FED: Uni research should be commercialised: report

AAP General News (Australia)
08-09-2004
FED: Uni research should be commercialised: report

SYDNEY, Aug 9 AAP - Universities need to pursue partnerships with business and commercialise
research, a new report says.

The Australian newspaper said the report -- conducted by the Business Council of Australia
(BCA) and the Vice-Chancellors Committee -- recommends universities broker research and
liaise with industry and finance providers.

The report said researchers need to drop their opposition to commercialising research
ideas, and success in market endeavours should be introduced as a criteria for promotion.

"While the universities are increasingly important as sources of ideas, those ideas
will only show an economic return if they can be effectively applied by business," the
report, Building Effective Systems for the Commercialisation of University Research, said.

BCA board member and Commonwealth Bank chief David Murray said universities were missing
out on commercial opportunities and called on state governments to relax laws that protect
universities' intellectual property rights.

AAP kjd/rs

KEYWORD: UNIVERSITIES

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.