Larry
Marshall, who was named as the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s
next chief executive yesterday, has said the group will increase its efforts to serve
industry.
In
an interview with The Australian Financial Review, Marshall, who is currently
managing director of Southern Cross Venture Partners, said that there was a
challenge to balance obligations between government, business and taxpayers.
However,
pure science would not be abandoned, as it often yielded practical benefits
later on.
“The
practical or applied science that certain stakeholders would like to see us do
more of… all of those start from seeds that we planted five or 10 years ago in
pure science,” he told The AFR.
Marshall
will begin in his role heading up Australia’s peak science body in January. He
will replace Megan Clark.
Marshall
will relocate from Silicon Valley, where he has lived for the last 25 years.
A physicist by
training, he holds 20 patents and has founded six US companies ranging from biotech to semi-conductors.