News Alerts

PMSEIC meets

The first meeting of the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) under the Labor Government was chaired by the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd on 23 April .

The progress of the National Innovation System review was a key theme, with addresses made by Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr and chair of the review, Dr Terry Cutler. Mr Rudd presented Council members with a number of challenges and asked for their best advice on:

• getting young Australians excited by science and maths;
• creating new careers for aspiring mathematicians and scientists, in the academy and industry;
• building a new science and innovation system that can deal with the rise of giants in our region like India and China; and
• commercial application of Australians discoveries.

Two working groups reported to Council on:

• Improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders mothers, their unborn babies and infants – closing the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.
• Ensuring that science and technology led innovation in services underpins Australian Industries.

Two young scientists provided accounts of their research in each of these areas.

The report of the National Innovation System is due in July, and will be a major item for discussion at the next PMSEIC meeting.

Reports and presentations from the meeting are available at: http://www.innovation.gov.au/pmseic

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Federation Fellows announced

Winners of this year’s Federation Fellowships, funded with more than $23 million over five years through the Australian Research Council, have been announced.
They are:

• Dr Christopher Carilli, Current institution: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, US, Host institution: CSIRO - Australia Telescope National Facility, Project: Exploring the last frontier: Cosmic reionization and the first galaxies.
• Professor Dr Peter Teunissen, Current institution Delft University of Technology, Netherlands, Host institution: Curtin University of Technology, Project: Theoretical and model strengthening of future Global Navigation Satellite System to yield improved geospatial information for tomorrow’s society.
• Professor Frances Baum, Flinders University, Project: Reducing health inequities and social exclusion: Improved theory, understanding and policies.
• Professor Michael Bird, Current institution: University of St Andrews (UK), Host institution: James Cook University, Project: Environmental change, carbon cycling and human impact in tropical Australia.
• Associate Professor Trevor Lithgow, Current institution: University of Melbourne, Host institution: Monash University, Project: Molecular machines that drive microbial pathogens.
• Dr James Whisstock, Monash University, Project: Membrane Attack Complex/Perforin-like proteins in defence, attack and developmental biology.
• Professor John Dryzek, The Australian National University, Project: Deliberative global governance
• Professor Michael Eastwood, Current institution: University of Adelaide, Host institution: The Australian National University, Project: Conformal differential geometry.
• Professor Tanya Monro, The University of Adelaide, Project: Light-matter interactions using optical fibres.
• Professor Brett Neilan, The University of New South Wales, Project: The toxins of water-borne cyanobacteria: Regulation and exploitation of their biosynthesis.
• Professor Michelle Simmons, The University of New South Wales, Project: Atomic electronics: Precompetitive research for the global semiconductor industry.
• Professor Aibing Yu, The University of New South Wales, Project: Multiscale modelling and analysis of complex particulate and multiphase flow.
• Professor Gaoqing (Max) Lu, The University of Queensland, Project: Band-gap engineered visible light photocatalysts: Enabling technologies for sustainable energy and the environment.
• Professor Peter Robinson, The University of Sydney, Project: Dynamics of multiscale complex systems.

More information is at http://www.arc.gov.au/media/major_announce.htm

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Funding for collaborative projects with India

The Australian Government is providing $7 million for new collaborative science initiatives under the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund.

The Australia-India Strategic Research Fund is Australia’s largest bilateral research fund, providing $20 million over five years from 2006-07 for collaborative research projects. The fund, a joint initiative of the Australian and Indian governments, aims to facilitate and support science and technology research cooperation between the two countries.

Projects to be supported are in areas including bioremediation of oil-contaminated marine and freshwater environments, radio astronomy, transgenic crops, nanotechnology, plant nutraceuticals and stem cell therapies.

In addition to projects under the competitive element of the fund, the Australian Government has also allocated $3 million under the Targeted Allocation component for large-scale collaborations between Australian and Indian partners.

The Queensland University of Technology will receive funds for an information technology security project and the University of New South Wales will be funded for a nanocomposites project.

Details of funded projects are  here

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NHMRC funding for Chinese exchange program

Australian health researchers will study in China for the first time under a new grants program funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

NHMRC has funded six grants for 2008 totalling almost $1.4 million to support research under the Australia-China Exchange Fellowship Program.

The program aims to increase collaboration between Australian and Chinese health and medical researchers by supporting exchange between the two countries.
Chinese postdoctoral researchers will spend two years in Australian research institutions to build their capacity and expertise, while one Australian postdoctoral researcher, Kit Yee Chan, from the University of Melbourne, will expand her capacity and expertise in a Chinese research institution for two years and another two years in Australia. Ms Chan will explore the HIV risks of internal migrants working in the Zhu Jiang Delta, China’s most significant export processing zone.

For further information on the exchange program visit www.nhmrc.gov.au.

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Venture Capital Guide reveals strong growth, identifies $13 billion for investment

The Australian venture capital and private equity industry had access to a minimum of $13 billion in equity capital at the end of 2007 according to Australian Venture Capital Guide 2008 which has just been published by Private Equity Media.

The 2008 Guide lists 150 Australian venture capital and private equity firms (plus a further 15 in New Zealand), a substantial increase over the 139 (14 in New Zealand) listed in the 2007 Guide.

The $13 billion of available funds compared with about $17 billion available at the end of 2006. The reduction in available funds, however, largely reflects the strong drawdown in capital as a result of the active investment by private equity and venture capital funds during 2007.

The survey by the Australian Venture Capital Guide revealed that invested capital totalled $14 billion at the end of 2007 compared with $9.3 billion at the end of 2006. Australian firms invested about $6.5 billion during 2006-07 compared with about $4.5 billion in 2005-06. The 2007 calendar year also saw some significant private equity exits that impacted on invested capital as well as providing strong returns for fund investors.

The figure of $13 billion in available equity funding is a conservative estimate as it does not take into account much larger sums available from overseas based firms. These firms showed increasing interest in investing in Australia and New Zealand during 2007.

To date, that available equity figure has also already been topped up to equal the end of 2006 figure as a result of the recent record $4 billion raising by Pacific Equity Partners (see separate item this issue). A number of smaller fund raisings are also in progress.

A number of these new entries are overseas firms that have now established offices in Australia. There are also several new local firms. The significance of the increased total is magnified by the fact that a number of smaller firms that have had low activity in recent years did not seek to be listed in the 2008 Guide.

The Guide includes full details on more than 200 sources of venture capital and is available in print form or as an emailed PDF for $100 including GST. To order, visit: www.privateequitymedia.com.au

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RMIT to partner Indian research institute

RMIT University has formalised a research alliance with the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, with a focus on environmental science and technology.

Under the agreement, signed by Professor Neil Furlong, RMIT’s Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), and Dr JS Yadav, Director of IICT, the two institutions will collaborate in the first instance through joint PhD student programs and the establishment of a joint laboratory for applied research projects.

The IICT, based in Hyderabad, is a leading research establishment operating under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in India.

Professor Furlong said: “In many ways IICT’s research mission mirrors that of RMIT – a focus on substantial research questions of relevance to industry and community with the intent to produce research outcomes of the highest quality.

RMIT and IICT will aim to launch new projects this year in areas such as water/wastewater treatment, renewable energy, green chemistry and climate change impact, involving new PhD students recruited both in India and Australia.

These students will be enrolled as RMIT students and will undertake their research under the guidance of RMIT and IICT researchers. Depending on project needs, their research work will be undertaken in both Hyderabad and Melbourne.

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New developments from IP Australia

IP Australia has launched a new database, entitled AusPat, that allows inventors, industry and researchers to access patent applications lodged and granted in Australia since 1979. Previously those researching Australian patent literature had to work across several unconnected databases.

AusPat can be used by visiting www.ipaustralia.gov.au/auspat/

IP Australia also recently announced that it has jointly launched a new trial cooperation initiative with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) called the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH). The aim of the initiative is to improve patent examination times for applicants with interests and applications both in the US and Australia.

Under the PPH, an applicant receiving a report from either the USPTO or IP Australia with at least one patentable claim in an application may request that the other office accelerate the examination of the corresponding application. The applicant benefits from the patent offices using the work previously conducted by the other office, by obtaining corresponding patents faster and more efficiently. Full requirements for participation in the trial program can be found at www.uspto.gov/web/patents/pph/pph_ipau.html and  www.ipaustralia.gov.au/patents/international/pph_uspto.shtml

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Announcements

Call for Nominations: 2008 Prime Minister's Prizes for Science Awards

We are seeking nominations for Australia’s national science and science teaching awards:
• The $300,000 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science
• The $50,000 Science Minister’s Prize for Life Scientist of the Year
• The $50,000 Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year
• The $50,000 Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools
• The $50,000 Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools

Nominations are open until 5 pm AEST, Friday 9 May 2008

Details at http://www.dest.gov.au/scienceprize or contact the Science Prizes Secretariat in the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research on (02) 6240 5066, email: pmprize@dest.gov.au

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Grants for international travel: International Science Linkages Programme — Science Academies Programme

Grants for international travel: International Science Linkages Programme – Science Academies Programme

                           

The Australian Academy of Science is inviting applications from professional scientists to visit Europe, North America (Canada, USA and Mexico) and North East Asia (China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan) between 1 January and 31 December 2009 to collaborate with researchers in those countries.

Proposals in any field of natural science, basic and applied, including mathematics and engineering science, will be considered.

Applicants must propose a collaborative research project, or a specific activity, which has been developed in consultation with host scientists. Under this scheme applicants can request travel support to access international leading-edge small to medium research facilities and equipment.

Support will not be provided for costs associated with the use of these facilities or when the purpose if the visit is to attend a conference. The duration of the visits must be between 14 and 40 days.

This project is supported by the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research’s International Science Linkages – science Academies Programme.

Information, deadlines and application forms are available on the web site: http://www.science.org.au/internat/programs.htm

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Conferences & Events

CRCA 13th Annual Conference

Cooperative Research: The Engine of Innovation will take its participants on a journey through the trials and tribulations of research and development by exploring key factors and future developments of collaborative projects.

Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) are proud participants in one of the most successful collaborative innovation programmes in the world. The CRC Association extends an open invitation to representatives from the Science, Research and Industry communities to join us at the Conference and explore the elements of Cooperative Research and its role in driving innovation in Australia.

International and local speakers will explore the theme from their own perspectives to identify opportunities where cooperation between key players can further drive and enhance the opportunity for world leading innovation.

Keynote Speakers Include:

Mr Peter Ungaro, CEO & President, Cray Inc. USA

Dr Andrew West, Director, ANZ Capital, Corporate Finance, Australia

Ms Lynnette Tan, Centre Director, Singapore Economic Development Board, Singapore

Dr Ray Shaw, General Manager, Technology Support, Rio Tinto, Australia

Dr Rowan Gilmore, CEO, Australian Institute for Commercialisation, Australia

The Hon. Verity Firth, BA, LLB, MP, Minister for Science and Medical Research

Mr David Whitcombe, Program manager R&D, Australian Egg Corporation Limited, Australia

Ms Jo Staines, General Manager, Programme Management, Hawker de Havilland, Australia

Professor Mary O’Kane, Chair, CRC Programme Review Committee, Australia

The program includes plenary sessions, a series of 20 workshops and an array of networking functions. The highlight of the conference is the Awards for Excellence in innovation gala Dinner on Thursday 22 May. For more information, please visit the conference website www.crca.asn.au/conference

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Rapid Product Development workshops with Don Reinertsen

Prodex Systems presents Don Reinertsen, author of “Managing the Design factory” and co-author of “Developing Products in Half the Time”, for a series of two-day MasterClass workshops and one-day seminars in Australia in August. These workshops will focus on the technical and quantitative tools required to execute a project rapidly with a foundation approach of grounding project decisions solidly on underlying economics.

“As product life-cycles shorten, the economic importance of development speed increases. Yet, many companies continue rely on old management approaches designed for a world of sequential processes, functional organizations, and stable marketplaces... a world that no longer exists. Such methods are dangerously inappropriate. Instead, companies must create a new development environment based on cross-functional teams and highly overlapped processes. This new environment requires project trade-off rules, progressive specification, and piecewise product integration.”
- Don Reinertsen

Don Reinertsen has been recognized internationally for his contributions in the field of product development, in particular the fresh perspectives and quantitative rigor to the development process. Don is most noted for his landmark article “6 months delay can be worth 33 percent of lifecycle profits” he wrote whilst working for McKinsey & Co.. Don holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University and an M.B.A. with distinction from Harvard Business School.

Events in this series are:
Sydney: Rapid Development Masterclass – 11th & 12th of August (limited to 40 seats only)
Melbourne: Managing the Design Factory Masterclass – 13 & 14th August (limited to 40 seats only)
Adelaide: Flow - Second Generation Lean Product Development Seminar – 15th August
Brisbane: Developing Products in Half-the-Time Seminar – 18th August 

For more information about these events visit www.prodex.com.au/training

Or contact events manager - Josh Willoughby on (07) 3369 9350 or j.willoughby@prodex.com.au

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Innovation, Angel Investing showcased at National Growth Market Summit 2008

The inaugural National Stock Exchange of Australia (NSX) National Growth Market Summit will be held in Melbourne on 24-25 July at the Crown Promenade Hotel. 

The conference will discuss the challenges for the SME sector in early stage investing, succession planning, effective communications management, exit strategies as well as recent corporate governance developments and current thinking on the effective utilisation of the capital markets. In addition, there will be presentations on Innovation, Technology and Sustainable Investing as well as the recently launched Asia Pacific Technology Exchange (APTEX), FEX-SIM, case studies and Angels Institute Business presentations. 

More than 250 delegates from small business, business advisors, government agencies and the financial community are expected to attend the NSX Capital Markets Forum, which is planned to be an annual event. 

NSX Ltd operates both the National Stock Exchange of Australia and the Bendigo Stock Exchange. Both exchanges are focused on listing small to medium sized enterprises. NSX Ltd now has more than 112 securities and $1billion in market capitalisation across its two exchanges. NSX listed companies cover a diverse range, in size, activities and geographic location. SMEs, community-based organisations, debt securities, property and investment schemes are all catered for. 

A range of experts will highlight the lessons learnt from innovative financing mechanisms, effective corporate reporting, the challenges of growing a SME and the costs and benefits of being a publicly-listed company. 

For further information on the NSX 2008 Capital Markets conference please contact the Conference Director, Simon Davis, on 03 8534 5011 or email simon.davis@halledit.com.au. The NSX website is at www.nsxa.com.au  

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Further Education

Basic Clinical Research Tools

Basic Clinical Research Tools
12.5 points

As scary to some people as they are hard to spell correctly! Yet biostatistics and epidemiology are essential to how clinical data is analysed. Not simply after-the-event add-ons, but determining the design and analysis of all the data that is collected. These fields have experts able to assist researchers, but without a good understanding of the basic principles of biostatistics and epidemiology, dialogue about the processes involved is difficult. A good grounding in this area facilitates group dynamics in research and provides a critical foundation for quality research. Topics covered will include: Basic descriptive data, probability and inference, analysis of two-way tables, differences of means, simple correlation, case-series, cross-sectional, cohort, case-control studies and RCTs, measurement of exposure, measurement of response, bias, random error and individual variation (including response variation), sample size and power.

Subject Coordinator: Associate Professor Steve Farish
Dates: June 2, 3, 30 & July 1
Basic Clinical Research Tools

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Clinical Infectious Diseases Research Trials

The Melbourne Consulting and Custom Programs, University of Melbourne, is pleased to announce that we will be holding a 4 day short course on Infectious Diseases on October 27, 28, 30 & 31.

NUMBERS ARE LIMITED, so be quick!

Despite medical advances that have produced hundreds of drugs that are safe and effective against bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, infectious diseases are still a major cause of death, disability and social and economic upheaval for millions around the world. This course focuses on clinical research to address diseases that are responsible for more that 90% of deaths from infectious diseases around the world every year.

Specialist Certificate in Clinical Research (Immunisation and Infectious Diseases) The 25 points specialist certificate is a Masters level award and is achieved by completion of the two four day subjects, Clinical Immunisation Research and Infectious Diseases, with associated assessment. It provides full credit into the Masters program in Clinical Research.

NEED TO KNOW MORE? CHECK OUT INFORMATION AT:

http://www.soe.unimelb.edu.au/iid  

Cost: $2,100 + GST
Mary Georges on (03) 9810 3185 or email m.georges@soe.unimelb.edu.au  

When: June 16, 17 & 19 2008

Where: The University of Melbourne
Room 2114, Hawthorn , 3122

Express your interest in this course and related courses by contacting:

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Clinical Neuroscience Research Trials — Part 2

The School of Enterprise, University of Melbourne, in association with the NH&MRC - Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Neurosciences and the Florey Neuroscience Institutes, are pleased to announce that they will be holding a 4 day short course on Clinical Neuroscience Research: Neuroimaging and Disease Applications - Part 2, at the Austin Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital on June 10, 11, 12 & 13 2008

NUMBERS ARE LIMITED, so be quick!

This course has been specifically designed for people already in clinical practice, who want to broaden their understanding of clinical neuroscience research and neuroimaging, improve their research skills and critical thinking about research questions before embarking on clinical research studies. Experienced clinicians in their first years of conducting clinical research will also benefit by updating their research knowledge and skills. In addition, this course will provide basic orientation in various clinical research methodologies applied to neuroscience for other professionals who are unfamiliar with the field of clinical neuroscience, neuroimaging or research. 

Specialist Certificate in Clinical Research (Neuroscience) 

The 25 points specialist certificate is a Masters level award and is achieved by completion of the two four day subjects, Methodology & Disease Applications Part 1 and Neuroimaging & Disease Applications Part 2, with associated assessment. It provides full credit into the Masters program in Clinical Research.

NEED TO KNOW MORE? CHECK OUT INFORMATION AT:

www.soe.unimelb.edu.au/neuroscience  

Cost: $2,100 + GST

Express your interest in this course and related courses by contacting:

• Kathy Lefevere on (03) 9496 2990 or email lefevere@unimelb.edu.au  
• Mary Georges on (03) 9810 3185 or email m.georges@soe.unimelb.edu.au  

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Business Services

Spruson&Ferguson: patent and trade mark attorneys

With over 120 years experience, Spruson & Ferguson is a leading intellectual property firm in Australia which provides a fully integrated service for the protection, commercialisation and enforcement of your intellectual property.

Spruson & Ferguson is one of the largest intellectual property firms in Australia, with a team of over 220. Our 60 plus patent and trade mark attorneys and lawyers work in specialised practice areas; Chemical/Life Sciences, Mechanical, Electrical/Information & Communications Technologies (ICT) and Trade Marks, together with Spruson & Ferguson Lawyers which provides intellectual property commercialisation, enforcement and dispute resolution services.

Spruson & Ferguson’s patent and trade mark attorneys and lawyers have extensive intellectual property and industry experience in science and engineering including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, electronics, phototonics, transport, telecommunications, mining, publishing, consumer products, ceramics, chemistry and mechanical/medical technologies.

The depth of our industry experience is an attribute that many of our clients hold in high regard. Spruson & Ferguson is a recognised as a market leader with multinationals and many of Australia’s foremost research institutions entrusting to us to protect and assisting with the maximisation of returns on their intellectual property assets.

Our comprehensive range of services includes patents, trademarks, designs, domain names, IP audits, due diligence, dispute resolution and litigation and intellectual property commercialisation services including licensing, joint ventures and research and development collaborations.

For more information about our comprehensive range of intellectual property services, please contact one of the following relationship principals:

Chemical: Dr John McCann BSc (Hons) PhD FIPTA
Life Sciences: Dr Andrew Blattman BScAgr (Hons) PhD GDipIP FIPTA
Electrical: Robert Miller BE BLegS FIPTA
ICT: Scott Berggren BSEE MSEE LLB FIPTA
Mechanical: Greg Turner BE FIPTA
Trade Marks: Annette Freeman BA LLB (ANU) LLM (UTS)
IP Commercialisation: Rob McInnes BSc (Hons) LLB (Syd)
IP Litigation & Dispute Resolution: Simon Williams BA LLB (Syd) LLM (Lond)
Managing Principal: David Griffith BE (Hons) FIPTA

Telephone: (02) 9393 0100
Fax: (02) 9261 5486
Email mail@sprusons.com.au
Website here 

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