28 July 2021 - IP SPOTLIGHT

– engaging external professionals to provide commercialisation and market advice, such as identifying market opportunities and developing a market strategy – creating distribution strategies, such as market entry pathway and identifying domestic supply chains – developing a product for commercialisation using high value manufacturing techniques or processes such as rapid prototyping or using state-of-the-art manufacturing plant – acquiring, constructing, installing and commissioning of new machinery and equipment to facilitate the project (limited to 25% of grant funding) – research collaboration as it relates to the validation/viability of later stage commercialisation – approved production and post-production manufacturing activities related to commercialisation More information on the eligibility to apply for the Advanced Manufacturing Commercialisation Fund can be found here. The department of Industry, Science, Energy and resources provides a range of manufacturing funding opportunities under the Modern Manufacturing Strategy. In particular, funding for the Manufacturing Collaboration Stream will be open from 11 August 2021 until 9 September 2021 for very large projects that support business-to-business and business-to-research collaboration, aiming to encourage businesses to work together and leverage the strength of the Australian research sector. The grants range from $20 million to $200 million and again, focuses on the long-term transformation in the 6 National Manufacturing Priority areas identified above. More information of the objectives and eligibilities of the Manufacturing Collaboration Stream can be found here.

How wi l l i t af fect our cl ients? One of the main focus of this Strategy is to align research and innovation capabilities and programs to support the priority areas. With clients in all six National Manufacturing Priorities having strong research and manufacturing capabilities, we highly encourage our clients to explore the opportunities and potential benefits available.

Please contact Wrays if you need further information on the initiatives outlined in this article.

ELLEN CHA Attorney

NEW ZEALAND IP FILING TRENDS

The following article provides an update on IP filing trends in New Zealand over the last 4 calendar years, from CY2016 to CY2020.

Interestingly, total patent applications filed by both foreign and local NZ residents have remained largely steady while patent applications filed by only local NZ residents have actually decreased. New Zealand-based appliance company, Fisher & Paykel and Californian-based medical equipment company, ResMed, dominated the patent opposition scene. Trade mark applications have shown a strong increase in filings. Please see the next page for further information on these trends.

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