Tag: research & development

There’s something fundamentally wrong with a nation that takes little interest in a brighter future. Yet, it seems that’s...

Start-ups and SMEs in general have many enviable characteristics, among them being passion, ambition, risk taking and forward thinking. Unfortunately, healthy cash flow has never...

While it seems like an eternity since it was first announced, the new R&D Tax Credit has finally been passed. So what does that mean for the average company plugging away at research and development? The R&D Tax Credit is the key support tool used by the government to assist businesses undertaking R&D in Australia. The new program will apply retrospectively from 1 July 2011 and replaces the R&D Tax Concession.

Generally, in Australia, there are two main types of government funds available: Government Grants and Research and Development Tax Breaks. There can be a lot of appeal in trying to access Government Grants. However, if I had to pick a government funding program for my business, I know which one I would choose: R&D Tax Breaks. Here's why.

Six people with academic specialties ranging from chemistry to the creative arts have been added to the Australian Research Council, which advises the Gillard government on investment in research and development.

Who should we blame when we find out that we’ve missed the boat on hundreds of thousands of dollars in guaranteed government R&D funding? Ourselves? The Government? Or our Accountant? In other words, who has the responsibility and duty of care to ensure we make our R&D tax claim at tax time?

Caroline Hughes transformed her frustration into a business that boasts a suite of online tools that make the R&D tax claim process more accessible and far less intimidating. For that, Hughes and her company top the charts in Anthill's SMART 100.

Caroline Hughes transformed her frustration into a business that boasts a suite of online tools that make the R&D tax claim process more accessible and far less intimidating. For that, Hughes and her company top the charts in Anthill's SMART 100.

Both good and ill sentiments have been shared about Commercialisation Australia since its launch in early 2010. Recently, Adrian Spencer pinpointed six myths about CA. But are we overlooking the benefits of the competitive process by dwelling on the shortcomings? Andrew Weller thinks so. Here, he argues that the point of CA isn’t merely to fund good ideas but to encourage strong business models that withstand the rigours of competition.

Long before the term ‘GFC’ became common parlance, cost cutting was part of the fabric of business. The question is: are all departments of an organisation eligible for outsourcing or should some be kept close to the company’s chest? Peter Lewis looks at what can be done with Research and Development.

Long before the term ‘GFC’ became common parlance, cost cutting was part of the fabric of business. The question is: are all departments of an organisation eligible for outsourcing or should some be kept close to the company’s chest? Peter Lewis looks at what can be done with Research and Development.

Much of the discussion about business innovation and commercialisation in this country focuses on technology transfer and public R&D. However, it’s worth reminding ourselves that agriculture and primary industries still constitute a large proportion of Australia’s GDP. And these sectors are crying out for innovation reform too. Brian Ramsay explains the significance of the upcoming Productivity Commission inquiry into rural R&D corporations.

Much of the discussion about business innovation and commercialisation in this country focuses on technology transfer and public R&D. However, it’s worth reminding ourselves that agriculture and primary industries still constitute a large proportion of Australia’s GDP. And these sectors are crying out for innovation reform too. Brian Ramsay explains the significance of the upcoming Productivity Commission inquiry into rural R&D corporations.

Entrepreneurs like to fly by the seat of their pants, implementing ideas almost as quickly as they occur. However, successful companies know the critical importance of adding a sturdy layer of testing to the product development process. Pollenizer’s Mick Liubinskas explains.

Mistry believes that the next step in computing is blending human gestures in the physical world with that of our everday digital needs, thus bringing it, and us, closer together. At the same time this will free us from the interfacing restrictions that we currently experience.

Major inventions and technical breakthroughs often happen by accident. Here legendary Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak explains how, while working with Steve Jobs to meet a deadline for Atari, he went four days without sleep, leading to one of his greatest technological breakthroughs.

Plans by Silex Systems Limited to buy the assets of Solar Systems, the Melbourne-based solar energy company that was placed into administration last September, injects life into a cherished plan, but uncertainty persists. Government support is in the offing and, worse for engineers, the technology remains unproven at utility scale.

Our 'secret-squirrels' have revealed to Anthill that the seven board positions, appointed to analyse and approve Commercialisation Australia funding applications, have been filled and that an announcement is imminent. No-one knows who will be among this 'magnicifent seven' other than those appointed or involved in the decision. In fact, it is a complete mystery to external observers how these important functionaries were selected. Was there some sort of process behind closed doors? Were they vetted? Were the decisions political? Or vaguely political, chosen in the same fashion as a US High Court Judge, to perform the role yet still be 'on-side' with the powers that be?

Inconsistency is what most influences an organisation's decision to invest in R&D and the extent of its R&D investment. This is because a company cannot budget and minimise risk if it does now know the extent to which it is likely to be eligible for a tax concession. The proposed reforms to the R&D tax concession not only conflict with their stated purpose but offer no consistency to organisations already engaged in the complex task of commercialising innovation... whether novel or risky.

Inconsistency is what most influences an organisation's decision to invest in R&D and the extent of its R&D investment. This is because a company cannot budget and minimise risk if it does now know the extent to which it is likely to be eligible for a tax concession. The proposed reforms to the R&D tax concession not only conflict with their stated purpose but offer no consistency to organisations already engaged in the complex task of commercialising innovation... whether novel or risky.