measures across 11 different Government groups. Certainly, the plan is wide-ranging; however, it falls short on delivering a globally competitive commercialisation model – an area in which Australia is struggling. To clarify, the 2015 Australian Innovation System Report, released by the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, stated that Australia is exceptional when it comes to research, but the nation is still struggling to commercialise […]
As Australia barrels towards an election on July 2, major parties have been announcing excerpts of their policies as the week progresses. Most recently, the Greens have unveiled their election policy for 2016, boasting a large focus on agriculture and abandoning the higher taxes for working holidaymakers (“backpackers tax”). However, the centrepiece of the Green’s policy was a pledging for extra funding for research and development (R&D) and Landcare. In specific, the party is aiming to convert farmer voters with a promise to […]
Investing in research and development (R&D) is key to increasing innovation, productivity and competitive advantage. It is not only beneficial for businesses, but is also advantageous for the economy of our country. In fact, for many multinational companies, Australia has become the centre of their global R&D activities. This is primarily due to a highly skilled workforce, suitable infrastructure and a favourable R&D tax incentive program. Australia’s R&D Tax Incentive, which has replaced the R&D Tax Concession since the 1st of July […]
Research and development (R&D) by small companies is thriving, providing positive news for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s drive for businesses to be more innovative in the post-mining boom. To elaborate, new findings in the federal budget papers reveal that small companies spend proportionally more of their revenues on research and development than large ones. In specific, companies with turnover of less than $20 million are the key attributors to the surge in R&D spending in Australia. The federal budget further forecasts that […]