Research & a smart future
Scientia Professor Veena Sahajwalla – Director, Sustainable Materials Research and Technology at the University of New South Wales and BESydney Ambassador
Technology: inspired solutions
Boeing looks to Australia for innovation
Australia is the place where Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace company, has made its largest investment outside the United States. During the past 10 years, Boeing has transferred an estimated A$100 million in technological know-how to Australia and invested more than A$500 million in plant equipment, training and research laboratories. Boeing Australia now has seven wholly-owned subsidiaries.
Innovation and technology are highly prized as keys to future economic growth in the NSW economy. NSW currently invests A$6 billion on research and development (R&D) every year. In fact, the R&D investment has trebled in 10 years, twice the OECD average. NSW has the largest research sector in Australia, with the country ranked seventh in the world for the quality of its research institutions by the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2012-13 . The NSW Government’s Innovation and Productivity Council acts to support and stimulate research and innovation in business, government and education and research sectors to increase productivity for the wider State economy. Significant work has been undertaken to align research investments with industry and economy-wide needs. The Council supports R&D in areas including life sciences, photonics, robotics and energy. Australia’s research institutions have achieved a solid international reputation for quality, and the NSW Government’s successful Tech Voucher Program aims to increase the transfer of knowledge from NSW’s research bodies to the business community.
Reasons why Boeing chose Australia: • Australia’s rigorous protection of intellectual property • The quality of Australian university graduates • The general business environment and Australia’s strong, resilient economy.
NSW industry: a ‘smart’ future ‘Smart industry’ brings together information, technology and invention to apply intelligence to all aspects of business. NSW is supporting the rise of smart industry as its economy diversifies together with its track record of innovation in industries such as biotechnology, ICT, renewable energy, aquaculture and digital media. An inspiring example is the research team at the University of New South Wales, spearheaded by ‘solar superman’ Martin Green, which could revolutionise the global energy industry. Their solar cell research has already had wide-reaching success thanks to their international links, which have turned Australian technological smarts into a manufacturing reality. “Australia also has one of the highest rates of patent applications for brilliant innovations in renewable energy and biotechnology, and is home to many inventions that we take for granted,” says Lewis-Smith. “Think the bionic ear, Wi-Fi, Google Maps, spray-on skin and the black box flight recorder to name just a few. Our people are renowned for inspired solutions.”
INTELLECTUAL CAPITALS | 2014 | SYDNEY 9
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