Collaboration counts: Data, myths and the next decade of Australian innovation
In this episode, we are joined by Paul Harris, Executive Director of the Innovative Research Universities (IRU), to unpack what the evidence really says about university–industry collaboration in Australia. Paul shares how a 25-year look at national data challenges the familiar narrative, showing rising collaboration, growing research quality and productivity, and a clear gap driven less by universities and more by industry absorptive capacity and investment. He also explores why incentives, coordination and better impact reporting matter if we want research to translate into real community benefit.
From reframing myths with data, to strengthening long-term structures like the Industry PhD programme, to the case for national coordination, mission-based compacts and a better balance between fundamental research and commercialisation, this conversation offers practical, system-level insights. It’s a grounded guide for leaders navigating the next decade of Australian innovation, where collaboration is measured thoughtfully, partnerships are built on mutual value, and no community is left behind.
You can read a summary below, and listen to the full interview in our podcast:
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Summary
A network shaping Australia’s research future
The Innovative Research Universities (IRU) is a network of seven young Australian universities with a shared mission to expand access to higher education and ensure research delivers meaningful benefits for communities. As Executive Director, Paul Harris leads efforts to strengthen collaboration across the network and advocate for evidence-based policy reform that supports translation and impact.
Our universities were founded on access, equity and community benefit — and that commitment continues to shape how we think about research and innovation today.
Challenging the collaboration myth
For decades, a familiar story has shaped Australia’s research policy: universities are excellent at research but poor at collaborating with industry. Paul and his colleague Cameron Neylon decided to test that assumption. Analysing 25 years of national data, they found a very different reality — one of growth, improvement, and increasing engagement. Their research shows that university–industry collaboration has more than tripled over the past 15 years. Collaboration with global companies is rising sharply, while partnerships with Australian businesses have remained flat. The data reveals not a lack of willingness from universities, but a broader issue of absorptive capacity and R&D investment within Australian industry.
There’s a disconnect between the policy narrative and the data — universities are collaborating more than ever, but the challenge lies in how industry engages.
Industry absorptive capacity and the structural challenge
Australia’s unique industrial landscape — dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises and resource-heavy sectors — shapes how innovation happens. While many Australian firms are starting to publish, invest, and co-develop research, university collaborations still tend to come from global rather than local companies.
Harris believes this trend highlights a need for stronger incentives, clearer coordination, and more strategic use of funding. He points to the potential of initiatives such as the Industry PhD Programme, which connects researchers and companies, and calls for a national body to better align research capabilities with industry priorities.
We need to strengthen the connective tissue between research and industry — not through one-off programmes, but through long-term structures that reward collaboration.
Policy reform and rethinking incentives
Australia is currently undergoing its most significant review of the research and innovation system in 15 years. Harris sees this as a critical opportunity to rethink how research collaboration is measured, funded, and incentivised. He advocates for improving — rather than abandoning — frameworks that assess research engagement and impact.
Without strong evidence and reporting systems, he warns, it becomes harder to demonstrate the societal value of public research. He stresses that incentives and evaluation frameworks should drive meaningful engagement, not compliance or box-ticking.
Moving beyond metrics
Paul believes the next evolution of research impact must go beyond economic measures. Universities, he argues, must capture who benefits from research — not just how much value it creates. That includes recognising contributions to sectors such as health, care, education, and communities, which often generate profound but less visible outcomes.
It’s not enough to show a dollar return. We have to understand who benefits from research, and make sure no communities are left behind.
Lessons from the Australian experience
The Australian research system has achieved remarkable internationalisation and productivity, but Paul warns against overemphasising commercialisation at the expense of fundamental research. He believes the future lies in balance — maintaining strong foundational science while improving translation and collaboration.
He also sees potential in mission-based compacts — upcoming agreements between universities and government — to encourage institutions to focus on their strengths and regional roles rather than competing across all fields.
We don’t need every university to do everything. A system that builds on individual strengths will deliver greater collective impact.
Looking ahead: A decade of change
As new technologies like AI reshape research and work, Harris sees an even greater need for universities to balance innovation with critical thinking and creativity. Collaboration, he argues, will continue to be central — not just between universities and industry, but across sectors, disciplines, and nations.
AI is transforming how we research, but it’s also reminding us why deep knowledge, creativity and collaboration matter more than ever.
Ready for more?
Curious how other institutions are designing long-term partnership models? In the podcast The MIT Playbook: Designing Partnerships that Shape the Future, we take a closer look at how MIT CSAIL built one of the world’s most strategic university–industry collaboration programmes rooted in trust, clarity and long-term value.
For a national perspective, the article National Physical Laboratory: The role of government in uniting business and academia explores how a national institution can act as a bridge between research and industry priorities, aligning stakeholders around shared missions for impact.
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