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Strengthening commercial performance in public sector R&D agencies
Garrett Upstill
School of Business, University of New South Wales (ADFA College), Canberra ACT
Abstract
Public sector research agencies around the world are changing to meet the demands of global markets and new technologies. Critical to this is the development of flexible and responsive ways of linking strategic research to the marketplace. In CSIRO, Australia's largest R&D agency, the challenge has been to move from an organization focused on excellence in science to one which also focuses on excellence in transferring strategic research to the market, with commensurate wealth-creating opportunities for Australian companies.
This paper develops a five-phase model of the evolution of commercial development in public research agencies, arguing that the development of a strong commercial community in a research organization is an essential part of the cultural change process. The article concludes with recommendations on how development of such a community may be encouraged.
Keywords
public sector R&D, commercial development, commercial community, cultural change, rewards, incentives, commercial networks
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