They say that the grass is always greener on the other side. But is this just a myth?
Around two dozen RACI and SCI members and colleagues met in the offices of BASF on Monday 10 September in an attempt to resolve this question by participating in a seminar on the theme: “Industry meets Academia: Be More Ready for Industry - Innovation” the first in a series of “Academia meets Industry” seminars spread over the next 6 months or so.
Dr Richard Thwaites, Australia International group Chair
Do academics secretly yearn for a job in industry, and are industrialists closet academics at heart?
Chaired by Dr Thwaites, it is not clear that the meeting really answered these questions, but all participants enjoyed the informative, entertaining, and enlightening presentations given by Dr Charlie Day, CEO of the Office of Innovation and Science Australia, which is an independent statutory organisation providing advice to the Federal Government of Australia, Dr John Landells, Partner in Patent Attorneys F B Rice & Co, and Ms Sophie Williams, Board Member of BASF Australia and New Zealand.
Dr Day spoke about government initiatives to establish frameworks for innovation for both academia and industry. Dr Landells discussed the importance of protecting innovations to maximise potential returns, and Ms Williams explained the importance of innovation to a global company like BASF, referring to a number of innovative outreach programs initiated by BASF.
A lively panel discussion followed the formal presentations, which ended with an informal dinner at a local restaurant.
Special thanks must go to BASF for hosting the event, especially Dr Yvonne Mah for her assistance in organising the evening, to our guest speakers, and all participants.
The next meeting in the series, on Wednesday 14 November at the same location, will address Regulation.
The speakers will comprise Dr Gary Bowman, Regulatory Affairs Manager of Reckitt Benckiser, Mr Peter Vitali, Principal of Chemvit consulting, and previously a senior executive with Worksafe Victoria, and Ms Fiona Fleming, Managing Director of the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology.
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