Lessons from commercialisation of cotton sensing technology research

Abstract

Automated machine vision tools can reduce reliance on workforce labour for agronomic scouting and potentially increase productivity and improve crop management decisions involving pests, crop growth, crop rotations and irrigation scheduling. Research and development for these technologies involves conceptualising and developing novel tools to address challenges, and working with business managers and commercial partners to protect intellectual property and translate these tools to commercial products for adoption by industry and impact. Commercialisation can be the most critical but challenging component of technology research and development due to each commercialisation being unique and dependent on the type of technology (e.g. software or hardware) and market size (and therefore potential commercial partners). The University of Southern Queensland has developed canopy temperature sensing algorithms, an insect monitoring App and crop monitoring technologies that are at various stages in the commercialisation pipeline. These experiences have identified lessons and recommendations for researchers to aid the pathway to adoption of technology research in the future, including strategies for technology selection and handover and considerations for background intellectual property use. These also have implications for research outside of technology. Case studies will be used to highlight these learnings.