Through the good offices of Dr Peter Thorne and the late Graeme Philipson, the Pearcey Foundation undertook a research project with the
Sydney University Business School in 2023-24. There was some funding from the Commonwealth and the University, with a small contribution
($5K) from the Foundation.
The project involved staff from the business school, primarily Dr Sebastian Boell and a couple of his colleagues, with great encouragement
from the Department head. They interviewed as many Pearcey Medallists and Pearcey Hall of
Famers
as they could, with significant help from the Pearcey Foundation’s Heritage Chair, Dr Peter Thorne. The goal was to capture, first-hand
from these pioneers, insights into the factors that have inspired and encouraged or, on the other hand, impeded innovation, as
Australia rode the successive waves of technological change.
The following report summarises these efforts. We believe this is the first genuine academic study of the innovation system in
Australia’s advanced technology sector.
