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Corporate Management

General Manager Jeff Storer Ph: 02 6272 4656 Fax: 02 6272 5877 Email: jeff.storer@rirdc.gov.au     Corporate Framework Human Resources RIRDC Program Coordinator Team Change Plan

Senior Project Officer  Corrina Medway  Ph: 02 6272 4404  Fax: 02 6272 5877  Email: corrina.medway@rirdc.gov.au   Communications Commercialisation Royalties Scholarships

 

Reporting Framework - from individual effort t corporate outcome

Goal
To provide timely, effective and valued services to the Corporation.

Outputs

• financial management
• corporate governance
• human resource management
• accountability and reporting
• communications
• program impact valuation

Outcome
To provide corporate services that underpin the objectives of the Corporation through business excellence and a service orientated corporate team.

Overall outcome
To facilitate a more profitable, dynamic and sustainable rural sector.

Significant events
RIRDC has no significant events to report under section 15 of the CAC Act

Funding of consultation costs
In relation to the guidelines regarding operative research contracts with the Corporation during 2005–06 please refer to the Chicken Meat Sub Account on page 148.

Background
The RIRDC corporate services team is committed to the highest standards of business excellence and corporate governance in offering professional services and advice to its diverse portfolio areas.

Key long term strategies
RIRDC seeks to be regarded as an industry leader in efficient and effective management of R&D, underpinned by:

• the attraction and retention of the highest quality people
• the best use of integrated technology to support the strategic objectives of the Corporation, through effective and considered decision-making
• improvements to the Corporation’s interactions with the research community and other external stakeholders
• alignment of RIRDC’s information management with the corporate strategy to deliver business efficiency and effectiveness
• use of business intelligence and reporting to build the knowledge base that supports the strategic goals of the Corporation
• effective use of decision support tools to support critical decision-making and project selection processes through our investment framework
• enhanced interaction with the research community during all facets of the research process through the use of web-based tools
• efficiency improvements through the introduction of workflow, payment and reporting functionality
• print-on-demand web services that will enable more efficient printing, storing and browsing of RIRDC publications

Key outputs

• developed a new structure supporting the Corporation’s strategies and aligning authority with accountability across our lines of business
• developed and implemented new human resource management policies, including the Employment Policy (which now incorporates the General Terms and Conditions of Employment), Performance Management Policy and toolkit, Learning and Development Policy and toolkit, and Rewards and Recognition Policy and Program
• developed and implemented a new Delegations Instrument which was approved by the Board in June 2005
• successful re-accreditation by SGS International Certification Services Pty Ltd
• commercial contractual arrangements across joint funded programs. To support RIRDC’s responsibility to deliver on cross-sectoral issues, we developed commercially sound program co-investment contracts that manage both risk and attractiveness to co-investors
• successful procurement of a new Portfolio Management system. A web-based portfolio management system was acquired and is being pilot-tested with research providers
• relocated the Corporation’s business premises
• progress with the development of a print on demand system

Financial Management

Financial Controller
Susan McNeilly Ph: 02 6272 4297 Fax: 02 6272 5877 Email: susan.mcneilly@rirdc.gov.au

Accountant
Katrina Seears Ph: 02 6272 4050 Fax: 02 6272 5877 Email: katrina.seears@rirdc.gov.au

Objective
To provide cost-effective and best practice support service for the Corporation.

Key performance indicators

• appropriate custodianship of Commonwealth and industry funds as they relate to the management of R&D programs
• efficient, effective and stable computerised systems that enable Corporation staff to do their jobs effectively and efficiently by providing easy internal and external communications via reliable email facilities and internet-based mechanisms
• an efficient and effective certified Quality System that is embraced by all staff as the way RIRDC carries out the administration of its business to ensure a standard of product and service which meets customer and stakeholder expectations
• staff awareness of areas of risk to the Corporation when conducting its activities and related strategies to deal with such risks.  Also, staff awareness of the importance of reporting suspected instances of fraud within the Corporation in line with the policies and procedures contained in the Corporation’s Fraud Control Plan

Background
The Corporation’s financial management and administrative services team provides the essential framework and accountability for all of its functional responsibilities under the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989 and the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997.

Key long term strategies

• maintain financial records and accounts in accordance with the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997
• support research outcomes by providing leading edge IT infrastructure and services
• institute and maintain appropriate risk management procedures and practices
• provide timely, accurate and meaningful reporting to the Board and management
• maintain the Corporation’s ISO9001:2000 Quality Accreditation System which was re-accredited in 2005–06
• implement, monitor and evaluate the Corporation’s Risk Management and Fraud Control plans
• build on achievement of the Australian Government’s ‘online’ requirements to enhance the availability of relevant Corporation information electronically and the refinement of e-business systems to a ‘best practice’ standard
• participate in corporate communications initiatives

Financial statements
Financial statements, notes and summaries have been prepared for this Annual Report in accordance with:

• Finance Minister’s Orders – (or FMOs, being the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Orders (Financial Statements for reporting periods ending on or after 01 July 2005))
• Australian Accounting Standards issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board that apply for the reporting period
• interpretations issued by the AASB and UIG that apply for the reporting period (See pages 105–159 for details).

Key outputs

• maintained financial records and accounts in accordance with the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997
• implemented a new in-house payroll system in July 2006 with full integration to the financial management information system
• developed and implemented new reporting and budgeting tools throughout 2005–06 to improve provision of timely, accurate and meaningful reporting to the Board, management and external stakeholders
• facilitated the re-accreditation of the Corporation to ISO9001:2000 by SGS International Certification Services Pty Ltd. This was achieved by the Corporation’s commitment to continual improvement in processes and controls

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Human Resources

Manager
Andrea Bryant
Ph:  02 6272 5920
Fax:  02 6272 5877
Email:  andrea.bryant@rirdc.gov.au

Human Resources Officer/Board Administrator
Thouraya Hammami Ph: 02 6271 6673 Fax: 02 6272 5877 Email: thouraya.hammami@rirdc.gov.au

Objective
To attract, retain, develop and reward an innovative, productive, creative and committed workforce.

Equal Employment Opportunity
The Corporation promotes a work environment where all employees have equal access to the opportunities that are available in the workplace. All employees are treated with fairness and respect and are not subject to discrimination or harassment in the workplace. All employees must abide by the Corporation’s Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

Staff training
The Corporation’s training investment in 2005–06 was $72,371. This compares with $25,247 in 2004–05. On a per capita basis for full-time equivalent staff, this represents an investment of nearly $3,147 in 2005–06. This investment focussed primarily on ongoing tertiary education, professional development and computer application courses.

Background
The majority of RIRDC’s staff is headquartered in Canberra. The Corporation employs research program managers on a part-time basis who undertake their activities from other parts of the country. It is vital that all our staff, parttime and fulltime, work in a team-based environment addressing clear goals and priorities with open channels of communication to deliver a value for money service.

Key long term strategies

• recruit, retain and develop staff by providing a stimulating, safe and healthy work environment and appropriate training to regularly update skills
• remunerate staff by reference to market movements and personal performance
• provide clear linkages between individual employment and the broader relationship with the Corporation’s goals and objectives
• conduct staff workshops for professional and informal interaction facilitating the generation of innovative solutions to Corporation challenges
• encourage staff to improve skills bases by providing appropriate training to better equip them to perform their duties in an efficient and effective manner while contributing to their own professional and personal development
• continue implementation of the Corporation’s OH&S policy and plan
• review staff employment policies and practices with emphasis on revising the Corporation’s Employment Policy and senior management employment arrangements

Key outputs

• developed the Workforce Plan to manage and develop current and future workforce – this included development of a capability framework and career management framework to facilitate succession planning, attraction and retention
• developed a framework for HR policies and procedures, including a policy development schedule
• developed a suite of new human resource policies including: training and development; performance management; learning and development; and rewards and recognition policy
• revised Employment Policy to incorporate the General Terms and Conditions of Employment to keep pace with relevant employment benchmarks
• implemented a new performance management system to align with corporate objectives incorporating specific learning and development components for all staff in three identified areas:
• corporate training priorities
• current role requirements
• career and profession development
• drafted human resources manual to be finalised in 2006–07
• reviewed the OH&S framework, with new policy and plan to be finalised during 2006–07

Commonwealth’s Disability Strategy
The Corporation is committed to preparing indicators under the Commonwealth’s Disability Strategy for future reporting and to identifying areas for improvement by systems changes or organisation-wide solutions.

How our staff are employed
RIRDC staff are employed under Section 87 of the PIERD Act 1989. This legislation requires the Corporation to determine appropriate terms and conditions of employment for its staff. During 2005–06 all staff other than those on individual contracts were covered by the RIRDC Employment Policy and the General Terms and Conditions of Employment. Under these arrangements the Corporation reserves the right to employ new staff on either individual contracts or on the general terms and conditions.

Remuneration profile of full-time RIRDC staff

Remuneration includes salaries, superannuation and other benefits.
In addition to the resources above, the Corporation had eight external managers contracted to manage various R&D sub-programs. The organisational structure at the end June 2006 is shown on page 92.

Performance management
RIRDC implemented a new performance management system in 2005–06 which linked individual effort to the corporate outcomes. The Board, in concert with the Managing Director, set the strategic framework for RIRDC and individual staff performance objectives are developed to support these outputs and outcomes. This provides a clear relationship between the desired government and industry outcomes, and how our people contribute to achieve this.

Reviews
Performance reviews are conducted every six months, with an annual performance appraisal. Staff performance has five ratings – outstanding; commendable; effective; requires improvement; and unsatisfactory. All staff received formal training in giving and receiving feedback, and in developing their performance agreement. Staff remuneration is based on performance outcomes for all staff.

Training and development
Training and development is integral to our performance management system and is a core component of our attraction and retention policy. The HR Manager and the Managing Director develop a series of targeted training priorities each year to complement and support RIRDC strategic goals and objectives, which are then incorporated into staff individual learning and development plans. RIRDC significantly increased its training budget in 2005–06 to underpin the initiatives in the Change Plan and provide staff with the skills and competencies to implement this organisational change.

Best practice
RIRDC is committed to a best practice performance management through continuous improvement, supported by a learning and development culture.
 

Human resources benchmarking(a) RIRDC in context

 (a) Mercer Human Resources Consulting: Human Resources Effectiveness Monitor (September 2005).
 (b) ‘By size’: The RIRDC benchmark group is < 200
 (c)  ‘By industry’: The RIRDC benchmark group is GBE (Government Business Enterprise)
 

RIRDC VALUES

• RIRDC staff workshop
• In December 2005 RIRDC staff partipated in a workshop ‘Recharging the Batteries’. The workshop program ranged across an annual review, team-building and a workshop session on identifying corporate values. Staff identified four key values that characterise RIRDC’s people and our way of working:
• • Professional
• • Inclusive
• committed to achieving quality results – optimistically and openly supporting teamwork
•  Innovative • Responsive
• valuing diverse and flexible approaches – generating friendly, client-focussed partnerships

REWARDS AND RECOGNITION PROGRAM – recognition for contributions to our objectives and values
RIRDC’s Rewards and Recognition program highlights the excellence existing in all areas and job functions across the Corporation. Employee recognition can be given in many ways – through saying thank you, giving praise, providing opportunity, or showing respect. Many studies on the workplace have shown that being recognised for achievements, knowing that one’s contributions matter to the organisation, and the opportunity for growth and professional development have a considerable impact on employee satisfaction and commitment.

RIRDC employees are encouraged to acknowledge the hard work and significant achievements of their peers, co-workers, and colleagues by nominating them through the program.

All RIRDC staff (both internal and external) and members of R&D Advisory Committees are eligible to participate. The first recipient of the award was June Murphy, Program Coordinator for the New Industries Portfolio.

Other recipients to date are Cecile Ferguson – Publications Manager, Corrina Medway – Senior Project Officer, Susan McNeilly – Financial Controller and Daryl Gibbs – Chair of the RIRDC Rice R&D Advisory Committee.

RIRDC Corporate Management

 

The RIRDC Program Coordinator Team 2006–07

• The value of managing knowledge
• First point of contact

Program Coordinators at RIRDC are often the first point of contact for researchers, applicants and the public, fielding a wide
range of enquiries from their program stakeholders. Offering detailed advice on RIRDC processes through to providing general
advice on their program areas, Program Coordinators are kept up to date and on their toes with R&D and industry enquiries.

Managing RIRDC’s knowlege
Our Program Coordinators ensure that the wheels of research are well oiled. They liaise regularly with RIRDC’s R&D Advisory
Committees, research providers, researchers and stakeholders. They expertly assist RIRDC’s management team in coordinating
RIRDC’s 22 Research Programs. They organise the numerous meetings and forums that take place – from ensuring every one is
where they need to be, to providing all information and paperwork in a timely manner and making sure that research results
are received and then disseminated to industry.

If you want to know where a project is up to, it is the Program Coordinators who have their fingers on the pulse (or in the
database) and who maintain the trail of the vast range of research being undertaken by RIRDC. The cheekier of our research
managers refer to the Program Coordinators affectionately as the movers and shakers at RIRDC.

Who they are and what they do
Program Coordinators for RIRDC programs are:

June Murphy - Seeds of Knowledge
New Industries
(New Animal Products; Rare Natural Animal Fibres; Wildflowers and Native Plants; Buffalo; Asian Foods)

Alison Saunders
(New Plant Products; Essential Oils andPlant Extracts; Tea Tree Oil)
 

Vicki Byrne
Established Industries
(Honeybee, Rice, Chicken Meat)

Christine Joannides (Horse, Deer, Pasture Seeds, Fodder Crops)

Jenny Smits
(Established Industries) National Rural Issues

Marcela Rosselli
(Agroforestry and Farm Forestry; Environment and Farm Management; Rangeland and Wildlife Systems; Organic Systems)

Helen Moffett
(Human Capital, Communications and information Systems; Food Integrity and Biosecurity; Global Competitiveness)
 

Change Plan
Background The RIRDC Board endorsed the implementation of the RIRDC Change Plan in September 2005.  The Plan sets out strategies to maximise the impact of RIRDC’s research and development, by growing effective relationships and growing RIRDC’s capacity.

Goal: Maximise the impact of RIRDC’s research and development Strategies

• develop and apply robust investment strategies based on adoption by design
• measure and communicate RIRDC’s impact Outcomes
• new investment framework developed and to be implemented during 2006–07
• focus RIRDC activities on adoption by design through new adoption guidelines

Goal: Grow effective relationships Strategies

• develop and promote the RIRDC value proposition to industry, government and researchers

Outcomes

• implemented liaison program with key government, industry & NGO clients and stakeholders
• held Board-Advisory Committee Workshop – to align Committees with RIRDC directions
• developed Advisory Committee induction and assessment resources
• innovative development of the Rural Woman’s Award with new national awards and inaugural reunion forum
• Rice, honey, fodder, horses and essential oils move to increase voluntary or statutory levies
• RIRDC appointed as Managing Agent for the Council of Chairs

Goal: Increase RIRDC’s Capacity Strategies

• develop and implement a strategic HR plan and structure, and review and reform business processes, infrastructure and systems Outcomes
• development of RIRDC’s human resource management capacity and performance through new human resource policies and programs, including performance management, workforce plan, training and development, rewards and recognition and employment policy
• new structure implemented effectively aligning with new portfolio strategies
• new contribution and managing agent agreements developed to govern cooperative R&D activities
• completed and implemented review of Advisory Committee arrangements

Communications
Publications Manager
Cecile Ferguson
Ph:  02 6272 3186
Fax:  02 6272 5877
Email:  cecile.ferguson@rirdc.gov.au

Publications Officer
Kathie Griffiths
Ph: 02 6272 4218
Fax: 02 6272 5877
Email: kathie.griffiths@rirdc.gov.au

Public Affairs Manager
Martin Field
Ph: 02 6272 4735
Fax: 02 6272 5877
Email: martin.field@rirdc.gov.au

Objective:
To encourage and foster the adoption of RIRDC research through the delivery of concise information to stakeholders and key audiences.

Background
RIRDC encourages communication at the program and corporate level. A key focus of the program is to promote awareness leading to adoption by industry, the community and other researchers.

RIRDC’s publishing program assists researchers and project participants to disseminate research by providing access to low-cost publishing processes. This is achieved via an extensive publishing program, including the hosting of the vast majority of final reports on the Corporation’s website (www.rirdc.gov.au), where they are available for download free of charge. Publications also include industry specific and corporate newsletters, articles in selected press and other direct and indirect communications, including advertising campaigns. For the last five-years RIRDC’s excellence in Annual Reporting has been awarded gold and silver medal status by the Australasian Reporting Awards (ARA).

RIRDC’s Public Affairs program is instrumental in turning research results into tangible benefits that support rural Australia. The program provides customised information and briefing material to support RIRDC’s research activities. Integrated into the strategy is a marketing scheme identifying audiences and promoting information direct to targeted groups. This includes the extensive distribution of brochures and also such things as event sponsorship and having a physical presence at key conferences and exhibitions.

Key long term strategies

• encourage electronic access to RIRDC’s information bank of more than 1500 publications through its website (www.rirdc.gov.au)
• encourage purchase of publications from our online bookshop (www.rirdc.gov. au/eshop)
• develop and maintain a long term value for the RIRDC brand by:
• actively promoting RIRDC’s corporate profile
• building awareness and knowledge of RIRDC’s activities
• demonstrating value to stakeholders and return on investment
• support existing communication channels by:
• resourcing appropriately to maximise opportunities
• strategically planning to improve efficiencies
• initiating new areas of business for RIRDC’s communications plan
• working with programs and partners to develop, manage and market projects
• developing and sharing information systems to build management skills and delivery
• develop new communication channels by:
• strategically planning to expand the product mix and mediums employed
• employing the latest technology and systems to deliver communications products
• encouraging initiative and innovation
• working to build productive partnerships

Publications
Book launches
We have had a busy year this year with a series of high profile publication launches which included:

• Regional Foods – Australia’s health and wealth
• New Generation Farmers Markets in Rural Communities
• Emerging Animal and Plant Industries – Their value to Australia
• Rural Industry Adjustment to Trade Related Policy Reform
• Rice – Reaping the rewards of innovation
• Dividing the Droplet
• Winning Women – Just scratching the surface
• Free Trade Agreements – Making them better
• Plants Poisonous to Horses – An Australian field guide
• Export Markets for Australian Organic Produce

RIRDC has over 1500 publications in its series. Sales in 2005–06 amounted to $87,040. RIRDC has widely distributed books to targeted audiences at conferences, seminars and workshops to stimulate increased adoption.

The strong growth in traffic to the website with 1,154,247 hits recorded in June 2006 has also resulted in a significant increase in downloading of reports from our website. Details on new publications issued in 2005–06 are set out in each Program chapter of this Report.

Corporate documents
2004–05 Annual Report (Awarded Runner-up for the Corporate Governance award and silver in the general section of the Australasian Reporting Awards)

• Annual Operational Plan
• Research Priorities
• RIRDC Research in Progress (issued as individual Program chapters)
• Corporate brochures projecting RIRDC’s value proposition
• Short Reports and Newsletters
• Corporate Newsletter
• Short Reports for the Organics and Global Competitiveness Program
• Program Newsletters:
• Essential Oils
• Asian Foods
• Honeybee
• R&D Updates
• Fodder Crops
• Pasture Seeds
• Rice R&D magazine and brochure
• Farmed Rabbit Industry of Australia
• Five-year Plans
• RIRDC Programs have industry R&D plans that are available free to stakeholders. They can be obtained in hardcopy by phoning 02 6272 4819 or can be downloaded from our website as indicated in each Program chapter of this report.

Public Affairs
Promoting research results for knowledge adoption
The Corporation’s Public Affairs program focusses on the promotion of research results to encourage practical adoption of this knowledge.

During the year, the Corporation has initiated several campaigns, involving information for the media and advertising material, as well as utilising secondary networks to target industry, regional and interest-specific audiences.

Stakeholder & Customer Surveys
Two surveys to measure RIRDC stakeholder and customer opinions were conducted by the market research organisation IPSOS Australia.

A mail-based survey of a random sample of customers showed that 84% rated RIRDC’s service as satisfactory to excellent. 76% of customers rated RIRDC’s role in promoting adoption of research outcomes as satisfactory to excellent, and 70% of customers have recommended RIRDC publications to others.

In the telephone survey of 70 external stakeholders, 92% of advisory body members, 94% of researchers, and 81% of producers rated RIRDC as excellent. RIRDC’s publications, website and telephone service were all highly rated. 70% of these stakeholders had dealings with other RDCs and of those 76% rated RIRDC better than or about the same as others.

Lessons for future surveys
Because of inconsistencies in the methodology between the 2005 survey and previous surveys, comparative data over time is not available, and future customer and stakeholder surveys will be designed to show trends.

Corporate news
The monthly Corporate email newsletter, which provides regular updates of Corporate reports, achievements and events, has continued to generate positive feedback, and the list of subscribers has grown from 2700 in 2004–05 to over 3700 in 2006. The information contained in this newsletter is increasingly being used by journalists and others.

The first edition of a new-look bi-annual Corporate magazine, Rural Diversity, was published in December 2005. This magazine has replaced the Corporate Newsletter Shaping the Future, with a clearer differentiation between the short-article style of the email newsletter, and the more in-depth feature style of the new magazine. In addition, several R&D programs continue to publish regular print newsletters targeting their specific industries and interest-groups.
Media monitoring

Uptake of RIRDC information by the media is monitored on a week-to-week basis, and we have seen a steady increase in RIRDC’s media presence as a result of campaigns to engage the media through the newsletters, targeted press releases and direct engagement with selected broadcasters and print publications.

Participation in a selection of events has continued to raise the Corporation’s profile, maximising exposure of Corporate achievements and programs to targeted high-level audiences.

Marketing campaigns
Campaigns to market the Corporation’s publications and services, both directly and indirectly, have been conducted through:

• direct mail campaigns to libraries and known RIRDC publication clients
• targeted media advertisements
• presence and displays at a range of conferences, trade shows and other forums
• various Corporation newsletters
• networks among other Australian and State Government agencies
• regional, industry and interest-based networks
• internal networks (such as advisory committees)

Websites
RIRDC home page
www.rirdc.gov.au The website continued to deliver a growing range of research reports and corporate information.

The Google search facility is incorporated into both of our websites. There has been strong growth in traffic to the website with 1,154,247 hits recorded during June 2006, compared to 1,074,917inJune2005.Thishasalsoresultedinaverysignificant increase in downloading of reports from our website. Most visitors entered the site through the ‘home’ page. A majority found the site through major search engines such as Google, Yahoo and NineMSN (in that order).
The program pages in which each program has a virtual ‘home page’ continue to be popular. The emailed newsletter and the list of new research reports continued to be well received by nearly 2800 recipients each month with much positive feedback.

Increased sales via the new eShop (created in January 2004) shows there is likely to be potential for further growth in online sales from promotion of the service. In 2005–06 there were 277 transactions through the eShop, an average of 23 per month. The ‘old’ eShop averaged fewer than 10 sales per month. Users appreciated the ability of the new site to host images and its cleaner interface. Development of the new site was performed in-house using commercial software.

RIRDC Rural Women’s Award _004
www.ruralwomensaward.gov.au
This site was established in November 1999 when the Corporation first launched the RIRDC Rural Women’s Award and it has been maintained in line with the running of the Award each year. Access to the site can also be gained through RIRDC’s home page. Traffic to site peaks during the nomination period for the awards in August–October each year, but there is considerable interest throughout the year. The site contains all relevant application forms and extensive Award information and is annually evaluated.

RIRDC Extranet
The Corporation maintains an Extranet which enables its directors and external research managers access to corporate information. This site works both locally and online and is constantly updated and monitored. It is password protected so that only authorised users can gain access.
News clippings and quality assurance pages and documents are available on the Extranet. Developments for 2006–07 will see the Extranet being extended to allow RIRDC Advisory Committees access limited to relevant material.

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Commercialisation

General Manager
Jeff Storer
Ph: 02 6272 4656
Fax: 02 6272 5877
Email: jeff.storer@rirdc.gov.au

Objective
To facilitate the commercialisation of research investments and results where this provides the greatest benefits to stakeholders, including the improved adoption of R&D.

Key performance indicators

• commercialised research outputs where commercialisation produces the greatest benefits to stakeholders
• enhancement of the value of innovation, research and development
• robust partnerships to manage commercialisation
• development of improved measures of adoption
• management of projects to enhance adoption

Background
Commercialisation is taken to include projects which are ‘investable’in the near term and/or projects that can be utilised to secure industry commercial and economic gains. Whilst the basic principles/philosophy of commercialisation underpins the majority of the Corporation’s activities, RIRDC focusses on the processes and pathways to commercialisation.

Adoption of research outputs is a key goal for RIRDC. All research investments across RIRDC’s diverse portfolio are selected with the ultimate objective of achieving adoption or utilisation of the research results for the benefit of the Corporation’s stakeholders and industry gain. It is recognised that there are a variety of pathways that lead to adoption and that commercialisation, with suitable intellectual property rights (IP), is an increasingly important mechanism to achieve technology and information transfers across Australia. Similarly, commercialisation can take many different formats with the best options being decided on a case by case basis.

RIRDC’s commercialisation principles
All RIRDC IP and commercialisation activities are to:

• maximise the uptake and benefits flowing from research investment in rural industries by making new technologies, products, processes and services available as quickly and as cost-effectively as possible
• ensure the building of strong, sustainable alliances with the rural sector, related commercial industries and other key stakeholders
• be viewed in the broader context of increased profitability and sustainability of Australian rural industries. That is, returns through royalties, licence fees, etc, are products of commercialisation and not key objectives
• ensure RIRDC-funded intellectual property is available free of charge for research purposes
• be managed with due care, skill, diligence and accountability in accordance with all relevant legislation, policies and guidelines

Key outputs

• maintenance and management of an accountable IP assets register
• redevelopment of the RIRDC Intellectual Property and Commercialisation Policy and Guidelines
• IP Audit undertaken by Walter Turnbull
• development of a systemic approach to the identification and management of RIRDC’s IP asset base
• early identification of potential new IP assets
• strong liaison with research partners on early identification, management and protection of IP
• training and development of staff on the opportunities and principles of management of IP and commercial pathways
• membership of the Australian Institute of Commercialisation in 2005–06

Our adoption and commercialisation focus
Adoption of research outputs is a core focus of the Corporation. This process can be achieved by an energetic and innovative publication effort, but adoption can also be achieved by the development of IP rights that provide their own set of incentives to foster adoption. The Corporation has developed guidance principles to foster these commercialisation pathways in our own operation. (www.rirdc.gov.au/commercialisation). All preliminary research proposals should clearly show the adoption pathways that are being considered. Where the development of IP rights is being considered, that should be described in the submission.

Royalties
During 2005–06 the Corporation received $92,383 (exclusive of GST) in royalty income from the following activities:

• royalties of $21,988 were generated from sales from the development of improved oat varieties for the hay production – national program. The program created a coordinated breeding program for the development of improved oat varieties for hay production in Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. The program partners are the South Australian Research and Development Institute and Australian Exporters Company, AEXCO, representing the majority of export hay processors located in South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria, and southern New South Wales
• royalties of $18,334 were generated from sales in relation to vaccines developed for Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae, research commercialisation outputs of RIRDC’s Chicken Meat program in association with the University of Melbourne and a private sector commercial partner
• royalties of $16,331 were received from the development and licensing of varieties of fodder legumes for sowing seed and seed export. This research and commercialisation was undertaken by RIRDC in association with Seedmark Technology and Marketing Pty Limited
• royalties of $15,441 were generated from sales of the Eimeria species for use in living vaccine to address avian coccidiosis. The three Eimeria strains included in the vaccine are jointly owned by RIRDC, the Queensland Department of Primary Industry and the Australian Egg Corporation Limited
• royalties of $11,275 were received from the development of various lines of waxflower varieties. The research and commercialisation was undertaken by RIRDC in association with the Department of Agriculture WA
• royalties of $3,520 were received from the development of methods of the efficient separation of individual sesquiterpenoid alchohols (or enriched concentrates) from the fragrant wood oil of Western Australian sandalwood. The outcome was achieved in partnership with Mt Romance Australia Pty Ltd, Western Australia
• copyright license fees of $2,584 were received from the Copyright Agency Limited
• royalties of $2,062 were generated from sulla and other forage species for Southern Australia jointly owned by RIRDC and the Department of Agriculture WA
• royalties of $701 were generated from sales of the ILT 20A vaccine that was developed by CSIRO with funding from the RIRDC’s Chicken Meat program to control infectious laryngotracheitis, a viral respiratory tract disease in poultry
• royalties of $146 were received from the further development of the RAINMAN software aimed at improving the impact management of climate variability

Scholarships
A key aim of the Corporation’s R&D endeavours is to ensure that portfolio-related industries are supported by people with high-quality scientific, technical and leadership skills. In 2005–06, the Corporation’s programs also continued to support conferences and field days aimed at providing the platform for transferring information and commercialising R&D outcomes.

'The formal postgraduate education program of the Corporation seeks to ensure that industries have a continuous supply of well-trained people. In 2005–06 the Corporation committed $170,191 (GST exclusive) in this area – $149,708 for continuing scholarships and $20,483 for new scholarships.

Scholarships awarded in 2005–06
In 2005–06, the Corporation funded six new scholarships as detailed below.

Ongoing scholarships
The Corporation sponsored 12 ongoing postgraduate scholarships in 2005–06.

 
 

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