Pearcey Institute
Providing analysis and studies to help create better policy and increase the success rate of research commercialisation.
The Pearcey Institute was launched during the '60th Anniversary of Computing in Victoria' celebration in 2016.
Chairman of the Foundation, Wayne Fitzsimmons, officially announced the formation of the Pearcey Institute. In his speech relating to the Institute's creation:
We, at the Pearcey Foundation, feel that our sector (the technology sector) is not taken seriously by policy makers and legislators. This is no one else's problem but ours! For our part we have developed a plan to change the status quo. In July 2015, some 15 Pearcey stalwarts gathered at Swinburne University to develop a plan to create a new research body directed at increasing the value and success rate of research commercialisation. In this way we can demonstrate real industry-led leadership to Australia. We hope to show what alternative paths we might follow to successfully adapt to, and adopt, new and emerging technologies developed here or internationally.
I am especially excited tonight to announce the establishment of the Pearcey Institute, a not-for-profit tax-exempt accredited private research body. The PI will draw upon existing academic institutions, CSIRO, Industry Associations, CRCs, Industry Growth centres as well as industry expertise to collaborate on this broad high impact topic. Among other things, the Pearcey Institute plans to broker socio-economic research into the impacts of disruptive technologies in the Australian context.
Our first project commenced in March 2016 led by Professor Leon Stirling and Mr Colin Farrelly. The topic is quantifying the impact of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs or drones maybe more familiar terms used to describe these robots). We are also supporting early career researchers with Ms Kelly Hutchinson's PhD project into Digital Social Innovation at the University of Melbourne. Finally we are seeking broad private and government support to undertake these research initiatives.
In 2018, it was amicably agreed that the transition of the Centre for Innovative Industry Economic Research Inc. (CIIER) into the Pearcey Institute would cease, and that use of the name "Pearcey Institute" would revert to the control of The Pearcey Foundation Inc.
In 2022, the Pearcey Institute as a company Limited by Guarantee was deregistered and the "Pearcey Institute" has been retained as a trading name of the Pearcey Foundation.
The Pearcey Institute runs:
Recent Roundables can be viewed on YouTube.
The Pearcey Institute submitted feedback to the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science public consultation on Artificial Intelligence: Australia's Ethics Framework discussion paper released in April 2019.
The Pearcey Institute was registered in April 2018 as a 'Company limited by Guarantee' and designated the Pearcey Institute Limited (PIL). Pearcey Institute Board members are as follows: Mr Denis Tebutt (Chairman), Prof. Leon Sterling, Mr Colin Farrelly, & Mr Wayne Fitzsimmons.
The Pearcey Institute is an initiative to bring together industry, government, academia and investors to do socio-economic research focused on creating a globally competitive Australian technology sector.
Press Release: The formation of the Pearcey Institution, under the auspices of the Pearcey Foundation*, was announced on Tuesday evening, 14 June by the Chairman of the Pearcey Foundation, Mr Wayne Fitzsimmons. The announcement was made in conjunction with Melbourne University's "60th Anniversary of Computing in Victoria" celebration held at the Melbourne Museum, Victoria, where the original CSIRAC computer is located.
The Pearcey Foundation (PF) has long envisaged the establishment of an Australian digital economy research institute - the Pearcey Institute (PI). It would be an independent multi-disciplinary studies institute capable of analysing the strategic economic impact of advanced technologies on our nation with particular emphasis on disruptive technologies that the ICT sector continues to introduce globally.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY' The Digital Economy impacts upon all sectors of the economy, but in Australia the economic and workforce impact and outcomes of the digital economy are not well measured or understood as efforts to date have been fragmented and uncoordinated.
