Australia's national science agency opens U.S.-based office

Australia's national scientific research agency has opened an office in the United States, with the aim to "promote Australian innovation and drive scientific and industrial engagement," Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said.

In a statement released late on Sunday, Bishop, who is in the United States attending the "G'Day USA" events aimed at promoting Australia, said the new Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) office would help Australian innovators, inventors and researchers collaborate closely with their U.S. counterparts.

"The CSIRO office will work closely with research, industry and business partners to bring Australia's cutting-edge capabilities to the U.S. market place," Bishop said.

"It will capitalize on the CSIRO's existing strong relationships with science and industry leaders including NASA, Bayer LLP, Boeing, the Gates Foundation and many Fortune 500 companies."

"The office opening will support the government's National Innovation and Science Agenda, which is fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship."

Meanwhile the CSIRO's CEO Larry Marshall said he was excited by the opportunities a U.S.-based CSIRO office would present for Australia.

"To accelerate innovation rates in Australia we need to accelerate international engagement, especially in regions where there is a significant opportunity to return value to Australia. From this point of view the U.S. is a no-brainer," Marshall said.

"Our focus is firmly on bringing benefit back to Australia and that philosophy will be applied to everything we do in the U.S. We're looking forward to igniting Aussie innovation in such an exciting, dynamic market." Endit