Early Partnering Between R&D and Industry to Deliver Successful Outcomes.

The QLD Innovation Series Luncheon is being staged concurrently with Day 2 of ABDE 2007. International innovation, commercialisation and technology park management group, Zernike, drives the innovation series of luncheons and networking events.

Dr Jim Peacock AC,FAA, FRS, FTSE, FAIAST
Chief Scientist of Australia

Speaker's Biography

Dr Peacock is an award winning molecular biologist and fervent science advocate. He is recognised internationally as an eminent researcher in the field of plant molecular biology and its applications in agriculture. He has brought the excitement of science to a broad cross-section of the community and to Australian school students.

'Rising Above the Gathering Storm' the 2005 report to the US house of representatives committee urges strong action to save US Science and Technology Leadership. The study warns that without strong steps to improve federal support for science and technology, the quality of life in the US is threatened. With enrolments in science related university courses in Australia plummeting what does this mean for our nation.Dr Jim Peacock was appointed Australian Chief Scientist in March 2006.

In this context Dr Peacock will structure his presentation around issues in science education, the balance between basic and applied science, and early partnering between R&D providers and industry to deliver outcomes.

Presentation Overview

The realisation that we face, at a global level, significant changes in our future climate and associated weather patterns, provides us with an emphatic reminder that our life on this earth and our care of the planet, depends upon scientific observation and analysis. We must achieve an interaction of new levels of understanding with policies and actions that affect all of our societies.

We all accept that scientific research has made huge differences to our lives - to our food supply, to our preventative and therapeutic health, and to the realisation that we need to place considerable emphasis on the care of global ecosystems. The positives of science are many but we are also aware of how actions that have been dependent on science have led to unwanted consequences. This is a dilemma that is forever - where the balance of results is dependent largely on scientific recommendations and understanding.

How do we meet this dilemma? Can a Government develop major new policies in a range of fields without close interaction with scientific advice? Can we, in our societies, way up the pros and cons of particular prospective changes in the modes and tools of our lifestyles?
My view is that we are increasingly dependent on science. Although it is possible for Governments to operate without science in policy development, the question remains ‘is it possible for Governments to act wisely without consideration of recommendations based on research and scientific observations?

Our place in this world is with ever increasing touch to science and technology and we have an ever increasing role for good husbandry of our planet. This places emphasis on the need for science in its very broadest sense including in the education system, from kindergarten through to tertiary. Increasingly, our economic health, environmental health and our cultural health are dependent upon successive innovations which are heavily dependent on knowledge, much of which is generated from scientific research.