Dairy Australia - Australia at forefront of dairy innovation
Published:September 8, 2006
Source :Dairy Australia
Australia’s ability to generate ideas and transform them into commercial value will be further enhanced with the opening of a new centre designed to place the Australian dairy industry at the forefront of world dairying innovation and thinking.
Research investors and dairy companies have joined forces to invest in the innovation centre, which will build a critical mass of the best minds and develop world-class manufacturing technology.
Victoria’s Minister for Innovation John Brumby (September 6) launched the new innovation centre, which over the next three years will invest more than $15 million in research. Minister Brumby said the investment and collaboration demonstrated the industry’s commitment to innovation as a continued key driver of its future economic success.
Dairy Australia managing director Mike Ginnivan said the new centre would replace the existing manufacturing sector centres and that it was the most exciting collaborative initiative for the sector in more than a decade. He said the Dairy Process Engineering Centre, Australian Starter Culture Research Centre, UHT Centre, Australian Cheese Technology Program, and Dairy Ingredients Group of Australia all would provide an excellent foundation for the new centre.
“In an unprecedented move for the Australian dairy manufacturing sector, the five centres will evolve into a single centre that will challenge and transform the way the industry thinks about innovation,” Dr Ginnivan said.
“The new centre will build on a decade of good science and expertise developed by the existing centres and it will adopt an ‘open innovation’ approach to encourage a co-investment and open innovation culture between research investors and manufacturers.
“This will make it significantly easier for manufacturers to adopt technology and it will be testimony to the industry’s continued collaborative spirit,” Dr Ginnivan said.
Interim chairman Andrew Donovan said the centre was a major turning point in how the Australian manufacturing sector would manage dairy science and innovation.
“The centre will focus on the needs of dairy companies to create a stronger, more innovative and globally competitive Australian dairy industry,” Mr Donovan said.
“In Europe, businesses often innovate together for greater efficiencies and quicker results. Being open about innovation is commonplace among larger dairy companies. It is not uncommon to have Nestlé, Arla and Campina working together on joint research programs. The concept is even more prevalent in the large pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
“In June 2005, the industry formed a leadership team to review the five existing manufacturing sector centres and define the sector’s innovation requirements.
“The team then developed the model for the new centre, which will take the Australian dairy industry to the forefront of global innovation,” he said.
The centre will be based in Werribee Victoria and is expected to open its doors in January. It will manage projects that protect the core business of the industry, capture emerging market opportunities and create new market opportunities and value chains.
“It will also give members access to the same competitive advantages and an edge over their competitors,” Mr Donovan said.
The centre will be owned and controlled by the industry. Joining Dairy Australia in the initiative are the Geoffrey Gardiner Foundation and most key dairy companies. Murray Goulburn, Dairy Farmers, Warrnambool Cheese & Butter Factory, Tatura Milk Industries Limited, Bega, National Foods and Parmalat have signed implementation agreements.
“We would like to see the centre continue to grow and build on the existing strong industry support,” Mr Donovan said.
The new centre will help the industry deliver consistent, health giving and safe products, new processes and product options, innovation capability and resources, and reliable supplies of starter cultures.
