BioSA Performance Indicators

In reply to Mr GARDNER (Morialta) (3 August 2016). (Estimates Committee A)

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy): I am advised:

1. The 27 provisional patent applications were all supported through BioSA's (now TechInSA) Intellectual Property Management Initiative and received State Government funding.

2. The targets represent South Australian provisional patent applications and International Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications supported by BioSA (now TechInSA) and filed by South Australia's three main universities. Australia's patenting process starts with an Australian provisional patent application, creating a priority date for the invention but not a full patent. The next step is a full Australian patent application and an international PCT application for patent registration overseas. PCT applications cost three times more than provisional patent applications. Accordingly, the reduction in the number of provisional patent applications filed reflects universities increasingly using grant funding to convert provisional patent applications to PCT applications.