Russell Thomson

Associate Professor Russell Thomson is an academic specializing in the economics of science, technology, and innovation at Swinburne University of Technology's School of Business, Law and Entrepreneurship. He holds a PhD in Economics from the Australian National University and a BSc (Mathematics) from the University of Melbourne. His research focuses on technology transfer mechanisms, R&D policy effectiveness, intellectual property strategies, and global production networks. Thomson has published in top journals like Review of Economics and Statistics and Strategic Management Journal, and collaborates with government agencies including the Department of Industry and Austrade.

His work bridges academic research and applied policy analysis, addressing topics such as R&D tax incentives, plant breeders' rights, and trademark systems in global value chains. Key projects include developing the TM-Link trademark database and evaluating the economic impacts of innovation policies. Thomson supervises numerous PhD candidates exploring themes like innovation impact, managerial capital, and foreign direct investment spillovers.

Grants and consultancy work highlight his engagement with industry and government, including projects for Sapere Research Group and IP Australia. His research emphasizes empirical analysis of innovation systems, with a focus on how policy interventions influence technological diffusion and economic outcomes.