News Alerts

Research Evaluation Committee appointed for first stage of ERA trial

A panel of 17 researchers has been appointed by the Australian Research Council to the Cluster One Research Evaluation Committee for the 2009 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) trial.

The researchers, who represent the physical, chemical and earth sciences disciplines covered in Cluster One, will undertake expert review of the data submitted for the ERA trial by Australia’s higher education institutions. The Committee will be chaired by Professor Mark von Itzstein from Griffith University.

Membership of the Cluster Two Research Evaluation Committee for the 2009 ERA trial, comprising distinguished researchers representing the Humanities and Creative Arts disciplines, will be announced at the close of the submission period for Cluster Two in August.

For the full ERA in 2010, the ARC will establish eight Research Evaluation Committees, one for each ERA discipline cluster.

More information is at www.arc.gov.au

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Universities consulted on Sustainable Research Excellence initiative

The Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research has released an issues paper as the basis for discussion with universities on implementing the Sustainable Research Excellence in Universities (SRE) initiative. SRE was announced by the Australian Government as part of a suite of measures to enhance university research in the 2009/10 Budget.The paper identifies key design elements of the program and raises questions for response from universities.

SRE is being developed as a key measure to respond to the government’s objective of progressively increasing the number of world-class research groups and addressing the funding gap for indirect research costs. $512 million will be provided over four years to support universities in meeting the indirect costs of their research activities. SRE is an ongoing program and around $300 million will be allocated annually from 2013-14. The funding is in addition to around $882 million which will be provided over the same period through the existing Research Infrastructure Block Grant (RIBG) scheme.

Further funding through the program will progressively address an identified shortfall in the support universities receive from the Australian Government to meet the indirect costs of competitive research by taking average support up to around 50 cents in the dollar by 2014.

SRE is an element of a suite of reforms to improve the competitiveness of Australian university research and the dividend that Australia receives from its investment. It will be complemented by the new Joint Research Engagement (JRE) measure which will encourage collaboration between universities and the users of research outcomes, and by the Collaborative Research Networks (CRN) program which will encourage research partnerships between universities.

The discussion paper is available at www.innovation.gov.au. Written responses are due by 31 August. A series of consultations is being held at universities around the country over the next two weeks.

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Steel Industry Innovation Council established

A Steel Industry Innovation Council is to be established to guide the future directions of the industry and to advise the Australian government on support programs.

The Council will:

• provide advice to Government on suitably qualified individuals for consideration as the Supplier Advocate for steel who will champion Australian industry participation in major projects and improve competitiveness and procurement support, particularly for small and medium sized enterprises;
• identify priority opportunities for the Steel Supplier Advocate to work with Enterprise Connect and the Industry Capability Network;
• identify mechanisms to improve connections between project proponents and suppliers, including ensuring that project specifications do not discriminate against Australian suppliers; 
• advise on the creation of industry teams to pursue opportunities; and
• identify and advise on actions industry and unions can cooperatively take to support the activity of the Steel Supplier Advocate.

The Council membership will include senior representatives from OneSteel and BlueScope, the Australian Workers' Union and Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, the Australian Steel Institute, CSIRO, the higher education and research community and the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.

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NSW prize for clean energy technology

The NSW Premier Nathan Rees has announced a new $5 million international prize for clean energy technology.

The prize will be awarded to the best clean energy project developed in a partnership which must include a NSW university and business. Mr Rees said that he expected the judges would look for leading edge research which could be developed as quickly and cheaply as possible.

The NSW Energy Challenge Prize was announced at an inaugural University Government Business Forum held on July 20 to bring together the three sectors to find new ways to tackle global challenges faced by NSW. 

The Forum brought together over 80 business, university and government leaders from across the State to discuss solutions to meet major emerging issues.
Minister for Science and Medical Research Jodi McKay said identifying research priority areas will help consolidate NSW's position as Australia's leading green, clever State.

"Having a definitive approach to research across NSW will allow us to attract greater Commonwealth and international research funding, support new jobs and emerging industries and help NSW to become a globally competitive and highly skilled workforce," Ms McKay said.

"This Forum is about finding ways to support and extend the engagement between universities, industry and the Government for the benefit of the State," Ms Firth said.

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Announcements

GlaxoSmithKline Australia Post Graduate Support Grant

Announcing the GlaxoSmithKline Australia Post Graduate Support Grant

Our global quest is to improve the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. To achieve our quest, GlaxoSmithKline invests up to $35 million each year in Australian research and development.

Support grants for postgraduate research students

GSK Australia is pleased to offer grant awards of up $25,000 over a period of two years to PhD or Post Doctorate students in the field of human health.

These awards will provide additional financial support to PhD or Post Doctorate research students who are currently in receipt of a research grant from a non-commercial body.

A minimum of six grants will be made available in 2009, with the potential to increase if the quality of applications is high.

How to apply
For further information and application forms, please visit www.gsk.com.au/research
Closing date for applications and supporting documentation is 5.00pm (AEST) Friday 28 August 2009.

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Latest Venture Capital Guide released

The Australian Private Equity & Venture Capital Guide (previously the Australian Venture Capital Guide) for 2009 has been released. The Guide provides an up-to-date reference for sources of private equity and venture capital funding in Australia and New Zealand.

Published by Private Equity Media, the Guide provides contact details of a wide range of funds and other investors plus details of capital available and investment preferences.

A total of 165 Australian and New Zealand private equity and venture capital firms are listed. A further 28 other sources of business funding are also listed. The Guide also includes full details of 19 managers of infrastructure investment funds. All entries have been revised and there are many changes from last year.

The Guide includes a fully revised introductory section outlining the private equity and venture capital raising process for capital seekers. While the Guide includes Australian offices of overseas-based managers that invest only in large deals, most of the listings are local firms that primarily invest in Australian and New Zealand businesses.

The 2009 Australian Private Equity & Venture Capital Guide is available in print form or as an emailed PDF for $100 including GST, or as a 12-month subscription to a regularly updated online version for $200.

To order, visit: www.privateequitymedia.com.au

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Further Education

Specialist Certificate in Clinical Research (Biomedical Research Management)

Specialist Certificate in Clinical Research (Biomedical Research Management)

Success in biomedical research depends on outstanding research management capabilities. And that's something you can learn!

The Biomedical Research Manager needs to be able to lead, coordinate and manage the activities of experts from all the relevant technical, commercial and clinical disciplines, along with the stakeholders in a project – without losing their focus on the operational activities and strategic objectives. Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• Understand and be conversant with the major activities involved in planning biomedical research projects from start to finish
• Understand and be able to develop strategies to manage biomedical research projects
• Understand the nuances, rationales, politics, risks and benefits of dealing with a variety of project stakeholders
• Understand the need to comply with regulatory requirements, the processes to fulfil this and be able to identify potential regulatory and legal pitfalls
• Be able to prepare and operate a budget for biomedical research projects and adapt the budget to changing circumstances
• Understand what is required to develop a project plan for the commercial development of the outcomes of clinical research

Who Should Attend
Designed for professionals involved in biomedical research, this course provides development opportunities for those who wish to advance their career or move into a career in biomedical research management. For organisations it provides the opportunity to provide training that will help meet regulatory requirements, improve investment and risk management and develop staff to increase success rates and maximise economic return. For individuals it provides the opportunity for career development, to acquire the skills and tools to improve personal effectiveness and performance and to increase job satisfaction and success.

Dates
Part 1 - September 7, 8, 9 & 10 2009
Part 2 - October 12, 13, 14 & 16 2009

Cost
$4,200 per person
(GST is added for non award course attendants)

To register contact Elise Strande on (03) 9810 3136 or email e.strande@mccp.unimelb.edu.au.

Further information can also be found on our website.

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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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