Australia appoints Tesla chair Denholm to lead review on R&D performance

Juniper Networks

02/12/2024 01:42

By Alasdair Pal
       SYDNEY, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Australia appointed Tesla
 TSLA.O  chair Robyn Denholm on Monday to lead a review of the
country's research and development  performance, in an attempt
to improve economic growth. 
    Denholm and three other panellists drawn from academia and
business will be tasked with creating a more purposeful approach
to R&D, including strengthening links between research and
industry. 
    "It's been almost 20 years since we asked the hard questions
about our R&D performance, despite the alarming slide over the
last decade," Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic said. 
    "This review is designed to give us an evidence-based
pathway to stronger growth."
    Australia is one of the world's wealthiest nations, but is
heavily reliant on its resources industries for growth and has
long struggled with diversifying its economy. 
    A Harvard University index measuring economic complexity
places Australia 93rd out of 133 countries tracked, behind
nations including Uganda, Malawi and Laos. 
    Tesla chief executive Elon Musk, who will serve in the
incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump,
has been heavily critical of Australia's Labor government over
its policy towards technology companies, including a ban on the
use of social media for under 16s. 
    At a press conference announcing her appointment on Monday,
Denholm was asked repeatedly about Musk and whether her
relationship with him would help smooth relations between the
Tesla founder and the Australian government. 
    "Today is all about the R&D review that the government has
announced," she said. 
        Before becoming Tesla chair, Denholm held senior roles
at U.S. technology firm Juniper Networks  JNPR.N  and Australian
telco Telstra  TLS.AX . Last year, business magazine Forbes
ranked her the 80th most powerful woman in the world. 

 (Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Saad Sayeed)
 ((Alasdair.Pal@thomsonreuters.com; +61 291 717 228; Reuters
Messaging: alasdair.pal.reuters.com@reuters.net))