Strategy
ICT Research Audit & Strategic Funding Proposal, WA Department of
Industry and Resources
This
project was to undertake an audit of ICT research capabilities in WA
tertiary institutions and develop a funding proposal for
consideration by the Board of National ICT Australia (NICTA). The
objective of this assignment was to optimise the contribution of ICT
research to the WA economy through a link into NICTA as the
pre-eminent ICT research organisation in Australia. The first part
of this project involved an audit of ICT research in WA tertiary
institutions, for which a survey instrument was developed and
distributed to all ICT research centres in these institutions. The
audit was then used in preparing an assessment of the State’s
tertiary based ICT research capability. This assessment required
the development of a unique set of capability indicators and an
analysis of each centre against those indicators.
The
second part of the project involved the development of a strategic
funding proposal to be considered by the Board of NICTA, including
the development of an appropriate research focus, outlining the
scale and operations of the potential WA Node, covering management
and governance and demonstrating how this potential Node aligned
with NICTA's mission, activities and future directions, as well as
WA's strategic priorities. This assignment involved extensive
consultations, both within WA and in three Eastern States (QLD, NSW
and VIC). It also involved in-depth interviews with the major ICT
research centres in WA.
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Strategic & Business Plans for the State Agricultural Research
Centre (SABC)
The
SABC is the collaborative university Centre for R&D in agricultural
and veterinary biotechnology in Western Australia. It provides
platform technologies and world class equipment and facilities for
R&D in agricultural biotechnology to researchers from universities,
state government and industry. More than 20 research groups and
private sector companies rent space and use the SABC facilities,
which is based at Murdoch University in Perth.
Inova
prepared the business plan that established the SABC as a WA
Government Centre of Excellence and obtained the funding to expand
the Centre's equipment, laboratories and offices in the Loneragan
Building at the University. This plan involved a full facilitation
process including workshops and interviews involving staff and other
key stakeholders. The plan was designed to clearly demonstrate how
the additional funding would improve the Centre's operations and
increase its impact in the agricultural sector. All aspects of
management, governance, market analysis, finance, research programs
and personnel were covered in the plan.
In
addition, after the developments in the business plan had been
implemented Inova was contracted to develop a five-year strategic
plan for the SABC. This was the SABC’s first experience of
developing a strategic plan and involved stakeholder workshops and
interviews, as well as discussions with other key players in the WA
agricultural research scene. The strategic plan clearly articulated
the need for such the Centre, a comprehensive strategic audit,
strategic directions for the Centre and alternative funding models
for the future.
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Innovation
$1.9 million AusIndustry Start Grant, Cool Energy Pty Ltd
The
project was to develop a novel cryogenic gas sweetening technology.
This CryoCell™ technology includes a number of advantages over
current gas sweetening processes including elimination of the need
for chemicals and solvents, allowing the removal of CO2 as a liquid
enhancing options for low cost sequestration and elimination of
greenhouse gas emissions, and savings in capital and operating
costs.
The
significance of this project was that the technology at the heart of
the project was a spin off technology from Curtin University of
Technology, which itself had been developed under a previous Start
Grant. In addition, the Start Grant was used as a mechanism to
attract additional investors and resulted in the formation of a new
company, Cool Energy Pty Ltd.
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$2.8 million AusIndustry Commercial Ready Grant, QRSciences
The
project was to develop and commercialise the QRS Next Generation
Explosive Detection System (EDS) for baggage screening for the
aviation security market. This novel system will build on QRS'
Quadrupole Resonance technology to enhance the detection of
explosives that are difficult to detect using conventional systems.
QRS' Next Generation EDS will be produced in modular configuration,
and will be suitable for factory integration with new X-ray
machines, as well as for stand alone operation with existing
systems.
This
project was noteworthy since the leading edge technology involved
was extremely complex and not well understood. Therefore, the
application required extremely clear and concise project
descriptions, articulation of markets and identification of
innovation, as well as significant interaction with AusIndustry
Customer Service Managers. Success in winning this grant was
important to the company's growth prospects as it was used to
strategically position the company in a large and growing market.
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Strategic Business Case to establish Agricultural Research Western
Australia (ARWA) for the Department of Agriculture Western Australia
Inova
was selected as part of a joint team to develop a strategic business
case for the development of an integrated agricultural research
institute, which became Agricultural Research Western Australia (ARWA).
This assignment was undertaken as a joint venture by Inova and a
national consulting firm. The business case was presented to
Cabinet in 2005 and was approved for funding. The aim of this
assignment was to optimise the effectiveness and efficiency of
agricultural research in Western Australia in light of national and
international changes in the agricultural sector. The activities of
this new Institute had to align with existing activities and
strategic priorities of its partners, the Department of Agriculture
Western Australia and the rural research agencies. Extensive
consultations with partner organisations and other interested
stakeholders were undertaken, as were comprehensive literature
searches to identify potential overseas models for the institute.
In addition to developing the business case as a whole, Inova
provided specialised input covering strategic risk management.
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Communication
Review of Client
Documents for Barrack & Associates
Barrack & Associates is an accounting and business facilitation firm
that has contracted Inova to review a number of significant client
documents. These reviews have included a major assessment of an
Environmental Protection Agency report covering an important mining
and infrastructure development site. In addition, Inova has
provided significant writing and editorial services for prospectus
development for IPO’s.
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Development of a
Business Case and Marketing Material for Design Brief
Design
Brief is an innovative new interior design consultancy based in the
Perth suburb of Subiaco that aims to provide high quality and
affordable interior design services. Inova developed the original
business case to attract funding for this new firm from a major
bank. An important aspect of this assignment was to clearly
articulate the factors that would contribute to the firm's success.
The business case was comprehensive covering all aspects of the
firm’s competitive advantage, governance, marketing, operations, and
budgeting. In addition, Inova has developed all the marketing copy
for the firm including brochures and content for its web site.
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Establishment of MurdochLINK, Murdoch University
Inova
was selected for the assignment of developing the internal proposal
to the University's Senate that established MurdochLINK, which is
the commercial arm of Murdoch University. MurdochLINK facilitates
the commercial interaction between Murdoch University and industry
by providing services that include consultancy, professional and
continuing education, training and development and contract R&D.
This assignment involved communication of a sound case for the
establishment of MurdochLINK, as well as an operating and funding
model for its growth.
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Development of Marketing Material for Salu Art
Salu
Art produces handcrafted original art pieces for both commercial and
residential interiors that are inspired by colour, culture and
nature. Salu's work adorns the walls of board rooms, offices,
restaurants, cafes, display homes, hotels and residential spaces
throughout Australia and abroad. Inova has developed a range of
marketing documents for this creative and innovative business, in
addition to writing a document that addressed selection criteria for
a design award.
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