Integrated Manufacturing-Services Businesses in the Australian Building and Construction Sector

This paper establishes that the emergence of integrated manufacturing-service businessesis a key trademark of innovative industries and ‘the new economy’. Having establishedthe benefits of such integration, the phenomenon is reviewed in relation to theAustralian building and construction (B&C) sector. It is hypothesised that manufacturerssupplying building and construction work are adding value to their own activity, and that ofthe sector, by enhancing their product offerings via the provision of services. A small surveyis undertaken, with the findings revealing the nature of service provision by manufacturersin the Australian B&C sector. It appears that the ‘bundling’ of products and servicesby these manufacturers is a key competitive strategy yielding significant benefits for themand the sector as a whole

Learning, Leaving and Linking: Tapping the training, careers and networks of knowledge workers for developing countries

Presented at the GLOBELICS 6th International Conference 2008 22-24 September, Mexico City, Mexico.The present paper, based on a survey analysis of 10,000 scientists and their collaborators explores research mobility and collaboration between developing countries and between developing countries and the north. We focus in particular on research training, research networks, collaboratve arrangements and options for future move. Our finding is that India and China are indeed becoming important anchors for south south development. However, our findings also show that the countries of the north are still key anchor points. While we concur that a spoke and hub model for development in the south, as proposed by Osma (2008) Our warning is that the hubs must remain connected to the north for some time yet. Finally, we argue that while it is important to build scientific capacity at home ( see for example Hassan, 2008) policy options should pursue a dual strategy of promoting international mobility and building a community of science at home

Research collaboration in the social sciences: What factors are associated with disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration?

[EN] Attention is increasingly directed toward better understanding the factors driving collaborations among researchers, particularly between researchers from different disciplinary backgrounds. This study investigates factors associated with disciplinary and interdisciplinary research collaboration in the social sciences. We utilize data from a survey of Australian-based social scientists. Interdisciplinary collaboration constitutes a considerable proportion of social scientists’ collaboration activity. Factors linked to the duration and diversity of research careers are positively associated with participation in collaborations. Job experience in Australian and foreign universities also boosts total collaboration, while holding an international citizenship increases interdisciplinary collaboration. Interdisciplinary collaborations are also associated with researcher orientation toward applied research activity. Investment in social science research is important for maintaining existing interdisciplinary and applied collaborations, although better information on these collaborations is desirable. Measures to expand such collaborations should take career stage into account. Broad-based population policies may also be an important underlying factor supporting international collaboration.Woolley, RD.; Sánchez-Barrioluengo, M.; Turpin, T.; Marceau, J. (2015). Research collaboration in the social sciences: What factors are associated with disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration?. Science and Public Policy. 42(4):567-582. doi:10.1093/scipol/scu074S56758242

Australia's System of Innovation

There is overwhelming evidence that innovation and knowledge intensity are key factors promoting growth in modern economies. Since the early 1990s, OECD analysts have focused increasingly on the growing knowledge intensity of modern economies and the strong links between knowledge intensity and economic growth. Innovation plays a critical role in the knowledge economy. There is growing awareness that innovation takes place in a system that involves information transfer and communication between a range of players that includes firms, regulatory agents, and research and training organisations. Innovation cannot be understood as something that occurs within isolated organisations. Instead, it must be seen as a process of interaction between a range of players. The institutions, norms, and patterns of behaviour that constitute the social environment of business are an important influence on innovation. This chapter seeks to develop an understanding of the social context of the innovation system and the performance of Australia's system of innovation in international perspective

Integrated Manufacturing-Services Businesses in the Australian Building and Construction Sector

This paper establishes that the emergence of integrated manufacturing-service businesses is a key trademark of innovative industries and ‘the new economy’. Having established the benefits of such integration, the phenomenon is reviewed in relation to the Australian building and construction (B&C) sector. It is hypothesised that manufacturers supplying building and construction work are adding value to their own activity, and that of the sector, by enhancing their product offerings via the provision of services. A small survey is undertaken, with the findings revealing the nature of service provision by manufacturers in the Australian B&C sector. It appears that the ‘bundling’ of products and services by these manufacturers is a key competitive strategy yielding significant benefits for them and the sector as a whole

A Review of New Business Emergence in the Building and Construction Sector and Recent Australian Experience

This article reviews the value of new business activity to industry growth, in the context of the building and construction (B&C) sector. A brief empirical analysis of the pattern of new business growth in the Australian B&C sector between 1997 and 1998 is presented. It is found that significant new business entry has taken place in many of industries making up the sector. Further research is required to extend this initial work. In particular, it would be useful to explore in more depth, the value of particular patterns of new business activity within the sector

Innovation in Australia : where to now?

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Bringing science to life in Australia: the need for a new approach in human health biotechnology policy

This paper discusses the development of the biotechnology industry in the context of Australia’s industrial and policy structure. The paper outlines the size and structure and ‘stage’ of development of the biotechnology sector in Australia and argues for a policy approach that recognises the specific dynamics of the industry sector as it presently stands. It argues that government in a small country with a patchy industrial structure and where the local market is highly regulated and dominated by public sector institutions must play a central but more sophisticated policy role in the development of effective mechanisms for both knowledge generation and transfer in the emerging biomedical sciences. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007Biotech industry, Commercialisation of research, University/Industry relations, Industry development policies, H1, L5, L6, O3, O32, O38,