Telstra facilitates numerous awards programs to contribute to the business communities in which they are involved. The programs they have developed to boost business innovation include:
* The Telstra Business Awards Program. Established in 1992 the awards recognise the achievements of small Australian businesses. Applicants are placed in one of five categories based on their number of full-time employees. Finalists from those categories are automatically eligible for the AMP Innovation Award. Alongside sharing in prizes worth around $400,000, winners will receive significant media publicity and credibility.
* The Telstra Business Women’s Awards have been acknowledging the contributions of Australia’s female business leaders since 1995. Entrants are placed in one of four categories, including a category for young business women. Entrants who answer the innovation questions on the entry form will also be considered for the Australian Government Business Innovation Award. Winners will receive media coverage and share approximately $210,000 worth of cash and prizes.
This department of the WA Government provides numerous services and programs to improve Western Australia’s economic growth. Among the initiatives provided to SMEs is the Inventor of the Year program, which aims to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in the public, private, and education sectors. The winning inventor receives financial services and resources alongside further resources tailored to meet their specific business needs.
CASE STUDY
Funded and Flying High
A strong aviation spirit is helping a small Queensland company gain an international reputation for producing affordable, high performance aircraft.
Jabiru, based in Bundaberg, was formed 20 years ago by flying enthusiasts Rodney Stiff and Phil Ainsworth. The pair realised there was an unmet demand for a low-cost and durable recreational aircraft.
Theirs is a story of how problems can become opportunities.
One of their first challenges was convincing CASA of the safety and high performance of their aircraft, which were unique because they were made from fibreglass.
In 1991, Jabiru struck another hurdle when its Italian engine manufacturer ceased production. These engines were the lightest available at the time, and the Jabiru aircraft were developed around them. Not to be defeated, the company began designing its own lightweight 80 to 120-horsepower range of engines.
After intense research and development, the first Jabiru-developed engine was approved by CASA to be installed in Jabiru aircraft in 1993.
Avtech is the intellectual property arm of Jabiru. Business manager Susan Woods says the company’s belief in continuous innovation to stay ahead of competitors is a major reason for success.
The Australian Government’s R&D Tax Concession has also helped provide financial help for this innovation. The company is able to claim a 30 percent tax offset payment for approved research and development.
"We are continually undertaking research and development," Woods says. "We provide high performance and value for money, as well as aircraft that are more affordable to maintain.
"Because we are a small business we don’t have big infrastructure costs, and we can incorporate changes quickly."
Jabiru currently has 25 employees, as well as 35 contractors on the books.
The company’s research and development projects include developing a training aircraft. This took nine years to develop, and is now being sold around Australia. These low cost aircraft are made from Australian fibreglass and resin materials, which haven’t previously been used in international certified aircraft. New wiring was also developed.
Other projects include developing some of the lightest aircraft in the world, as well as modifications to their engines to improve durability and fuel economy. "We are now producing 20 airframes and 75 engines a month and Jabiru has developed into one of only a few aircraft and engine manufacturers in the world," Woods says. "Our ongoing focus on research and development has meant we are able to enter new markets, and we now export our engines to 31 countries. Now we are looking to develop our own helicopter."
Jabiru also manufactures propellers, wheels and brakes and control system components. Aircraft are available in kit form, or fully manufactured.
Wood’s father, Rodney, fully acquired the company in 2005. He received a medal of the order of Australia in 2006 for service to the aviation industry.
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