By Professor David Stokes, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, (Research) Deakin University.

Senator Kim Carr, Australia’s new Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, said recently that: “Brazil has legislated to provide incentives for research cooperation between universities, research institutes and private companies … if Brazil can get the public and private sectors sharing research staff, funding and facilities, why can’t we?"

I agree. And surely we can take this initiative even further. It is time for Australia to have another go at providing new incentives for universities and industries to work together.