The ‘Empowering Industry’ project identified an ongoing need for a process to enable Industry to identify and develop R&D ideas into successful projects partnered with suitable providers and funders.
The current project improves on this model by developing an ongoing, cost-effective and transparent process that builds capacity within Industry to identify and initiate R&D, on a coordinated national or regional scale, using the most suitable service providers. This will lead to the development of Industry driven, effective and efficient projects aligning with strategic directions addressing critical issues, such as the economic and social sustainability, across sectors and jurisdictions.
A web-based project registry, using and building on existing sites (eg. SSA, FRDC, WAFIC), will ensure a transparent process to link industry with R&D providers to develop projects in cooperation.
A key focus of this project will be to ensure Industry build closer linkages with the FRABs and understands their requirements, how to achieve them and to encourage cooperation and coordination to harmonise R&D across and between sectors and jurisdictions. The project also seeks a method to engage and involve the FRABs so they better understand Industry’s broader R&D needs.
The process should lead to project proponents seeking out the best service providers, possibly leading to the development of ‘centres-of-excellence’ which will optimise skills, and increase return on R&D dollars.
This project will identify and evaluate Industry R&D ideas, provide a means to put projects into context and assess their suitability, prior to moving further into funding cycles, or identifying other options to achieve the desired outcomes.
This project will seek to have an educational and induction component, identifying FRDC’s and FRAB roles, responsibilities and processes and developing the experiential triangle of R&D; (i.e. Manager-Researcher-industry interactions) to improve outcomes adoption.
Utilising NSILP and ARLP graduates will enhance their Industry standing and input.
Final report
'Empowering II' sought to develop an ongoing, cost-effective and transparent process, whereby the best industry RD&E ideas, on a national or regional scale, could be obtained, linked with the most suitable RD&E providers, and developed into successful projects with valuable industry outcomes in efficiency, profitability, and capacity building. While the underlying objective of Empowering Industry remained sound, as the project proceeded, it was agreed to vary the focus to facilitate the capture of the RD&E needs of the fishing and seafood industry and bring them into the higher level research prioritisation process. The Queensland and Victorian Fisheries research Advisory Bodies (FRABs) agreed to be case studies to use the Empowering Industry approach and framework to feed into their prioritisation process. The trial FRAB case studies showed that the Empowering Industry process and website is a cost effective means to more closely link industry needs with FRAB priorities, and that it provides a direct way to engage with a diverse range of stakeholder groups in the commercial and recreational sectors.
Key Words: cost-effective, R&D industry, link.
