Innovation Is Industry Policy

Industries square off on R&D tax

2011-03-11T16:22:00.000+11:00

MJA's managing director, Kris Gale, was quoted in this week's Australian Financial Review in response to the Australian Information Industry Association's support for the proposed changes to the research and development tax concession. In an article entitled "Industries square off on R&D tax", MJA's Gale says:

"These new changes hit everybody so while mining and manufacturing projects have now been brought into the more restrictive environment, everyone is equally affected."

"Ultimately you end up with a program that provides the credit where there are losses and removes it if the R&D is successful"

"Companies will end up planning not to get it."

To read the article in full go to the Australian Financial Review website.

Further information on the proposed R&D Tax Credit and the ongoing consultation process can be found on the MJA website.

R&D Tax Credit Exposure Draft Commentary

2010-01-18T15:32:00.017+11:00

MJA's managing director, Kris Gale, has labelled the proposed R&D Tax Credit 'overreaching and restrictive' in a recent article on the ARN website. In the article entitled "Firestorm of criticism against Government R&D changes", MJA's Gale says

"If these changes go through, this will be the worst environment for Government support for R&D in this country for the past 25 years."

"The double whammy is a much tighter definition of what R&D is - whenever that R&D generates a commercial return, you are penalised and lose the credit completely."

Gale hopes the Government's proposal would be squashed due to mounting anger and scepticism from a range of businesses and organisations.

To read the article in full go to the ARN website.

Further information on the proposed R&D Tax Credit and MJA's submission to the consultation process can be found on the MJA website.

R&D Tax Credit Exposure Draft Legislation Released

2009-12-23T09:50:00.003+11:00

The exposure draft legislation for the proposed new R&D Tax Credit has been released. While the news is not all bad, the new R&D Tax Credit proposed by the Treasury seeks to legislate a considerable narrower definition of R&D coupled with augmented feedstock provisions that would combine to remove any real incentive effect at the critical phases of all R&D projects - the times where decisions are made as to how much expenditure to commit to a project. Along with this minimised incentive effect, the new legislation introduces a slew of new concepts and requirements that add a huge amount of complexity to the program, couching it in language that is confusing and not relevant to technical personnel and again dropping the responsibility for the claim squarely in the lap of the company's taxation team.

In short, it is an incentive designed to encourage companies to do R&D outside their normal operating environments and only reward failures which can only be determined after the fact. It is not interested in assisting companies that seek successful R&D outcomes in commercially-driven environments.

The Treasury has given interested parties until 5 February 2010 for responses to be submitted. Further information on the proposed changes can be found on the MJA website. And as always, we are happy to discuss any questions and concerns that you may have. We will keep you updated regularly on progress.

In the meantime, we wish you all the best for the Christmas season and for a very successful 2010.

R&D Tax Credit Exposure Draft Expected Soon

2009-11-11T14:15:00.000+11:00

The exposure draft for the new R&D Tax Credit legislation is still expected to be available towards the end of November according to Kris Gale, Managing Director, Michael Johnson Associates. Kris made the comment on “At The Open” on Sky Business Channel earlier today.

The program focused on the concerns that have been raised by the recent Treasury consultation paper’s proposal to change the definition of R&D. It was noted that the delays in the delivery of that paper have caused many to conclude that the recent public submission process may have little impact on the draft legislation. These concerns have been heightened by recent revelations that a number of public servants involved in the consultation process to date have moved on.

Details regarding the contents of the exposure draft will appear in an MJA Update as soon as they become available.

Big trouble in small business: R&D tax incentives

2009-10-30T10:58:00.016+11:00

MJA's managing director, Kris Gale, was quoted in the business section of today's Australian outlining his concerns. In an article entitled "Big trouble in small business: R&D tax incentives", MJA's Gale says:

"These changes will (affect) technology start-ups more than large companies, which only spend 1 per cent to 2 per cent of their operating budgets on research compared to 30 per cent to 40 per cent for small companies, which are focused almost entirely on commercially ready R&D"

"Companies will need to divert extra resources to prepare their claims and that is an increased compliance burden and a diversion away from what they are trying to focus on. There is universal agreement that this will add complexity"

"The jaundiced view is that the legislation is already written and Treasury is just paying lip service to business views"

"Although small business and tax specialists say the R&D tax credit has the potential to significantly help small business, it will need to be refined to do so"

"If not, it runs the risk of leaving us with a lame duck program and all the uncertainty that presents"

To read the article in full go to The Australian website.

Further information on the proposed R&D Tax Credit and MJA's submission to the consultation process can be found on the MJA website.

R&D Tax Credit Issues Paper - Window For Responses Closing Rapidly

2009-10-21T13:59:00.004+11:00

Submissions regarding the Treasury consultation paper, "The new research and development tax incentive”, close on Monday, October 26.

The public consultation sessions were completed in Sydney on Monday. It seems apparent that an Exposure Draft of the legislation is already advanced and is likely to be released next month. This makes submissions vital if you are concerned by the direction taken in the Treasury paper. The time to raise your issues is NOW.

If you require assistance, please contact MJA via the website.

R&D Tax Credit Consultation Paper Released

2009-09-22T11:39:00.004+10:00

The federal government has opened the consultation process over its proposed changes to the tax system for research and development companies, releasing a discussion paper on the proposed changes.

The consultation paper is available on the Treasury website and the first round of consultation closes on October 26.

This is a great opportunity for businesses and stakeholder organisations to have their say. We've already started analysing the planned R&D tax credit over at MJA and would be delighted to assist you in raising relevant issues through the consultation process. Have a look at the following articles:

R&D tax credit: "Include companies in the consultation process"

2009-07-09T15:45:00.003+10:00

MJA's managing director, Kris Gale, was quoted on page 12 of today's Australian Financial Review. In an article entitled "Industry Edgy on R&D changes", the relevant section says:

Kris Gale, managing director of Michael Johnson Associates, said so far government had not included companies sufficiently in the consultation process.

"All the relevant parties - government, industry and advisers - need to agreee to the administration of the program," he said.

The process also needed fast-tracking. "At present assessments of claims can take years," Mr Gale said.

"We need to come to a time limit, so there is certainty in the program."

Kris's latest article, encouraging participation in a program of consultation for the R&D tax credit is available on the MJA Website.

Public Sphere 2:

2009-06-26T15:46:00.002+10:00

Earlier this week I presented at Senator Kate Lundy's Public Sphere event, covering "Government 2.0: Policy and Practice".

Here is a video of my presentation:

Public Sphere: Government 2.0 - John Haining from Kate Lundy on Vimeo.

And the slides from Slideshare

Public Sphere: Gov 2.0 - John Haining

Feedback in the comments is most welcome (I know about the broken Transparency v Trust framework!).

If you want to participate further in this area, you can visit the Senator's wiki, in which Senator Lundy's adviser, Pia Waugh is coordinating a briefing paper on this area that will be shared with the National Government 2.0 Taskforce.

Powering Ideas: An Innovation Agenda for the 21st Century

2009-05-13T11:03:00.005+10:00

Senator Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research has released the long-awaited response to the Cutler Report, Venturous Australia.

The report, entitled Powering Ideas, An Innovation Agenda for the 21st Century, provides some illumination as to the government's thinking in this area. For instance:

Innovation is the key to making Australia more productive and more competitive. It is the key to answering the challenge of climate change, the challenge of national security, the age-old challenges of disease and want. It is the key to creating a future that is better than the past.

Investing in innovation is also one of the most effective ways we can cushion Australia against the effects of the global downturn and accelerate recovery. It will simultaneously keep people in work today and generate jobs for the future.

(from the Executive Summary)

I'll post analysis of the White Paper over the coming weeks. We've already started analysing the planned R&D tax credit over at MJA, have a look at the following articles:

You can download the White Paper from the Innovation Review website (PDF).

Yes, it's politics, but this is fascinating

2009-04-30T08:49:00.007+10:00

In response to the relative silence from the industry department as part of the economic stimulus packages, Senator Abetz has penned a fairly detailed criticism of the federal government's approach and its impact on business. (In case the political pointscoring about Pacific Brands and Qantas stops you from getting to his planned action points, I have presented them below).

Apparently the industry department was not included in the stimulus planning

Surely, if you wanted to protect or create jobs, like in the manufacturing sector which has been worst hit with more than 44,000 jobs lost since Labor was elected (a 4.2 per cent decline), you would talk to the Industry and Small Business Department for their ideas?

But no. As revealed in a recent answer I received from Senate Estimates, the first the Industry Department knew of the detail of the $42 billion stimulus was when it was publicly announced - which might help explain why Australia is the only country in the developed world not to include incentives for business to invest in new research and development in its stimulus packages.

Senator Abetz's recommended action plan

So what should the Government be doing to try and minimise job losses in the face of the Rudd Recession?

Well firstly, it should adopt Mr Turnbull's six-point small business action plan, which will provide real immediate assistance for minimum cost - and genuinely protect jobs.

Secondly, the Government needs to take responsibility for the job cuts - as a Prime Minster once famously said, "the buck stops with me".

Thirdly, the Government needs to invest not in articificially propping up GDP, but in supporting the productive capacity of business - especially small business - through things like encouraging investment in R&D, even at this tough time.

And fourthly - and most importantly - the Government needs to facilitate the right economic conditions for business to prosper and employ people; which means, not talking down the economy in order to try and trash the economic legacy of your predecessors.

Yes, it's politics. Yes there's pointscoring. But, if this is the reality of the situation it is very sad to me. Putting on my pessimist's hat, if the industry and small business departments have not had an impact thus far, what hope do we have that this will change?

Wearing my Optimist's hat, the stimulus activity to date has been largely about consumption rather than investment, and that the next round of activity will be about encouraging productivity and knowledge jobs in the economy.

The realist in me says that the ALP positions itself as the party for Working Families and the Liberal Party as the "party" for Business, so unless you can join the dots and show how lower investment in R&D and knowledge jobs affects Working Families you don't have much chance of getting on the radar. Well, unless you're about to go broke.

Just another reason why party politics can be so hollow.

Let me know what you anticipate in the budget by posting a comment on this article.

Exellent Progress on US National Innovation System...our turn soon!

2009-04-28T15:33:00.004+10:00

Professor Joshua Gans has written an excellent piece on President Obama's announcements about the US National Innovation System (which includes making their R&D tax credits a permanent feature) over on the economics.com.au site.

I am curious as to what signals the Australian Innovation System Review process, now formally a part of the budget, will take from this lead in terms of targets and priorities. I suspect that the environmental and sustainability challenge will be taken up in earnest by other parts of government, but the tenor of Venturous Australia was change, enunciating priorities, and goals and investment for the future.

This is the time for counter-cyclical stimulus and innovation (as an economic public and private system) is one of the best places to invest.

Green Car Innovation Fund Open for Applications

2009-04-24T17:05:00.002+10:00

As promised, the government has opened the Green Car Innovation Fund in April. From today, applications can be made by motor vehicle producers for grants of $5 million or more and other applicants will be able to apply for grants of $100,000 or more. Funding will flow from 1 July 2009.

Despite receiving feedback that argued this approach, the grants will be on the basis of one government dollar to three applicant dollars.

Information sessions will be held in May to brief applicants, and Application Forms, guidelines and further details are available on the AusIndustry website.

Climate Ready: Second Round not so positive

2009-04-03T15:50:00.004+11:00

The results of the second round of Climate Ready have been filtering through. It looks as though less than 10% of companies that applied got funded, and no total amount has yet been announced.

This is a big difference from the first round, which had a 65% success rate and gave away $27.7m of the $75m budget allocation, as described in this article.

Such a low success rate could point to tightening government spending, higher average project funding, poor quality candidates, or a very large number of candidates (or a combination of all of these). It may or may not reveal a flaw in rounds based grant programs.

We'll keep you posted on Climate Ready news as it comes to hand.

R&D tax concession deadline soon

2009-04-03T15:44:00.004+11:00

30 April 2009 is the deadline for R&D tax concession registrations for the year ended 30 June 2008.

Companies that were incorporated, do not trade as a trust, had over $20,000 in expenditure and good quality R&D planning documentation should be eligible for the 125% tax concession or offset (if they have not yet lodged their tax return).

Yes, there are more rules and regulations to be aware of, that's why you might like to review our R&D tax concession services and get in touch with MJA here: http://mjassociates.com.au/rd-tax-concession-services/.

Venturous Australia: What now? Hargraves Conference 2009

2009-03-25T11:13:00.008+11:00

The annual Hargraves Institute Conference for 2009 had the theme "New World. New Opportunity".

International speakers, and experts from industry took the floor to present around this theme, including Professor Ian Frazer (Australian of the Year 2006), John Russell (Russell Mineral Equipment), Darrell Mann (Systematic Innovation, UK), and Andrew Hamilton (The Icehouse, NZ).

Despite the fact that books published on innovation are sometimes full of empty calories, Hargraves hosted an "afternoon book club" with Narelle Kennedy (Australian Business Foundation), Dr Mile Terziovski (University of Melbourne) and Dr Peter Cebon (Melbourne Business School).

Kris Gale, MJA's Managing Director was at the decks for an innovation-themed "Spicks and Specks" session, hosted by Allan Ryan, the Executive Director of the Hargraves Institute.

The second day ran as concurrent sessions around the principal themes of Leadership and People, Sustainability and Innovation, and Innovation Performance, Tools and Techniques.

I presented briefly on Venturous Australia: National Innovation System Review. What now? and have embedded the slide deck below for your enlightenment. As there's not much new to say, other than the fact that the economic slowdown is eating government revenues faster than termites go through unprotected homes, you won't learn very much. But hey, an update is an update.

Hargraves Conference 2009

View more presentations from mjassociates.

MJA Supporting the North Warrandyte CFA and Red Cross

2009-02-11T14:02:00.004+11:00

One of our team members is a volunteer in the North Warrandyte CFA. Along with every man, woman, child and dog he's been busy fighting the bushfires in Victoria. As part of fighting the Kinglake fire, where most people first heard of the tragedy, the Captain of North Warrandyte CFA received spinal injuries.

The report from our team member:

Unfortunately, our Captain, Rohan Thornton, was admitted to hospital suffering some minor spinal injuries resulting from Kinglake incident. He is currently doing well, but needs to remain in hospital for the time being - much to his disappointment! He is expected to make a full recovery. However, The Tanker, whilst damaged, managed to escape the flames. It is currently undertaking a damage assessment and we hope to have it returned to service as soon as practical. To ensure fire coverage for our area as we currently have a Region loan tanker to fill the gap.

MJA has made donations to North Warrandyte CFA and the Red Cross Bushfire relief program.

Our thoughts are with all of those serving on the front line, and the families, friends and loved ones of the victims and survivors.

Climate Ready: First round offers are out

2009-02-06T11:55:00.008+11:00

The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Resources has announced the first round of recipients for Climate Ready, the government's four year, $75m grant funding program for technologies to achieve climate change. The list of recipients is available here (pdf).

It's interesting to observe that this round has provided $27.7m of grant funds. That means that the first round has consumed over one third of the available funding for the program, a level of funding that is probably unsustainable unless there is an announcement of significant further investment as part of the economic stimulus, budget or Cutler Review/Venturous Australia response.

This may actually happen, as commentators on the automotive grants Clean Car Innovation Fund are already recommending that the non-motor vehicle producers may be better off if the $400m is reallocated to Climate Ready and invested in these projects, if only because grants are dollar for dollar rather than 1:4.

Also, my speculation that the likelihood of getting a $5m grant was low was wrong, as one project received the maximum amount of $5m (Hofmann Engineering), and another two received over $2m.

Another round of projects closed in December, and we would expect announcements on those projects over the next month or two.

Bradley Review due early March - no official word on Cutler Review Response

2009-02-05T16:11:00.003+11:00

In a press release yesterday, Julia Gillard MP confirmed that the government's response to the Bradley Review of Higher Education would be released in early March 2009.

She noted that a interdepartmental committees have been formed to deal with issues where the Bradley and Cutler Reports intersect.

Interestingly, given the point we are at in both processes, six roundtable discussions are being held by the Minister on the Bradley Review to provide a confidential forum.

I wonder whether anything similar will be done for the Cutler Review response.

Cutler Review: National Innovation Policy delayed until late March 2009

2009-02-02T11:44:00.003+11:00

The latest whispers reaching us suggest that the federal government's response to Venturous Australia, also known as the Cutler Report, will not be public until late March 2009.

With talk of business and investment stimulus packages currently being developed I was hopeful that the policy would be announced sooner. This rumour, combined with the announcement that the budget will now be in deficit, compounds the likelihood that initiatives in the innovation policy will perhaps be more modest than Venturous Australia recommends.

Moreover, we anticipate a staggered introduction of initiatives, with some immediate, some in the 2009/10 federal budget and others not implemented to 2010/11.

Those readers with a keen eye will observe that this is a very interesting timeline given the Australian electoral cycle. Engaging the opposition parties on this subject would seem prudent. After all, knowing what will and will not meet with bipartisan support is going to be a key in understanding what investments will be made in our innovation policy over any workable timeline - particularly the ten year horizon that the Minister has mentioned.

I'll keep you up to date on developments.

Consultations on Automotive Innnovation Fund

2009-01-22T10:34:00.003+11:00

Senator Carr's office has issued a release asking for feedback on the Green Car Innovation Fun and other elements of the Automotive Innovation package.

There is such a large sum of money being invested in this area, it's probably worth taking the time to provide some commentary. The link to the Minister's press release is here.

What are the topical issues that you see?
What should be improved?
What needs reviewing?

Answers in the comments, please.

Here's to the Australian Risk-Takers, Doers and Makers of Things

2009-01-21T09:58:00.006+11:00

It seems horribly unfair to take one line out of context from Barack Obama's inauguration speech as the forty-fourth President of the United States of America. This one phrase, though, should resonate with anyone and everyone concerned with innovation, business, R&D and entrepreneurship.

Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the fainthearted -- for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long, rugged path toward prosperity and freedom.

You can read the transcript here or watch a video here.

Although Australians are not the dominant audience for the inaugruation speech, that should not stop us for looking for the gems of wisdom that are universal.

As the economy continues to cool, we would do well to remember these words and drive the mantra in our businesses. Instead of heading down a cautious path, look for the risk, if only to find what your competitors are not doing. Instead of procrastinating, look for the opportunity that lies in action - failure is a possibility, but without action all you have is the false certainty of the present. Instead of looking at how structures and financial products can offer you protection, look to the process and outcomes of making things that make the world a better, greener, safer place.

I'll get off my soapbox now.

Automotive Innovation: Green Car Innovation Fund

2009-01-09T12:35:00.021+11:00

Late last year (on 19 December 2008), Senator Carr announced developments in the $6.2 billion New Car Plan for a Greener Future, namely:

A framework paper outlining the proposed operation of the $1.3 billion Green Car Innovation Fund and inviting feedback
Ministerial guidelines for the Automotive Industry Structural Adjustment Program (AISAP) (PDF) supporting consolidation of companies through merger and acquisition
Appointments to the Automotive Industry Innovation Council.

Green Car Innovation Fund Framework
As a proposed grants program, the framework for delivery is going to be very important in terms of access to funding, quality of arguments and advice and overall costs/risks. This framework is available here (as a Word document).

The Green Innovation Fund will provide grants on a competitive, merit based basis on a 1:3 funding ratio. Apparently this can be varied if risk profiles or the proposed project makes a significant contribution to the international competitiveness of the Australian industry. It will support R&D and the commercialisation of Australian technologies that significantly reduce fuel consumption or greenhouse gas emissions of passenger motor vehicles.

It will operate in two streams to support projects of up to three years' duration (although a six month extension may subsequently be considered):

Stream A will support Motor Vehicle Producers registered under the current ACIS program or the new Automotive Transformation Scheme (ATS) and will be for a grant of $10m or more (though less than $300m in total support under the program for that applicant); and
Stream B will support companies (including companies formed in order to complete projects) other than Motor Vehicle Producers, although they may participate as consortia members. Grants under Stream B must be for at least $100,000.

Activities supported will be for R&D, proof-of-concept, early-stage commercialisation and pre-production activities carried out in Australia, which makes this very similar in definition to the existing Climate Ready program, and the previous Commercial Ready and R&D Start programs.

Merit Criteria
Grants will be assessed according to the following merit criteria:

The extent of the reduction in passenger motor vehicle fuel consumption and/or greenhouse gas (ie carbon dioxide equivalent) emissions arising from the proposed project
The technical merit and extent and calibre of innovation generated in Australia by the proposed project
The capacity and capability of the applicant to undertake the project, including management capability
The commercialisation potential of the proposed project to the benefit of Australia
The contribution of the proposed project to a sustainable and internationally competitive Australian automotive industry, and the benefits to the broader Australian economy

Eligible Expenditure
It is proposed that expenditure under the following headings be eligible to attract grant funding if it is directly related to eligible project activities (R&D, proof of concept, early-stage commercialisation):

labour (including salaries, special bonus for employing recent graduates);
contractors;
plant and equipment;
tooling;
prototype;
IP protection;
collaboration;
acquisition (for adaptation in the project) of new leading-edge technologies.

Only expenditure incurred on or after the approved start date of the project will be supported and that cannot be on a date before the program delegate accepts the application for assessment.

Applications
Applications can be lodged at any time and will be assessed continuously. Decisions will be made by a committee of Innovation Australia, except where grants exceed $10m where applications will be will be referred to Cabinet for approval.
On the current timetable the Fund will be launched and first applications called for in April 2009.

Finns Plan Innovation Investment as Economic Stimulus

2009-01-08T16:15:00.001+11:00

We're waiting for the Rudd government's 10 year innovation White Paper which will be delivered in early 2009. Although there is speculation that it will be provided in final form, we are hopeful that there will be a concrete foundation for innovation investment that addresses systemic failings that exist at the moment.

By way of parallel, Finland also completed an innovation review last year. The result, released in December 2008, is a bold plan to stimulate the economy, and an increase in funding to help take the country's R&D funding to 4% of GDP by 2011. In other words, the current economic crisis has actually triggered an increase in innovation investment as an economic stimulus.

This is something Australia needs to consider carefully as the terms of trade change, workforce productivity slows and the air coming out of the consumption-driven balloon spins the economy all over the place.

What do you think?

Kris Gale in December CPA Magazine

2008-12-22T15:32:00.001+11:00

Kris, MJA's Manging Director, has been quoted in the CPA Magazine for December 2008.

You can read the article, which is essentially a reprint of our analysis of the Venturous Australia/Cutler Report, on the CPA website.

Merry Christmas!