Start Graduate questionnaire
1
R&D START PROGRAM
SURVEY OF START GRADUATE RECIPIENTS
May 2003
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this survey. This survey is an essential part of the
evaluation of the R&D Start program. It is important for the Government to assess the
performance of its programs to support R&D through evaluations of this kind. The survey
requests information on the financial impact on your firm of its involvement in the R&D
Start program. It also aims to assess the likely flow-on effects to industry and consumers.
Although we ask for specific figures, in many cases these may not be known with a high
degree of accuracy. Therefore, in most cases your best estimate is what we require. All
information you provide shall be treated as commercial-in-confidence and reports will
only provide estimates of the aggregate impact of the R&D Start program.
The survey is expected to take approximately 1–2 hours to complete. Although it has
many questions, we anticipate that you will not need to complete all of them. You only
need to complete those questions that are relevant to your experience with the program.
Both PDF and Microsoft Word versions of the questionnaire have been sent to you. Please
complete the form electronically by checking ‘yes’ or ‘no’ boxes, or entering numbers or
words directly into the shaded fields provided in the Word version. When you first open
the document it appears as a new document. Please save it with a new name — we
suggest you call it by its project number.
Please return this survey by COB Tuesday, 27 May 2003, although earlier receipt would be
appreciated.
To AusIndustry
By email: R&DStart@industry.gov.au
By fax: 02 6213 7677
If you have any questions about the survey please contact:
AusIndustry on 1800 003 183
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Start Graduate questionnaire
Part 1
1
About your firm
We need to understand a little bit about your firm in general, its R&D and its involvement with the
R&D Start program.
1.1 Please enter your R&D Start program project number
1.2 Is your company a:

public company?

private company?
1.3 What percentage of your firm is foreign owned?
1.4 Which organisations collaborated on this project?
(select all that is relevant)
%
University
CRC/CSIRO
Other research institution
Foreign research institution
Other domestic company
Other foreign company
Other
1.5 How many people do you currently employ?
1.6 Please indicate the turnover (total revenue)
of your firm during the 2001-02 financial year
Please specify
full-time equivalent
$
million
$
million
1.7 What is the name of the R&D project for which
your firm has received Start assistance?
1.8 How much did you spend on R&D in total
(Start project plus any other) in 2001-02?
1.9 Which of the following elements of the Start
program have you participated in and in which
year(s)?
1.10 Have you participated in any other government R&D
programs? (Please specify)
Core
Year(s)
Premium
Year(s)
Plus
Year(s)
Graduate
Year(s)
Concessional loan
Year(s)
Year
1.11 How many extra staff did you employ to conduct
the R&D project supported by the Start program?
Are they still employed?
1.12 Have you employed additional staff since completing
the project?
1.13 How much of the total R&D funding for the
Start-related project was invested in R&D
plant and equipment? Please give your best
estimate.
1.14
Program
person months full-time equivalent
Yes
No
Please explain why
No
Yes
Number
$
million
Why did you choose the Graduate option?.
If your Start Graduate was involved in R&D for another Start program and you have already completed a survey
form, please go to part 5. Otherwise, please go to part 2
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Start Graduate questionnaire
Part 2
2
Background information
We need to understand some details about the success of the project supported by the R&D Start
program, the stages it has gone through towards commercialisation and the sources of funding for
the R&D associated with the development of the project. Please fill out the following tables.
If actual data is not available, please give your best estimate.
2.1
Technical success of your project by stages
Stages
Concept
and proof
of concept
Commercialisation
Prototype
Market
establishment
What year was each stage completed? If incomplete,
please provide expected date of completion
Which stages have successfully met their objectives?
Which stages have partially met their objectives?
What is the expected probability of success of
incomplete stages?
%
%
%
%
Which stages have failed to meet their objectives?
Did any stage exceed expected objectives?
2.2
Expenditure on R&D supported by Start by stages. Please give your best estimate.
Stages
Concept and
proof
of concept
How much money did you receive from
Start for each stage?
Commercialisation
Prototype
$
m
$
m
$
m
Market
establishment
Total
$
m
How much has been invested from other
sources for each stage?

Firm retained earnings
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m

Parent company funds
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m

Joint venture
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m

Public share issue
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m

Venture capital company
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m

Bank loan
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m

Own equity, including forgone
wages
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m

Other, including other government
assistance
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m
Total investment from all sources
2.3
Did the project build on previous R&D undertaken by the firm
that is not reflected in the stages indicated above?
Yes
 If yes, please indicate the scale of previous investment
Total investment cost $
 Duration of expenditure
2.4
Overall, do you consider the R&D project supported by the
Start program to be technically successful?
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No
years
Yes
No
Go to 3.1
Go to 3.3
Start Graduate questionnaire
Part 3
3
Financial benefits
For R&D regarded as having been successful, we need to obtain some information about the
financial benefits your company has received as a result of the R&D project supported by R&D
Start. By financial benefits, we mean how the R&D project has increased your profitability — that
is, your revenues less any variable costs of manufacturing and marketing, and less the fixed
investment costs of R&D and other initial commercialisation costs.
3.1
Please indicate the extent to which your company has received additional accumulated financial benefits
(net profit), so far, from the R&D project conducted. Please select a box on the scale below to indicate your
answer. If unsure, please provide best estimate.
0
1
2
3
4
6
7
8
9
Breakeven
point, - covered
No financial
benefit received
so far
3.2
5
10
Highly profitable
with accumulated
financial benefits
more than
20 times total
costs of R&D
project so far
total costs of
R&D project
only so far
Please indicate the extent to which you expect your company to receive additional financial benefits
(net profit) in the next ten years from the R&D project conducted. Please select a box on the scale below to
indicate your answer. If unsure, please provide best estimate.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Breakeven
point, -
No financial
benefit expected
covered total
costs of R&D
project only
Go to part 4
3.3 Please indicate what factors limited the technical
success of the project.
Was more difficult technically than expected
Required more time and resources
Company priorities changed
Market priorities/circumstances changed
Other, (please specify)
Go to part 4
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10
Highly profitable
with accumulated
financial benefits
more than
20 times total
costs of R&D
project
Start Graduate questionnaire
Part 4
4
Economic effects
We need to understand the impacts that your R&D project could have on other firms and industries in the economy, whether it was technically successful or not. To do this, we need to
understand something about the nature of the main impacts of your R&D project. Even if the R&D
project was not technically successful, some spillover benefits may have helped you or others.
4.1
Please indicate the main economic outcomes of your Start-supported R&D project. We would expect there to be
a maximum of three strong economic outcomes. Please select a box to indicate your response and, where you
select ‘strong’ for any impact, complete the additional part 4 questions listed in the last column of this table.
Please complete this question 4.1 before proceeding to the additional part 4 questions.
Degree of impact
(please select most appropriate)
Area of impact
None
Some
Strong
Question to
be completed
if ‘strong’ was
selected
a. Development of a new
product/service/process
4.1.1
b. Development of a better
product/service/process
4.1.1
c. Reduced costs of production due to
new/better process
4.1.2
d. Increased intellectual property of your company
4.1.3
e. Increased the opportunities for your company
to engage in new ventures/collaborations
4.1.4
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Start Graduate questionnaire
5
4.1.1 If you selected ‘Strong’ at 4.1a or b, because your Start-supported R&D project has led to development of a
new or better product/service/process, we need to understand something about the nature of that product, who
it is sold to and what benefit it is to them.
Briefly describe the new/better
product
Who are your customers?
 Other industries. Please enter appropriate code
number(s) from attachment A at page 11.
 Household consumers. Please enter appropriate
code number(s) from attachment B at page 12.
Does your product:
No
Yes
 create a new segment in an existing market?
No
Yes
 replace a product you previously produced?
No
Yes
 replace a product produced by competitors?
No
Yes
 create an entirely new market?
Please indicate the current size of the market you sell your new/better product to, the market share of your
new/better product and your net profit margin on these sales. If unsure, please provide your best estimate.
Market sold to
Value
Your market share
Your net profit margin (specify if >10%)
Australia
$
m/yr
%
0–2%
2–5%
5–10% or specify
Overseas
$
m/yr
%
0–2%
2–5%
5–10% or specify
Please indicate the expected size of the market in five years time. If unsure, please provide your best estimate.
Market sold to
Value
Your market share
Your net profit margin (specify if >10%)
Australia
$
m/yr
%
0–2%
2–5%
5–10% or specify
Overseas
$
m/yr
%
0–2%
2–5%
5–10% or specify
What is the value of your product to your customers?
Please give your best estimate.
 Are customers prepared to pay a premium
price for your product compared with
competitors’ products or a product you
previously produced?
No
Yes
 Does it reduce costs to business customers in
their operation?
No
Yes
Price premium
If yes, please indicate your best estimate of the cost reduction.
$0–1m/yr
$1–5m/yr
$5–20m/yr
$20–100m/yr
 Does it increase the quality of output of your
business customers?
No
%
Greater than $100m/yr
Yes
 Are customers switching to your product in
preference to a competitor’s product or a
product you previously produced?
No
Yes
 Has the Start-supported R&D project
increased your sales overall?
No
Yes
Sales value switched
$
million/year
Growth in sales
% increase
How long before you lose your competitive edge to rivals, assuming you do no further research?
1 year
2 years
5 years
10 years
More than 10 years
How long before you lose your competitive edge to rivals, assuming ongoing R&D?
1 year
2 years
5 years
10 years
Is ongoing R&D to maintain your competitive edge sustainable without further
government assistance?
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More than 10 years
No
Yes
Start Graduate questionnaire
6
4.1.2 If you selected ‘Strong’ at 4.1c, because your Start-supported R&D project has helped you develop
cost saving technologies, we need to understand the extent of these savings and their potential diffusion
through the industry.
How has the R&D project led to reduced
costs of production or operation for you?
How much has the new technology lowered your costs of production and/or operation? Please indicate your best
estimate of the percentage reduction as a percentage reduction of last year’s turnover given in part 1.
0–1%
1–5%
5–10%
10–20%
Greater than 20% specify
%
Have you lowered your price to customers
as a result?
No
Yes
How applicable is the new technology to competitors in your industry?
Market
Entire
industry
¾ industry
½ industry
¼ industry
Smaller %
(indicate)
What is the size
of your industry
Australia
$
m
sales/yr
Overseas
$
m
sales/yr
How long before you lose your competitive edge to rivals, assuming you do no further research?
1 year
2 years
5 years
10 years
More than 10 years
How long before you lose your competitive edge to rivals, assuming ongoing R&D?
1 year
2 years
5 years
10 years
Is ongoing R&D to maintain your competitive edge sustainable without further
government assistance?
More than 10 years
No
Yes
4.1.3 If you selected ‘Strong’ at 4.1d, because intellectual property (IP) has been generated through your
Start-supported R&D project, we need to understand some aspects of its protection and potential value.
Is your R&D protected from being copied by any of the following?
 Patent?
No
Yes
 Other IP rights eg licensing, plant variety rights
No
Yes
 Ownership or rights to other essential inputs
No
Yes
 Ownership or rights to key technology input
No
Yes
 Complexity of production?
No
Yes
 Dedicated client base?
No
Yes
 Other? (please specify)
If possible, please indicate your best estimate of the value of your IP over the next 10 years.
$0–1 million
$1–5 million
$5–20 million
$20–100 million
Greater than $100 million
Is this from:
increased sales of a
product/service/process?
licence fees or royalties
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other (please specify):
Start Graduate questionnaire
7
4.1.4 If you selected ‘Strong’ at 4.1e, because your Start-supported R&D project has helped you to pursue
further R&D and/or business ventures/collaborations, we need to understand the extent of this.
Where specific numbers are requested, please supply best estimates
New R&D
Market
development
Expanded
production
Other
Please specify
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m
$
m
How many of the following
ventures/collaborations have you
pursued?
What is the additional investment
as a result of these ventures?
Please indicate source of funding:
retained earnings
venture capital
loans
public equity
other (please specify)
Please indicate collaboration with
others:
domestic research institutions
foreign research institutions
other domestic firms
foreign firms
other (please specify)
Can you put a value on the
potential benefits you expect from
this venture in the next 10 years?
What is your estimate of the
probability of you realising these
benefits?
%
Is any R&D infrastructure developed for your
Start-supported project being used for ongoing R&D?
%
No
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%
%
Yes
Start Graduate questionnaire
4.2
8
Please indicate if there have been any other significant flow-on economic impacts or innovations from your Startsupported R&D that have impacted on your firm, other firms in your industry and firms outside your industry. We
would expect there would be fewer than three significant outcomes.
Please select a box to indicate which entities have been affected by spinoff innovations and provide your best
estimates of the type and magnitude of impact in the table below.
Significant impact on:
(select only those appropriate)
Firms in
Own firm industry
Area of impact
a. Reduced occupational
health/safety (OHS) hazard
Other
industries
Type and magnitude of impact
(please give best estimates)
Can you put a value on the cost
of the OHS risks impacted upon?
$
What is the reduction in OHS risk
as a result of the technology?
What is the cost of pollution
impacted upon?
/year
% decline
$
/year
b. Reduced pollution
What is the reduction in cost
as a result of the technology?
Can you put a value on the
cost of risk impacted upon?
c. Reduced company/
industry risk
What is the reduction in risk
as a result of the technology?
d. Increased skills of employees
Have the increased skills of
employees enabled an increase
in profitability?
Have you lost staff as a result
of their increased skills?
e. Development of a new or
improved platform
technology
What is/will be the maximum
adoption rate outside of your
firm?
How many years until maximum
adoption is reached?
% decline
$
/year
% decline
% increase
people
% market
years
f. Other impacts, such as helping to create a necessary critical mass for a start up industry or new spinoff companies.
(Please specify).
Go to part 5
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Start Graduate questionnaire
Part 5:
9
Impact on collaboration
We are keen to know how involvement in the program impacted on your relationship with the
research institution and gain an understanding of the sources of value from collaboration.
5.1
Please answer the following questions to provide us with an understanding of the impact on collaboration.
Did your firm have a relationship with the research
institution prior to applying for the R&D Start Graduate
program?
No
Yes, in the
project research
field
No
Did you know the graduate prior to the application for the Start grant?
How did the linkages/collaboration start?
Yes, but
not in the project
research field
Yes
 Initiated by the graduate
 Initiated by your firm
 Initiated by the research institution
 other (please specify)
What access to expertise in the research institution was
facilitated by your involvement in the program?
5.2

None

Only project related contact

Limited additional contact

Significant additional contact
Go to 5.2
Has this contact led to any further R&D
collaboration between the research institution and
your firm?
No
Yes
Size of R&D projects
$
Years
Do you think that collaboration will continue in the
future?
No
Yes
If so, in what form
Please answer the following questions to provide us with an understanding of the sources of impact in
collaboration. Please select a box to indicate your response.
Value (please select most appropriate)
Source of value
Low
Source of new ideas
Lower cost access to expert opinion
Lower cost access to technical equipment
More cost effective R&D
Speeding up of R&D results
Identify high quality future employees
Other (please specify)
Other (please specify)
Other (please specify)
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Medium
High
Start Graduate questionnaire
5.3
10
The following questions provide us with an understanding of subsequent employment of graduates.
Has the graduate employed through the program
subsequently been employed by your firm?
No
To the best of your knowledge, has the graduate:
Yes, and is
still employed
Yes, but has
since left

gone on to further study?

been employed by a research institution?

been employed in your industry?

been employed in another industry?

other? (please specify )
5.4 Do you have anything further to add about the main benefits of the R&D Start program to your company, your
industry or the economy more generally?
5.5 Do you have any comments or suggestions for improving the R&D Start Graduate program?
Part 6:
Compliance costs
We need to take account of all costs of the program including the cost to you of complying.
6.1
Please provide your best estimate of the costs to your company in meeting the requirements for
application and administration of the R&D Start grant
Cost of applying for R&D Start grant
$
Costs incurred during administration of grant
$
Other costs
$
Total
$
Please indicate the time it took you to complete this questionnaire —
hours,
minutes.
Please email your completed document to R&DStart@industry.gov.au. Alternatively, please fax
your completed questionnaire to 02 6213 7677 or mail it to the following address.
R&D Start Program
AusIndustry
GPO Box 9839
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Thank you for your assistance. Be assured that your response will remain confidential.
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Start Graduate questionnaire
Australian and New Zealand Standard
Industrial Classification (ANZSIC)
ATTACHMENT A
H Accommodation, Cafes and Restaurants
29 Accommodation, Cafes and Restaurants
I
A Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
Transport and Storage
30 Road Transport
01 Agriculture
31 Rail Transport
02 Services to Agriculture; Hunting and Trapping
32 Water Transport
03 Forestry and Logging
33 Air and Space Transport
04 Commercial Fishing
34 Other Transport
35 Services to Transport
B Mining
36 Storage
05 Coal Mining
06 Oil and Gas Extraction
J
07 Metal Ore Mining
Communication Services
71
Communication Services
08 Other Mining
09 Services to Mining
K Finance and Insurance
73 Finance
C Manufacturing
74 Insurance
10 Food, Beverage and Tobacco Manufacturing
11 Textile, Clothing, Footwear & Leather
Manufacturing
75 Services to Finance and Insurance
L Property and Business Services
12 Wood and Paper Product Manufacturing
77 Property Services
13 Printing, Publishing and Recorded Media
78 Business Services
14 Petroleum, Coal, Chemical and Associated
Product Manufacturing
M Government Administration and Defence
15 Non-Metallic Mineral Product Manufacturing
81
Government Administration
16 Metal Product Manufacturing
82
Defence
17 Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing
N Education
18 Other Manufacturing
84
Education
D Electricity, Gas and Water Supply
19 Electricity and Gas Supply
20 Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Services
O Health and Community Services
86
Health Services
87
Community Services
E Construction
P Cultural and Recreational Services
21 General Construction
22 Construction Trade Services
F Wholesale Trade
91
Motion Picture, Radio and Television Services
92
Libraries, Museums and the Arts
93
Sport and Recreation
23 Basic Material Wholesaling
24 Machinery and Motor Vehicle Wholesaling
25 Personal and Household Good Wholesaling
G Retail Trade
Q Personal and Other Services
95
Personal Services
96
Other Services
97
Private Households Employing Staff
26 Food Retailing
27 Personal and Household Good Retailing
28 Motor Vehicle Retailing and Services
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Start Graduate questionnaire
Australian and New Zealand Standard
Product Classification (ANZSPC)
Section 0:
Division 01:
Division 01:
Division 03:
Division 04:
Agriculture, Forestry & Fishery Products
Products of Agriculture, Horticulture & Market
Gardening
Live Animals & Animal Products
Forestry & Logging Products
Fish & Other Fishing Products
Section 1:
Division 11:
Division 12:
Division 13:
Division 14:
Division 15:
Division 16:
Division 17:
Division 18:
Ores & Minerals: Electricity, Gas & Water
Coal & Lignite, Peat
Crude Petroleum & Natural Gas
Uranium & Thorium Ores
Metal Ores
Stone, Sand & Clay
Other Minerals
Electricity, Town Gas, Steam & Hot Water
Natural Water
Section 2:
Food Products, Beverages & Tobacco;
Textiles, Apparel & Leather Products
Meat, Fish, Fruit, Vegetables, Oils & Fats
Dairy Products
Grain Mill Products, Starches & Starch Products;
Other Food Products
Beverages
Cigarettes, Cigars, Cheroots & Tobacco
Yarn & Thread; Woven & Tufted Textile Fabrics
Textile Articles other than Apparel
Knitted or Crocheted Fabrics; Wearing Apparel
Leather & Leather Products; Footwear
Division 21:
Division 22:
Division 23:
Division 24:
Division 25:
Division 26:
Division 27:
Division 28:
Division 29:
Section 3:
Division 31:
Division 32:
Division 33:
Division 34:
Division 35:
Division 36:
Division 37:
Division 38:
Division 39:
Section 4:
Division 41:
Division 42:
Division 43:
Division 44:
Division 45:
Division 46:
Division 47:
Division 48:
Division 49:
Other Transportable Goods, except Metal
Products, Machinery & Equipment
Products of Wood, Cork, Straw & Plaiting
Materials
Pulp, Paper & Paper Products; Printed Matter &
Related Articles
Coke Oven Products; Refined Petroleum
Products; Nuclear Fuel
Basic Chemicals
Other Chemical Products; Man-Made Fibres
Rubber & Plastics Products
Glass & Glass Products & Other Non-Metallic
Products nec.
Furniture; Other Transportable Goods nec.
Wastes or Scraps
Metal Products, Machinery & Equipment
Basic Metals
Fabricated Metal Products, except Machinery &
Equipment
General Purpose Machinery
Special Purpose Machinery
Office, Accounting & Computing Machinery
Electrical Machinery & Apparatus
Radio, Television & Communication Equipment &
Apparatus
Medical Appliances, Precision & Optical
Instruments, Watches & Clocks
Transport Equipment
ATTACHMENT B
Section 5:
Division 51:
Division 52:
Division 53:
Division 54:
Construction Work & Constructions; Land
Intangible Assets
Land
Constructions
Construction Services
Section 6:
Division 61:
Division 62:
Division 63:
Division 64:
Division 65:
Division 66:
Division 67:
Division 68:
Division 69:
Trade Services, Hotel & Restaurant Services
Wholesale Trade Services
Retail Trade Services
Lodging; Food & Beverage Serving Services
Land Transport Services
Water Transport Services
Air Transport Services
Supporting & Auxiliary Transport Services
Postal & Courier Services
Electricity Distribution Services; Gas & Water
Distribution Services through Mains
Section 7:
Transport, Storage & Communications
Services
Financial Intermediation, Insurance & Auxiliary
Services
Real Estate Services
Leasing or Rental Services Without Operator
Division 71:
Division 72:
Division 73:
Section 8:
Division 81:
Division 82:
Division 83:
Division 84:
Division 85:
Division 86:
Division 87:
Division 88:
Division 89:
Section 9:
Division 91:
Division 92:
Division 93:
Division 94:
Division 95:
Division 96:
Division 97:
Division 98:
Division 99:
Business Services; Agricultural, Mining &
Manufacturing Services
Research & Development Services
Professional, Scientific & Technical Serv’s
Other Professional, Scientific & Technical
Services
Telecommunications Services; Information
Retrieval & Supply Services
Support Services
Services Incidental to Agriculture, Hunting,
Forestry, Fishing, Mining & Utilities
Maintenance, Repair & Installation (except
Construction) Services
Manufacturing Services on Physical Inputs
Owned by Others
Other Manufacturing Services
Community, Social & Personal Services
Public Administration & Other Services to the
Community as a whole; Compulsory Social
Security Services
Education Services
Health & Social Services
Sewage & Refuse Disposal, Sanitation & other
Environmental Protection Services
Services of Membership Organisation
Recreational, Cultural & Sporting Services
Other Services
Domestic Services
Services provided by Extraterritorial
Organisations & Bodies
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