Spinning along: CSIRO’s knowledge business

Abstract

SummaryThis paper addresses the development of CSIRO’s intellectual property commercialisation from its beginnings in 1949 to 2006. The paper focuses on spinoff companies in commercialisation and the particular drivers, both economic and policy-based, that have led to particular patterns of commercialisation and spinoff formation over the years. Trends are analysed in three main periods, which correspond with particular policy approaches to CSIRO by its owner, the Australian Government: 1949–1983 (science focused, ad hoc commercialisation, little or no overt government influence); 1984–1996 (organisational commercialisation policies emerge, government sets external earnings targets); and 1996– 2006 (more sophisticated organisational management of commercial interactions, government involvement in broad research priority setting and extensive grant schemes). Case studies illustrate the themes discussed. Successful commercialisation by CSIRO will require continuation of the careful approach to commercialisation that has evolved in the last 5–6 years.