Case Study Overview - Australia Rural Research an Development Corporations (RDCs)

Dr Christopher NedinDepartment of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Australia

24 November 2011

A partnership between the Australian Government and the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries industries to improve rural industry effectiveness and efficiency, and encouraging international competitiveness and sustainability.

Bring together industry and researchers Establish research and development strategic directions Fund R&D and Innovation projects Co-funded by industry and government National approach which focuses on regional strategies at the local level

Rural Research and Development Corporations

Examples of RDCs

There are 15 Rural Research and Development Corporations covering virtually all of the agricultural industries.

Export goods in which Australia shows a comparative advantage

Source: Australian Government, 2011, Australian Innovation System Report

National Strategic Rural Research and Development Investment Plan 2011

The rural R&D system will play an important role in:

contributing to the national economy by enabling Australia to play its part in the global effort to double rural sector output over the next 30 years while utilising proportionally fewer resources

developing a range of technologies and knowledge to contribute to healthy Australian lifestyles and global food security

producing a wider product range, including food, fibre, energy and bio‐based products, in addition to ecosystem services

Rural Research and Development Corporations

Challenges and competitive advantages

Challenges

Increasing Australia’s agricultural R&D effort Responding to challenges like climate change

Competitive Advantage

Demand led approach – Australian rural industries have greater influence on public R&D spending

Partnership between government and primary industry Support small industry players Model well regarded by industry constituents and other stakeholders

Rural Research and Development Corporations

Australia – case study outcomes

Highlighting the bottom-up demand driven approach of RDCs and of the outcomes that are produced to support smart specialisation, building off natural strengths

The role of this public-private partnership model has contributed to Australian agriculture doubling its productivity over the past 25 years

Australia – for interest to learn

Measuring and reporting success of smart specialisation policies? Impact of smart specialisation policies (including innovation and productivity improvements) on sectors, compared with sectors without such policies?

Impact of demand-driven partnerships on developing areas of specialisation?

Benefits of smart specialisation policies - economic, consumer, environmental and social?

Processes required to build supply chains into global markets?

DEPARTMENT OF INNOVATION, INDUSTRY,SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

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