Capability building and risk management: Lessons from Radiata
Mark Matthews
Executive Director, Forum for European-Australian Science and Technology cooperation (FEAST); Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra ACT
PP: 170 - 180
Abstract
This paper examines the wider lessons to be obtained from the story of the CSIRO-related start-up company, Radiata Inc. It shows how CSIRO's sustained trans-disciplinary capability-building efforts in radio-astronomy helped to produce a generation of electronic engineers well-versed in cutting-edge integrated circuit design and development who were also able to work effectively in commercial environments. Collaboration between radio-astronomers and engineers continued to develop via joint CSIRO-Macquarie University work examining wireless Local Area Network solutions based on mathematical techniques used in radio-astronomy and utilising state-of-the-art chip design methods. This work culminated in the formation of Radiata Inc and its subsequent acquisition by Cisco Systems in 2001, to be followed by Cisco's withdrawal from wireless chip development in 2004.
The paper considers the wider implications of this story, highlighting the importance of trans-disciplinary capability-building to increasing the odds of success in the risky process of innovating. It concludes that CSIRO should continue to develop its options-based approach to valuing R&D outcomes in order to better demonstrate the ways in which capability-building can generate improved odds of success in innovation for a wide range of businesses - provided that they have access to the skilled staff generated by this type of 'rounded' training related to basic research.
Keywords
Radiata, capability-building, innovation, networks, risk, astronomy, semiconductors
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