Federal government’s agency for scientific research, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in a bid to oversee industrial engagement in the US is all set to open a new office in San Francisco. Expected to open in first half of 2017, CSIRO, through its presence, aims to be the innovation catalyst for Australia domestically and internationally.
In an announcement, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop explained this branch will enable the organization’s partnering businesses working on research and development to collaborate with local firms. It will also facilitate them to scale up their technologies in the US market.
CSIRO will utilize its existing relationships with leading science organizations such as NASA, Boeing, the Gates Foundation, Nayer LLOP and a number of Fortune 500 companies to further accelerate the growth in the region. CSIRO chief executive Larry Marshall said they will be focusing on bringing benefit back to Australia. He further added,
To accelerate innovation rates in Australia we need to accelerate international engagement, especially in regions where there is a significant opportunity to return value to Australia. From this point of view, the US is a no-brainer. We’re looking forward to igniting Aussie innovation in such an exciting, dynamic market.
The office will be situated in Bay Area in San Francisco, is the second international office that CSIRO is setting up after opening one in Chile in 2011.
This announcement aligns with the government’s agenda formulated in Science and Innovation Agenda, and its objectives set out for CSIRO to develop into the world’s premier public research organization by 2020. Nigel Warren, general manager CSIRO Global, says,
CSIRO will support the Australian government and partner with the research sector and business – playing the role of Australia’s innovation catalyst on a global scale.
He adds this signifies they can amplify the impact of CSIRO technology and open the door for other Australian researchers, businesses and startups to realize more commercial value from their great innovations by taking them into a bigger market.
