News Alerts

CSIRO WiFi patent win charges up Science and Industry Endowment Fund

CSIRO will invest $150 million from the proceeds of its Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technology licensing program in the recently re-launched Science and Industry Endowment Fund.

The funding is part of CSIRO’s $200 million out-of-court settlement with14 global technology companies over its 15-year old patent related to the 802.11 wireless network standard. Companies against whom the ruling was made in April include Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Dell and Intel. Further court actions are being initiated by CSIRO against laptop makers Sony, Acer and Lenovo.

The Science and Industry Endowment Fund was created with £100,000 by Act of Parliament in 1926 but has been inactive for many years. Announcing the CSIRO funding, Innovation Minister, Senator Kim Carr, said that he envisaged that the Fund  would be augmented by donations from industry and other benefactors. He said that the Fund would consider matching donations from industry and others for projects that meet its national interest and excellence criteria. 

CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Megan Clark said the Fund will support fundamental scientific research projects in new and emerging areas of science, the creation or development of significant national research facilities, and research scholarships and fellowships.

The first three grants from the Fund will be:

• $2 million for the endowment of a Professorial Chair in Wireless Research as a joint appointment between Macquarie University and CSIRO.
• $7.5 million (over 2 -3 years) to establish scholarships and fellowships across all scientific disciplines but with a primary focus in ICT, Mathematics and Engineering. These will be named to recognise their WLAN origins and may include offers of employment with CSIRO.
• Up to $10 million to expand research in Wireless Technology at CSIRO.

In deciding uses for the Fund, Dr Clark will be supported by an expert advisory committee comprising:

• Professor Alan Robson, Vice Chancellor, the University of Western Australia;
• Professor Tom Spurling, CSIRO Board Member;
• Professor Margaret Sheil, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Research Council;
• Mr Nigel Poole, Executive Director, Commercial, CSIRO; and
• Dr Ezio Rizzardo, Research Scientist, CSIRO Molecular and Health Technologies and recipient of the CSIRO Medal for Lifetime Achievement..

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Commercialisation Australia launched

Details of the Federal Government’s $196 million Commercialisation Australia initiative have been released, and the program will open early in 2010.

The program, previously known the Commonwealth Commercialisation Institute, replaces the Commercial Ready scheme that was abolished in the 2008 budget, and is designed to support early stage commercialization by leveraging private sector capital and expertise. Commercialisation Australia will receive $196.1 million over the next four years, with ongoing funding of $82 million a year thereafter.

Beneficiaries will receive support of up to $250,000 for proof of concept activities, and repayable funding of up to $2 million for early stage commercialisation activities. They will also be provided with a case manager to advise on the commercialisation process and facilitate access to volunteer business mentors, including CEOs, and other support, as well as specialist advice and services.

A call has been made for expressions of interest for board membership of Commerialisation Australia, and also for registrations of interest for the roles of case managers and volunteer business mentors.

Further information on Commercialisation Australia, the call for nominations and registrations of interest can be found at www.innovation.gov.au/CommercialisationAustralia.

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ARC competitive grants for 2010 announced

This year’s round of awards under the Australian Research Council's competitive grants schemes have been announced, with 1145 projects receiving a total of $394 million. The schemes covered include Discovery Projects ($325.5 m), Linkage Projects ($66.8m) and Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development ($1.8m) .

New South Wales researchers were awarded $133.5 million in grants , followed by by Victoria with $103.7 million, Queensland $61.9 million, the ACT $40.7 million, WA $27 million, SA $21.6 million, Tasmania $4 million and the Northern Territory with $1.5 million.

Details of the awards for funding commencing in 2010 are at www.arc.gov.au/applicants/fundingoutcomes.htm

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Australian Space Research Program open

The Federal Government’s new $40 million Australian Space Research Program has been opened, with the first stream providing funding of between $200,000 and $1 million for collaborations between universities and secondary schools or other institutions.

The second stream will offer between $1 million and $5 million to support collaboration between researchers and industry on space science and innovation projects in areas of strategic national priority.

Grant applications close on Friday 4 December 2009 and information on the program and how to apply is available at www.space.gov.au

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Action Group to promote clinical trials in Australia

The Federal Government is to create an Action Group to investigate ways of increasing the number of clinical trials undertaken in Australia.

The Innovation Minister, Senator Kim Carr, said the Action Group will be asked to identify ways to ensure:

• coordinated, nationwide approaches to clinical trials and performance measures;
• streamlined ethics approvals systems;
• national patient referral networks; and
• better ways to approve, establish and conduct clinical trials. 

The group will be co-chaired by Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation and Industry, Richard Marles MP and Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Mark Butler MP. 

It will report to Ministers Carr and Roxon by 31 March 2010 and will complement the program being undertaken by the National Health and Medical Research Council through the Harmonisation of Multicentre Ethical Review (HoMER) enabling system. The Group will include members of the Pharmaceuticals Industry Working Group (PIWG) and be supported by officials from the Innovation and Health departments.

Senator Carr said that investment from clinical trials was a significant contributor to medical research in Australia.  "As well as the health benefits for patients receiving early access to new medicines, pharmaceuticals companies are more likely to conduct later stage trials in Australia if early stage trials for that compound have already been conducted here,” he said.

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Queensland hosts Australian Future Forensics Innovation Network

The Queensland Government is providing $2 million to support the Australian Future Forensics Innovation Network (AFFIN), a Queensland-led international alliance of forensic scientists, police, researchers and industry.

The network, a partnership between Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services and Griffith University, will be hosted by Queensland Health’s Forensic and Scientific Services facility at Coopers Plains. Its research will be undertaken at institutions across the country, and will involve Australian and international experts.

Acting Premier and Minister for Health Paul Lucas said the aim of the AFFIN is to create a critical mass of forensic scientists, police, universities and industry in forensic research and development of innovative new technologies for dealing with threats such as crime, terrorism and mass disasters.

The Queensland Government funding is provided through the National and International Research Alliances Program, part of the Smart Futures Fund, bringing AFFIN’s total funding commitment to date to $6.8 million, with $4.8 million coming from its 19 partner organisations. These include Griffith University, Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services (QHFSS), Queensland Police Service (QPS), the National Institute of Forensic Science (NIFS), the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Bond University, Flinders University (SA), University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Edith Cowan University (ECU, WA), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Central Queensland University (CQU), Forensic Science South Australia (FSSA), New South Wales Police, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM), National Forensic Pathology Service New Zealand (NFPSNZ), the University of North Texas (USA), the University of Lausanne (Switzerland) and biotech/life science companies Biomatrica Inc (USA) and Agilent Pty Ltd (Vic)..

Director of Griffith University’s Forensic Science Research and Innovation Centre Associate Professor Dennis Burns said the initial goals of the network were to develop technology to improve in-field forensic analysis, help speed up investigations and assist the work of forensic laboratories. Areas of research include improved DNA profiling in the field, technology to remotely identify the location of backyard drug labs and the substances being manufactured, new portable detection methods for locating illicit drugs and explosives, and more effective ways to preserve and stabilise delicate field samples.

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Queensland signs up to Medical Research Commercialisation Fund

The Queensland Government has entered an agreement with the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund (MRCF) under which some Queensland health and medical research institutes will be able to access the fund’s $30 million venture capital investment capacity.

The Queensland Government will provide $300,000 per year over the next three years to cover the administrative costs of membership. Under the agreement, Queensland becomes the fourth state to participate in the MRCF, joining New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.

Member institutes of the fund are eligible to apply for funding of up to $2 million from the MRCF to support commercial development of research outcomes.

Current Queensland member organisations include the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Diamantina Institute, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Institute of Molecular Bioscience, Mater Medical Research Institute and Queensland Brain Institute.

The MRCF was established in 2007 to address early-stage funding gaps in the development of medical technologies with commercial potential by Australian medical research organisations and hospitals. It is managed by Brandon Capital Partners, and major private investors are Statewide Superannuation and Westscheme. Opportunities at the ‘project’ stage can receive investment of up to $200,000 whilst those at the stage of company formation can receive up to $2m of investment.

More information is at www.mrcf.com.au.

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CSIRO Medals awarded

CSIRO’s Wireless LAN team has been awarded this year’s CSIRO Chairman’s Medal in recognition of its wireless local area networking technology (WLAN) that now underpins wireless communication systems worldwide and has so far been awarded over $200 million in patent settlements.

Other recipients of this year’s CSIRO medals include:

2009 Fellow: Dr Lincoln Paterson, a mathematical physicist whose research has focused on understanding the behaviour of fluid flow in porous media. He has conducted research in reservoir characterisation, transport in porous media, CO2 sequestration and stochastics. Developing and applying better modelling techniques, he is distinguished by having successfully integrated the disciplines of geophysics, geostatistics and petroleum reservoir engineering.

John Philip Award for Excellence in Young Scientists: Dr Ben Hoffman for research into the ecology and management of invasive ants, especially on Indigenous lands, that has resulted in internationally significant management outcomes.

CSIRO Medal for Lifetime Achievement (two winners):

Dr Ezio Rizzardo, research in polymer science and in the area of controlled free radical polymerisation, which has placed Australia and CSIRO at the forefront of polymer chemistry. 

Dr Warwick Wilson, for leadership over 27 years, ensuring development and delivery of benchmark research instrumentation that has helped establish and maintain CSIRO’s position as a world leader in the field of radio astronomy.

Research Achievement Medal (two winners):

Northern Prawn Fishery Bio-economic Team: development of a bio-economic model in collaboration with industry, which is guiding management of Australia’s Northern Prawn Fishery. The model defines harvest levels that achieve maximum economic yield (while sustaining the fishery resource.

Ophthalmic Biomaterials Team, development of two novel polymer technologies that have the potential to revolutionise vision correction using implantable devices.

Environment Achievement Award: CSIRO Property Services Queensland Water Management Team, development of water management plans to achieve significant and continued reduction in water usage at CSIRO’s South East QLD research facilities, resulting in a eduction of 76 per cent over four years.

Medal for Business Excellence: CSIRO-PETRONAS Engagement Team, development of opportunities between the two organisations in the areas of oil and gas exploration and production, advanced materials and renewable energy.

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Bumper year for CSIRO

CSIRO has recorded a surplus of $122 million in the 2008-09 financial year, making a record $634.8 million from external revenues. Most of the profit was derived from patent royalties and intellectual property settlements.

CSIRO’s government allocation for the year was $668.1 million, with total investment in National Research Flagships reaching $420,634 in 2008–09, up from $379,405 in 2007–08.

In its Annual Report, tabled earlier this month, CSIRO also recorded a 6% increase in the number of scientists in 2008 to 1837; and an increase in journal articles published from 1858 in 2004 to 2542 last year.

Citations per paper have increased from 9.87 in 2004 to 12.56 in 2008, which CSIRO claims as the highest citation rate of any Australian institution which publishes across a range of research fields. The Australian average is 10.37 and the world average is 9.43.

The CSIRO 2008-2009 Annual Report and accompanying publication, Science: securing the future are at: http://www.csiro.au/resources/Annual-Report-08-09.html

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Announcements

Australia India Science & Technology Research Award

The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), in association with the Australia-India Council, has launched a new program to optimise the skills of Australian and Indian leading early career researchers through the Australia India Science and Technology Research Award.

Applications are invited from Australian early career scientists (under the age of 40), to visit India between 1 January 2010 and 31 May 2010 to collaborate with Indian researchers. The research priority of the 2010 Research Award is ‘Energy generation in a low carbon future’.

Closing date of Applications – Friday 27th November by 5.00 pm Eastern Summer Time.

Only Citizens and permanent residents of Australia are eligible to apply for the Award.

Application forms and selection criteria are detailed on the ATSE website: www.atse.org.au

Terms of award: Successful applicants will receive an amount of AUD $15,000 to cover travel, accommodation, insurance, visa, meals and incidentals.

The ‘Australia India Science & Technology Research Award’ is supported by the Australian Government through the Australia-India Council which is part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. ATSE also acknowledges the cooperation of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE).

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Alan & Elizabeth Finkel Awards for Neuroscience Research

Florey Neuroscience Institutes (FNI) is at the global cutting edge of neuroscience. Our programs are directed at a deeper understanding of brain structure and function in health and disease, and aimed at preventing, treating and curing brain diseases and disorders.

FNI was created by the amalgamation of the Howard Florey Institute with the Brain Research Institute and the National Stroke Research Institute. It is now the largest neuroscience institute in the southern hemisphere, and ranks in the top 10 in the world.

The Alan & Elizabeth Finkel Awards for Neuroscience are available for high-performing post-graduate students wishing to establish a career in neuroscience research. They are designed to top-up an existing scholarship, thus enabling the brightest research minds in Australia to complete their studies at FNI.

• The Award is valued at $10,000 per annum, and is designed to top-up existing funding.
• The Award will be granted to a student with a background in neuroscience, biochemistry, medicine or a related discipline who is planning to undertake a higher degree by research (PhD) at the University of Melbourne.
• Scholarship work must be undertaken at FNI
• Awards will be of 3 years’ duration with no extension.
• Deadline for applications is January 30, 2010.

For more information please visit our website www.fni.edu.au/scholarships.html

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Conferences & Events

32nd ATSE National Symposium - Future Proofing Australia Rising to the challenge of Climate Change

Future Proofing Australia
Rising to the challenge of Climate Change

32nd ATSE National Symposium,
Sofitel Brisbane Grand Central, 16 - 17 November 2009

The Academy’s 2009 National Symposium in Brisbane will address one of the most important topics our nation faces.

Governments are introducing policies and targets aimed at substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Meeting the targets that are being debated will raise daunting challenges. Global opportunities and benefits can follow if we first develop the capabilities, policies and industries to future-proof our nation.

This timely Symposium will focus on a crucial issue; the practical potential of current and future low emission technologies, land management and abatement strategies to enable us to meet these targets.

The Symposium will draw on the experience and insights of eminent industry leaders and researchers from the UK, USA, Europe, Asia and South Africa in addition to Australia’s leading experts.

Key speakers include:

• Dr John Loughhead, Executive Director, UK Energy Research Centre
• Dr Zhengrong Shi, CEO and Chairman, Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd, China
• Dr Adi Paterson, Chief Executive Officer, ANSTO
• Dr Peter Cook, Chief Executive, CO2CRC

The ATSE Symposium will be of particular interest to key industry stakeholders, researchers, decision makers from government departments and the broad range of professionals contemplating new business in the carbon area.

REGISTRATIONS CLOSING SOON – ACT NOW TO SECURE YOUR PLACE

For further program or registration details contact
Rebecca Bone on 03 9864 0908 or events@atse.org.au or visit our website www.atse.org.au

Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering

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Tertiary & Higher Education Conference 2010

16-17 March, 2010

Dockside, Cockle Bay,Sydney

The Government is committed to making Australia one of the most educated and highly skilled workforces in the world in order to secure national long term economic prosperity.

In March 2008, the Government initiated a Review of Higher Education to examine the future direction of the higher education sector, its fitness for purpose in meeting the needs of the Australian community and economy, and the options for ongoing reform. The Review was conducted by an independent expert panel, led by Emeritus Professor Denise Bradley AC

As part of the 2009 Budget, on 12 May the Government announced it would provide an additional $5.4 billion to support higher education and research over the next 4 years in a comprehensive response to the Bradley Review, Transforming Australia’s Higher Education System. The quantum leap in resourcing is designed to support high quality teaching and learning, improve access and outcomes for students from low socio economic backgrounds, build new links between universities and disadvantaged schools, reward institutions for meeting agreed quality and equity outcomes, improve resourcing for research and invest in world class tertiary education infrastructure.

This two day conference will cover the key areas outlined in the Government’s funding system with an additional day (bookable separately) devoted to University marketing strategies.

Major themes include:

• Ministerial address on transformation in the Australian Higher Education system
• Challenges of applying the Bradley Review recommendations
• Revising academic standards in line with the new funding (“compacts”)
• How research intensive universities should be organised in the 21st Century
• Defusing the Indian student’s fear on security 
• Recruiting overseas students from China & India vs USA
• Regulating off-short educational agents
• Effect of proposed Government funding on TAFE institutes

Who will be attending:

• Federal Government
• State Government
• Universities
• Higher Education Institutions
• Finance Companies
• Education Companies
• Education Suppliers
• Banking Institutions
• Management Schools
• IT Companies
• Business Schools
• Trainers
• Corporate Business Schools

For further information go to www.highered.com.au or contact Helen on 02 8923 8003 or events@hallmarkevents.com.au

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Further Education

Graduate Diploma in Drug Evaluation & Pharmaceutical Sciences: 2010

Graduate Diploma in Drug Evaluation & Pharmaceutical Sciences: 2010
University of Melbourne, Australia

Today’s potent drugs, combined with the complex issues of their production and use has created a growing need for evaluation of their safety and efficacy. For such evaluation, wide ranging expertise is required in the areas of Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Legal and Ethical Considerations.

This diploma course gives a systematic overview of these areas and how they affect the very practical issues of drug evaluation and is aimed at Pharmacists, Research Nurses, Scientists, Medical Practitioners and others involved in regulatory affairs.

For more information please contact Mrs Nicola Cash Ph: +61 3 9496 3420, Fax: +61 3 9459 3510 or Email: njcash@unimelb.edu.au

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Master of R&D Management

The ATN e-Grad School’s new online Master of R&D Management (MRDM) aims at meeting the growing demand for quality professional development in the research management area. Launched in Semester 1, 2009 across the ATN universities - Curtin University, RMIT, UniSA, UTS and QUT, the MRDM provides support and training for R&D leaders, research managers, research administrators and active researchers in corporations and public sector R&D organisations to gain the skills and capabilities required to support research business in their organisations.

The course materials provide support in developing international research opportunities, industry collaboration and team-based interdisciplinary approaches. Units include project management, leadership and workplace communication, entrepreneurial foundations, principles and practice of R&D management, managing research careers, knowledge transfer and research commercialisation and the capstone, a workplace based project of one or two semesters.

The MRDM allows a range of entry and exit points (Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate) for professional development in commercialisation and R&D management. The embedded Graduate Certificate in Research Commercialisation was awarded preferred provider status, after a national search by the Cooperative Research Centres Association, in February 2008.

The online format of the Masters program acknowledges that participants need flexible access to materials which are complemented by videoconferencing sessions with expert guest speakers. The global reach of the program covers, in addition to the 5 ATN universities, students from 24 universities and other institutions including University of Western Australia, University of Melbourne, Australian National University, Monash University, University of Western Sydney, James Cook University, Swinburne University, Edith Cowan University, Ballarat University, Victoria University, University of Canberra, La Trobe University, The University of Queensland, CRC for Oral Health, Auto CRC, Polymers CRC, Phylogica & Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Heart Foundation, Academic Radiation Oncology, The University of Manchester, Daejin University, Korea.

For further information contact:
Email: egsacoordinator@qut.edu.au
Website: www.egradschool.edu.au

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Positions Vacant

Research & Evaluation Manager - The Cancer Council Victoria

The Cancer Council Victoria

Cancer Council Victoria is seeking a Research & Evaluation Manager to join our Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer.

The Research & Evaluation Manager is responsible for the conception, development and implementation of key research and evaluation projects within the Cancer Council Victoria. Projects include population surveys of public perceptions about cancer control issues, evaluation of: aspects of cancer screening programs, patient support programs, continuing education and skills training programs for health professionals and selected communication strategies and programs.

You will have a demonstrated ability to design and conduct quantitative evaluation research and will have previous experience in the development of survey instruments.

Excellent project management skills and the ability to prioritise and schedule tasks with minimal supervision will also be required. An understanding of major methodological issues in behavioural research will also be required. 

Further information about this role is available here.

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Assistant Director, Advanced Analytical Unit - ASIO

• Canberra
• $94,040 to $101,509 + super

This is a unique opportunity to lead, manage and mentor people in a challenging analytical environment, providing support to ASIO’s intelligence work.

It’s no secret that ASIO is here to protect Australia from terrorism and espionage by gathering and assessing intelligence and providing advice. This is complex work that involves many activities requiring a wide range of skills. Increasingly, the ability to analyse and exploit large amounts of information is becoming central to this work.

Working within ASIO’s Advanced Analytical Unit (AAU), this role is a unique opportunity to lead, manage and mentor people in a challenging analytical environment, providing support to ASIO’s intelligence work. Under your leadership and direction, your team will provide crucial input into investigations, prioritising analysis and working closely with colleagues across the Organisation. You will contribute to the development of your team and help shape the analytical culture within ASIO.

Further information about this role is available here.

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Senior Research Scientist - Data and Information Systems - CSIRO

CSIRO - ICT Centre

Location: Hobart, Tasmania
Salary Circa: $91K - $106K plus Superannuation
Ref No: 2009/717

We are seeking to appoint a Senior Research Scientist of international standing in data and information systems with focus on the development of the information environment to facilitate the increase in situation awareness, understanding and prediction capability for distributed heterogeneous sensor networks. The challenge includes semantics operability, sensor fusion, signal processing and statistical modeling, understanding of complex interrelated events, and providing for information analysis to support both real-time and long-term scenario assessment and decision making in a variety of application domains and data uses. This research area also include the development of an innovative data and information management and service infrastructure to provide sensor network data products to different existing models and user communities.

The role of a Senior Research Scientist is to provide leadership in developing and nurturing research and professional skills in the science area, pursuit of excellence in this field, and achieve research outcomes that address problems in areas of national importance. 

More information about the role is available here

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Publications

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