USQ and industry benefit from Innovation Seminar

The Innovation: Strengthening Business and Industry seminar was held at USQ on Wednesday 23 March.

The Innovation: Strengthening Business and Industry seminar was well received

 

More than 85 industry leaders; State and Federal Government Department representatives and USQ staff attended the seminar, where funding and assistance for innovation was discussed, along with highlighting the benefits of collaboration.

Ms Belinda Luscombe, USQ’s Business Development Manager with the Office of External Relations, said these particular events were beneficial for USQ research and businesses in the region.

'We hosted many important decision makers in research and various industries that will benefit from research that USQ is currently undertaking and will undertake in the future,' Ms Luscombe said.

'We had speakers from Enterprise Connect, AusIndustry, Commercialisation Australia, BAC Technologies, CSIRO, DEEDI and the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce.

'Those in attendance heard about the current tax concessions, funding programs, how to profit from research and what assistance is available to organisations that employ researchers.'

The half-day forum was viewed as a successful event by many attendees with the audience of key decision makers providing an important networking opportunity.

Mr Stuart Hazell, Case Manager for Commercialisation Australia said that being able to convert research into a commercial product or service was important and this event outlined government assistance with this process.

'There was very useful information that was shared to provide guidance to researchers to align their research with commercial realities,' Mr Hazell said.

'Events like this will help solve the problem of market access for researchers and provides important national and regional contacts for researchers.'

Throughout 2010 USQ made a commitment to grow research and improve the quality of the research outputs. The University's research has been recognised as world leading research with many organisations seeking to collaborate with USQ researchers.

Mr Paul Flynn, State Manager with the Federal Government’s Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research – AusIndustry was confident that additional opportunities are available to USQ researchers and businesses in the Toowoomba region in the future.

'I was happy to come to USQ and present to businesses and researchers engaging in research and development and international trade,' Mr Flynn said.

'I hope that business can gain benefit from their research and development with the aid of the R&D Tax Concession and other AusIndustry programs.'

USQ’s Office of External Relations provides services to assist researchers at USQ to connect with industry and with project management. Academics interested in industry collaboration or commercialising research can seek assistance from the Office.

The seminar was supported by USQ, the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce and the Federal Government’s Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research – AusIndustry and Commercialisation Australia.

Contact Details:
Sam Tickell, USQ Media , +61 7 4631 2559