1. CSIRO: Supporting Small Business Innovation
Cate Turner| SME Engagement Manager (NSW & ACT)
16 November 2012
SME ENGAGEMENT CENTRE

2. Small Businesses Want to Innovate…
“The continuing
competitiveness of the
manufacturing sector
depends in large part on its
capacity to be innovative.”*
Trendwatching.com, a leading
independent consumer trends
firm, said that innovation is the
only way to survive.
* Australian Business Foundation, Australian Innovation in Manufacturing, 2006
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3. And innovation in business is increasing…

4. …But there are barriers
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5. CSIRO today: a snapshot
Australia’s national science agency
One of the largest & most diverse in the world
6500+ staff over 58 locations
Ranked in top 1% in 13 research fields
20+ spin-off companies in six years
150+ active licences of CSIRO innovation
Building national prosperity and wellbeing

6. Our focus on industry
› 1,600 › 350 + › 150 + SPINOUTS
AUSTRALIAN MULTI- INTERESTS IN 34
COMPANIES NATIONALS
› 34 =
› BIG AUSTRALIANS & SMEs
› $1BILLION
› 80 NEW LICENSES › $120MILLION
› 300 +
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7. Our track record: top inventions
2. POLYMER 3. RELENZA 4. EXTENDED
BANKNOTES FLU TREATMENT WEAR CONTACTS
1. FAST WLAN 5. AEROGARD 6. TOTAL 7. RAFT
Wireless Local POLYMERISATION
WELLBEING DIET
Area Network
8. BARLEYMAX 9. SELF TWISTING 10. SOFTLY
YARN WASHING LIQUID
7 |

8. Our business units
FOOD, HEALTH ENERGY ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION & MANUFACTURING,
& LIFE SCIENCE COMMUNICATIONS MATERIALS &
INDUSTRIES MINERALS
11 National Research Flagships 12 Research Divisions
+ National Research Facilities
and Collections
+ Transformational
Capability Platforms
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9. What about small businesses? Applied Research
A NSW Food Business A NSW Oil Manufacturing Company
Designing new packaging to allow Exploring new, environmentally friendly
access to new overseas markets ways to refine and resell recycled oil
A Small NSW Fruit Company
Exploring ways to preserve fresh health juices to reach
supermarket shoppers – families in the suburbs, in
addition to wealthy urbanites
9 |

10. CSIRO SME Engagement Centre
Grant Scheme
To incentivise and assist SME’s to engage with the research community as a
capability to solve technical development challenges the company would
otherwise be unable to perform or afford.
10 |

11. SME Engagement
• Find the right researcher
• Facilitate the conversation
• Manage the contract
• Manage the application for funding
11 |

12. Researcher in Business – Support Offered
50% of salary costs
~ 1/4 - 1/3rd of
project costs
Maximum Grant
$50k
Projects 2-12 months in duration
1-2 researchers working directly with 1 SME
12 |

13. Eligibility
>$1m pa <$100m pa
Manufacturing (and manufacturing related services)
Resources Technology
Clean Technology – environment
Defence
Creative Industries
Tourism
Located in remote Australia
ACN
13 |

14. The Process
• Standard Contract
template.
Contracts • Company owns activity IP
• CSIRO invoices company for X%
of its contribution
Project • CSIRO invoices company for X%
Initiation half way through project
• 1 page progress report half way and end of
project
• CSIRO invoices company for remainder.
Closure
• Transfer of RIB funds to CSIRO research
group.
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15. Supporting Small Business: Where to from here?
Contact SME Engagement Centre to discuss your ideas and
needs:
CSIRO Enquiries
Phone: 1300 363 400
Alt Phone: +61 3 9545 2176
Email: Enquiries@csiro.au
http://www.csiro.au/Portals/Partner/S
MEEngagement.aspx
15 | CSIRO: positive impact | Presentation title | Presenter name

16. Thank you
CSIRO SME Engagement Centre
Cate Turner
SME Engagement Manager
t +61 2 9490 8464
e cate.turner@csiro.au
w www.csiro.au