GPTI Program and Support Options

The vision of the proposed 3-year program (commencing January 2005) is to enhance Victorian supply chain companies’ capability to access, assess, capture and adopt globally emergin g technologies enabling them to develop and commercialise packaging technology with superior, long-term economic and environmental performance. Its mission is to develop a portfolio of support systems/products facilitating the building of linkages within and between business sectors, and the creation of technology linkages, clusters and partnerships with national and international research organisations. These linkages will enable identification, adoption and commercialisation of recent and emerging step change packaging technologies by Victorian businesses and (export) supply chains.

GPTI Activity Portfolio Packaging Technology Showcase Forums  /strong> Victorian Industry Packaging Technology Development Road Map  On-Line Global  Technology Gateway Technology Transfer  Training Programs Packaging Technology Commercialisation Clusters

Packaging typically affects all parts of the supply chain, from material supplier to post consumer waste manager. Hence, the identification and adoption of new and sustainable packaging and packaging associated technologies essentially needs an integrated/holistic approach involving various supply chain stakeholders.

It is clear that presently most businesses (including SME’s) face significant challenges in establishing a cohesive route to identify and adopt breakthrough technologies enabling increased competitiveness. Often disparate research activities and industry needs are separated both in timeliness and accessibility and lead to incremental rather than radical changes. The proposed program aims at assisting these businesses in successfully meeting these challenges. The program features the following integrated key activities.

Key Activity	Objective	Business outcomes
High profile launch forum in conjunction with regional events	Expose businesses to global trends; facilitate interaction between businesses; identify barriers to access and business imperatives.	Providing a mechanism for evaluating the viability and identifying the barriers to the uptake of packaging technologies.
Global Packaging Technology & Innovation Showcases	Technologies from around the globe showcased & evaluated throughout Victoria at regional forums	Australian packaging supply chain companies introduced to global emerging technologies as well as trends & barriers to adoption.
Web based packaging technology gateway	Creating an on-line technology and knowledge exchange conduit for Australian businesses to leading edge international packaging research and technology providers.	On-going connections with international packaging research, breakthrough and ready-to-implement technologies established. Businesses utilizing gateway to map, evaluate and access technologies, to rapidly uptake ready to implement technologies and for identifying research partnering opportunities.
Regional packaging innovation network groups	Regional business throughout Victoria networked and their needs identified and reflected in tailored training and technology showcase events.	Regional businesses networked, empowered and linked to regional development agencies and technology transfer and R&D service providers.
Capability building	Training courses and workshops held throughout Victoria building organisation capability	Businesses throughout Victoria with ability to map, evaluate and access new and emerging packaging technologies and able to identify need for specialist technology transfer and R&D services.
Facilitated Technology Transfer and R&D	Assist stakeholders in up-take of existing technology and/or adapt new technology to their specific needs	New technologies commercialised.
Cluster facilitation	Pre-assess potential new technology in relation to interested companies and develop adoption strategy.	Industry clusters aiming at adopting and commercialising new technology.

VicStart

The Victorian Government recently introduced the VicStart program which aims to improve the linkages, processes and skills needed to successfully commercialise science, technology and innovation. One of the VicStart’s target priority areas is Technology Transfer. The objective of this target area is to improve linkages between and within industry sectors and research establishments to increase the transfer of technology with clear commercial outcomes such as:

• More strategic collaborations, partnerships and alliances that promote successful technology transfer;
• More technology transfer of emerging and adaptation of existing technologies which provide creative and world beating solutions especially in Victoria’s priority sectors;
• More new research-industry collaborations that target commercial outcomes;
• More industry led clusters focussed on the development of technology based industries.

Following an approved Expression of Interest the GPTI program has been tendered under the VicStart Technology Transfer program.

How can your organisation support?

GPTI Supporting Partners Australian Food & Grocery  Council Australian Beverage Council Ltd. Canned Food Information  Services EcoRecycle Victoria Food Industry Machinery  Manufacturers Association Meat & Livestock Australia   Limited National Food Industry Strategy Executive Officer NPC Parmalat Australia Plastics and Chemical Industries Association Pira International (UK) Sunraysia Area Consultative Committee

The funding for the program is anticipated to be obtained through (one-fourth) VicStart investment, (one-fourth) participation fees for the various activities (i.e., technology fora, capability training programs, gateway access, cluster facilitation, technology showcasing), (one-fourth) inkind contribution by the SPA partners, and (one-fourth) strategic industry sponsorship (cash) and (in-kind) support.

Your organisation is kindly invited to commit such strategic support via one or more of the following options.  

In-kind support

Promoting and marketing of the various program activities to your membership during the 3-years via your usual means of communications such as (electronic) newsletters, web-sites, email updates etc., or

Hosting of regional technology fora for upto 3 years with an option to cover catering if you wish, or

Other stated in-kind support that you believe will contribute to the success of the program.  

Cash support

Become a Global Packaging Technology Initiative Gold Sponsor by providing a total cash contribution of $15,000 over the 3 year program with the following benefits:
• Your Logo (Gold Sponsor) on all printed materials relevant to the Program
• Acknowledgement in all publications
• A seat on the Program Advisory Committee
• Up to 3 representatives from your organisation to participate for free in any one of the yearly regional technology forums, or
  
Becoming a Global Packaging Technology Initiative Silver Sponsor by providing a cash contribution of $7,500 over the 3 year program with the following benefits:
• Your Logo (Silver Sponsor) on all printed materials relevant to the Program
• Acknowledgement in all publications and up to 2 representatives from your organisation to participate for free in any one of the yearly regional technology forums
  

Please contact Associate Professor Kees Sonneveld (Victoria University) on (03) 9919 8043 or SPA on (03) 9971 5888 for further details and/or alternative support options.