Mobin Nomvar PhD’s Post

A few comments on yesterday's federal budget - Cooperative Research Australia praised a focus on growing Australia’s science and technological performance, continued support for Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) funding, and plans to transform Australian R&D. - Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) has said Budget 2024 delivers a “long term but relatively modest ambition to develop new national industrial capabilities mainly based around clean energy,” though assumes no improvement in business conditions, “unemployment continuing to grow and our fiscal position deteriorating”. - It's a "narrow path to tackle short-term demands” and questions about both taming inflation and the medium-term sustainability of spending remain, according to the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ACCI). - The Climate Council said it was “a decisive turn towards Australia’s clean energy future”. - “some great investment[s]” targeting workforce skills shortages “but... a missed opportunity to put students at the heart of the skills training system”, says Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia. - Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering (ATSE) has approved commitments to review Australia’s “languishing investment in Australian science and innovation and back clean energy industries,” though investment “can’t be kicked further down the road.” - Budget 2024 misses the mark regarding high-tech and clean-tech manufacturing, according to Mobin Nomvar PhD of Scimita Ventures. - A “$2 per kilo tax credit for green hydrogen production” shows the government is seizing an opportunity “to ensure Australia fulfilled its potential to become the Saudi Arabia of energy production” -- Andrew Forrest of Fortescue. These and other reactions at the link. #manufacturing #australianmanufacturing #auspol #budget2024 #manufacturingnews

Welcome that Australia will compete more to win investment in industries of the future. Time to also be more ambitious about commercialising research from our world-leading universities, instead of seeing it go offshore? https://lnkd.in/dva4dMed

EELGA has published it's response to the Government's Industrial Strategy Green Paper, "Invest 2035". Using our latest report, Opportunity East, as an evidence base, we've made the case to Government that: - The high-growth-high-productivity clusters found in the East of England are essential to cultivate if the Government wants to succeed in it's growth mission. -These clusters can be found all around the region, from advanced manufacturing in Peterborough, to digital connectivity in Ipswich, to the space sector in Stevenage, to the life sciences cluster in Norwich. All this on top of the world-leading clusters found around Cambridge. - The East of England has a unique set of challenges that must be overcome for the region to make the most of it's potential - particularly around transport and digital connectivity. We look forward to working with the Government in the future on the Industrial Strategy and hope that the Government doesn't wait for devolution to be finalised before allowing our areas to undertake local growth plans should they want to. https://lnkd.in/e4433zax

Ed Husic MP's announcement regarding the federal budget last night was interesting... The Albanese Labor Government is making a push towards an economy powered by industry, science, and technology with the "Future Made in Australia" package. 🇦🇺🚀 🔋 With over $500 million invested in the Battery Breakthrough Initiative, they're stepping into a future where Australia's natural resources are not just exported, but transformed into value-added products right here on our soil. This initiative isn't just about securing more value; it's about positioning Australia as a key player in the global battery supply chain and supporting the transition to net zero. 🌞 Let's not forget the $1 billion Solar Sunshot program aiming to turn Australia into a renewable energy superpower. This is the kind of ambition that leads to real change, and I'm here for it! 🏭 The government's focus isn't stopping at batteries and solar energy. They're also paving the way for green metals manufacturing. Through strategic consultations and a whopping $1.7 billion Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund, we're looking at a future where Australia leads in green steel, aluminium, alumina, and processed iron. 👩🔬👨🔬 STEM. With a $38.2 million investment in scaling up the Government’s Women in STEM programs and other science engagement initiatives, they're nurturing a skilled, diverse workforce ready to tackle the challenges and opportunities of building a future made in Australia. 🔬 On the R&D front, the strategic examination of Australia’s R&D system seems troubling. This is one of the best things our Government has ever done for startups and technology companies. Let's hope this review doesn't destroy such a great initiative! These investments and initiatives underscore a clear message: Australia is not just ready to meet the future; we are ready to lead it. 🌟 What do you think? 🌟 #australia #technology #budget #investment

Recommendations to Improve R&D Culture and Assist Innovation in Australia 1. Enhance R&D Tax Incentives and Simplify Access    Streamline the Research and Development Tax Incentive (RDTI) application process and provide targeted incentives for SMEs and startups.     - Increase the rebate rate for specific priority sectors (e.g., renewables, agriculture, defence).     - Implement a fast-track application process for early-stage companies to encourage first-time participants.     - Establish an outreach program to educate companies about eligibility and benefits, addressing the 16% decline in RDTI applications. 2. Strengthen Industry-Academia Collaboration    Encourage partnerships between industries and academic institutions to drive commercial outcomes from research.     - Provide grants for collaborative projects between universities and companies focused on applied research.     - Develop a centralised platform for connecting businesses with research institutions to bridge the gap between innovation and commercialisation.     - Incentivise industry-led PhD programs, ensuring research directly addresses industry needs. 3. Safeguard Australian IP and Data Sovereignty     Introduce measures to ensure Australian R&D outcomes, IP, and data benefit local industry and national interests.     - Mandate that government-supported R&D projects have clauses prioritising local IP retention.     - Establish an independent body to oversee IP agreements and ensure strategic technologies remain Australian-controlled.     - Offer additional funding to companies that commercialise IP locally or create domestic manufacturing opportunities. 4. Boost Public and Private R&D Investment     Increase funding and promote private-sector investment in R&D to reverse the declining percentage of GNP spent on innovation.     - Establish co-investment funds where the government matches private-sector R&D investments.     - Expand public R&D funding beyond the current $3 billion annually, with a focus on scaling up innovation in critical industries.     - Introduce tax credits or exemptions for angel investors and venture capital firms supporting R&D-intensive startups. 5. Adopt a National Innovation and R&D Strategy     Develop a cohesive, long-term strategy that aligns federal, state, and private-sector initiatives.     - Set measurable targets for R&D spending as a percentage of GNP, aiming to return to a top-20 global ranking.     - Focus on emerging technologies (AI, quantum computing, biotech) alongside existing priorities in renewables, agri, and defence.     - Establish a National R&D Advisory Council to provide ongoing recommendations and monitor progress.  Perhaps these measures will help reinvigorate Australia’s R&D culture, retain strategic IP, and enhance global competitiveness. Lets see what the review will disclose - it cant come fast enough. #ResearchAndDevelopment #Innovation #RDIncentive #RDTI #TaxIncentives #R&Innovation #TechnologyInnovative

Our UK Innovation Report 2024 is out! This report seeks to bring key innovation and industrial statistics into a single publication. In every edition, we carry out a deep dive into a specific UK industrial sector. This year, we focused on the British Machinery & Equipment manufacturing sector, chosen for its significant direct contribution to the UK economy, and especially its indirect contribution to the competitiveness of all other economic sectors. Analysing this sector was challenging, given that it is composed of several sub-sectors that are quite different from each other. From agricultural and construction equipment to machine tools, pumps, compressors, and many more. Overall, the UK has great strengths being, for example, the largest European producer of construction equipment. However, the industry is facing many challenges, such as accessing the right skills, dealing with Brexit-related regulatory uncertainties, and investing in innovation for the Net Zero transition. Want to know more? Check out the report on the link below!

Some startling stats in this new IPPR report on the original sin of the UK's economic under-performance, absolutely chronic under-investment over many decades. Based on OECD investment data from the latest available year of 2022, IPPR found the UK ranked lower than any other G7 country for the third year running. Overall, the UK was 28th out of 31 OECD countries for business investment, with only Greece, Luxembourg, and Poland attracting less investment. The report also highlighted how when public, household, and business investment are included, the UK has had the lowest level of investment in the G7 for 24 of the last 30 years. The UK has not been ranked as 'average' among its fellow G7 nations for investment since 1990. The analysis claims that had the UK maintained an 'average' position for a G7 country over the past three decades it would have mobilised an additional £1.9tr of investment in real terms since 1990. If you want to know why we can't have nice things, this is why. https://lnkd.in/eCk6v3Ck

Over the recent week or two, much has been written about the merits or otherwise of the Government's 'Made in Australia' imperative and/or the wisdom of 'picking winners', but virtually nothing discussed about the need to have in place a strategic framework. Worth noting that back in 2008, the Australian Innovation Research Centre at the University of Tasmania identified five key dimensions of a healthy innovation system to be strengthened by government action, i.e. * opportunity identification; * knowledge creation and distribution, including higher education and research; * business development and production capabilities; * financial risk management; and * knowledge and other technological infrastructure. It is also worth noting that the Howard Government's Electronics Industry Action Agenda focused over the period 2003 to 2007 on at least two of these dimensions i.e. opportunity identification as well as business development and production capabilities e.g. the evolution of the concept of product realisation refer https://lnkd.in/fJjPH6D It was recognised by the industry leaders that the ongoing outcomes of this industry-led program, and other like science/technology related agendas, could be strengthened by government policies and programs which focus on global integration, hence the evolution of the then Government’s ‘Global Opportunities’ program. Put simply, it was realised that our innovation system needed to be globally ‘market facing' and marching to the tune of identified opportunities and challenges which can be realised by the application of Australia’s hitherto untapped technological capabilities and abilities. Back in July 2005, to further this aspiration, and as part of the above-mentioned Electronics Industry Action Agenda, the Australian and Taiwan ICT industries agreed to co-operate in the mutual development of their electronics and ICT sectors through the implementation of a program of engagement guided by a strategic framework agreement (ATSFA) as a logical consequence of an active program of activities developed between the key electronics industry associations representing both countries. The truly unique ATSFA addressed five key pillars of engagement (i.e. partnership and collaboration). * Technology R&D * High Value Added ICT Manufacturing * Strategic Alliances * Investment Collaboration * Trade Facilitation In short, the current Government's pronouncements say virtually nothing about the need for 'identifying global (rather than just local) opportunities'; there is also nothing stated in regard to the need for strategic alliances, investment collaboration, and trade facilitation. One does hope that there is more informed discussion about what is really needed to re-industrialise Australia! https://lnkd.in/ekZKH4Si

The unveiling of five new economic corridors under the CPEC’s phase two represents a significant step forward in deepening #inp #independentnewspakistan #inp_wealthpk #CPEC #Economic Read Article, click on ⬇️ link

I'm happy to announce my first publication together with Vítězslav Titl and Fredo Schotanus 🥳 We study the effects of EU co-funding (€90 bln./year) on Green Public Procurment (GPP). We find that EU co-funding does stimulate the uptake of GPP in public projects, but only to a limited extent. We also show that the effect of gained GPP experience is almost trivial. The earlier literature suggests that the removal of financial and knowledge barriers would increase GPP, so why do we find only small effects? Our results suggets that the removal of GPP barriers has a limited effect when the drivers/incentives are weak. We show that GPP uptake does respond to temporary changes in co-funding availability, but not to a 'greener' EU policy focus, which can be explained by the allocation mechanism of EU co-funding. Find our open access publication in Ecological Economics here. Entrepreneurship @ Utrecht University School of Economics Utrecht University School of Economics Centre for Public Procurement (UUCePP) DemoTrans Project #eshipuu