❓ WA Parliament questions expenditure on feasibility studies related to establishing a Fraunhofer Innovation Platform in WA, raising concerns about duplication and potential conflicts of interest. The Minister's response clarifies the roles and rationale behind the consultancies.
AnsweredQoN 1655Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Reports on Consultants Engaged by Government confirmed the following payments under the Science portfolio; $93,500 to Research Technology Strategy to support Fraunhofer Gesellschaft to conduct a feasibility study regarding establishing a Fraunhofer Innovation Platform in WA – Science and Innovation (1 July – 31 December 2023). $119,692 to Fraunhofer Gesellschaft to conduct a study of establishing a Fraunhofer Innovation platform in WA – Science (1 January – 30 June 2025). $101,750 to Research Technology Strategy to assist with conducting a study of the feasibility of establishing a Fraunhofer Innovation platform for WA – Science (1 January – 30 June 2025). Can the Minister advise: (a) What is a Fraunhofer Innovation Platform; (b) What are the potential benefits for establishing this platform in WA; (c) What are the potential challenges in establishing this platform in WA; (d) Did the $93,500 provided to Research Technology Strategy in 2023 result in a draft or final report being provided to Government: (i) If so when, and can it be tabled; and (ii) If not, why not; (e) Who did Research Technology Strategy consult and when; (f) Was the feasibility study undertaken in 2023 found to be deficient; (g) Why was Research Technology Strategy engaged 12 months later for $101,750 to conduct another feasibility study; (h) What were the outcomes from this study; (i) Were they different from the previous study, and if so in what way; (j) Were they not different from the previous study, if so, why the need for an additional study; (k) Has a draft and/or final report been provided to Government by Research Technology Strategy; (l) Why has $119,692 been paid to Fraunhofer Gesellschaft to conduct a study on establishing a Fraunhofer Innovation platform in WA; (m) Does this represent a conflict of interest: (i) If not, why not; (n) How is the consultancy with Fraunhofer Gesellschaft different to the two consultancies undertaken by Research Technology Strategy; (o) What process was used to engage Research Technology Strategy; (p) What process was used to engage Fraunhofer Gesellschaft: (i) If different, why; (q) Have Research Technology Strategy and Fraunhofer Gesellschaft provided a draft and/or final report to Government for the most recent consultancies: (i) If so, when and can it be tabled; and (ii) If not, why not; (r) When is it expected that these studies will be completed; and (s) Whether any further payments are expected to Research Technology Strategy and Fraunhofer Gesellschaft: (i) If so, how much?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 February 2026
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Science and Innovation
Response time
1 days
(a) Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is a world-leading applied research organisation. Headquartered in Germany, it operates globally through 75 institutes specialising in different disciplines. A Fraunhofer Innovation Platform (FIP) is a temporary Fraunhofer-like research unit hosted and operated by a university or a non-commercial research organisation outside Germany, in close collaboration with one or more Fraunhofer Institutes.
(b) The benefits include rapid advancement of applied research in the chosen area; enabling Western Australian entities to establish research-industry partnerships; international collaborations; and knowledge exchange.
(c) The FIP program is competitive and only a few FIPs are awarded internationally each year.
(d) Yes, the report will be tabled.
(e) Research Technology Strategy consulted with WA universities, Fraunhofer Institutes, Cooperative Research Centres, WA government entities and relevant private sector entities. Consultations occurred throughout 2024.
(f) No.
(g) $93,500 of this amount was the second and final payment for the initial Feasibility Study. The remainder ($8,250) was to conduct a subsequent project, the ‘Ecosystem Mapping of Western Australia’s Energy Transition Opportunity’.
(h) The four key findings from the Feasibility Study were:
- “There is strong alignment between Fraunhofer’s objectives and WA’s science, technology and innovation goals and relevant WA universities expressed interest in hosting a FIP.
- Developing a business case for a FIP was difficult due to challenges in identifying collaborative projects between Fraunhofer Institutes and WA universities, and evidence of existing collaborative relationships.
- The one-year timeframe to develop the case for a FIP was too short to develop collaborations.
- Industry expressed demand for advanced-stage applied research and access to international expertise, supporting the potential need for a FIP or similar.”
(i-j) see answer to (g).
(k) Yes.
(l) Fraunhofer knowledge, expertise and networks were required to conduct the study to ensure WA’s assets were assessed appropriately
(m) No. Fraunhofer Gesellschaft provides cash and in-kind contributions to a FIP and its involvement reflects a need to determine the feasibility of a FIP in WA being successful.
(n) Fraunhofer Gesellschaft and Research Technology Strategy conducted the Feasibility Study and Ecosystem Mapping project together, with Research Technology Strategy providing local knowledge and capacity.
(o) Direct sourcing procurement.
(p) Direct sourcing procurement.
(q-r) Please refer to part (d).
(s) Yes.
(i) $7,500 to Research Technology Strategy and €25,650 to Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.
(b) The benefits include rapid advancement of applied research in the chosen area; enabling Western Australian entities to establish research-industry partnerships; international collaborations; and knowledge exchange.
(c) The FIP program is competitive and only a few FIPs are awarded internationally each year.
(d) Yes, the report will be tabled.
(e) Research Technology Strategy consulted with WA universities, Fraunhofer Institutes, Cooperative Research Centres, WA government entities and relevant private sector entities. Consultations occurred throughout 2024.
(f) No.
(g) $93,500 of this amount was the second and final payment for the initial Feasibility Study. The remainder ($8,250) was to conduct a subsequent project, the ‘Ecosystem Mapping of Western Australia’s Energy Transition Opportunity’.
(h) The four key findings from the Feasibility Study were:
- “There is strong alignment between Fraunhofer’s objectives and WA’s science, technology and innovation goals and relevant WA universities expressed interest in hosting a FIP.
- Developing a business case for a FIP was difficult due to challenges in identifying collaborative projects between Fraunhofer Institutes and WA universities, and evidence of existing collaborative relationships.
- The one-year timeframe to develop the case for a FIP was too short to develop collaborations.
- Industry expressed demand for advanced-stage applied research and access to international expertise, supporting the potential need for a FIP or similar.”
(i-j) see answer to (g).
(k) Yes.
(l) Fraunhofer knowledge, expertise and networks were required to conduct the study to ensure WA’s assets were assessed appropriately
(m) No. Fraunhofer Gesellschaft provides cash and in-kind contributions to a FIP and its involvement reflects a need to determine the feasibility of a FIP in WA being successful.
(n) Fraunhofer Gesellschaft and Research Technology Strategy conducted the Feasibility Study and Ecosystem Mapping project together, with Research Technology Strategy providing local knowledge and capacity.
(o) Direct sourcing procurement.
(p) Direct sourcing procurement.
(q-r) Please refer to part (d).
(s) Yes.
(i) $7,500 to Research Technology Strategy and €25,650 to Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.