News Alerts

NSW releases Regional Innovation Strategy

 The NSW Government has released a Regional Innovation Strategy to support businesses, jobs and investment across the state.

The Strategy has been developed by the NSW Government with input from Industry & Investment NSW, the Department of Environment Climate Change and Water, and the Department of Education and Training.

The NSW Government will establish Innovation Initiatives for each of the State’s regions focusing on areas where local innovation can make a difference. These innovation blueprints will be customised to the unique characteristics of each region and integrated into Regional Business Growth Plans.

Innovation Initiatives will be rolled out to all regions during 2010 and will be updated regularly to reflect the changing priorities and needs of each region. The NSW Government will work with Regional Development Australia (RDA) committees and local stakeholders to implement the Innovation Initiatives.

The Strategy includes a set of recommendations for immediate implementation. These include expanding access to management training programs; innovation coaching including in lean business techniques; greater knowledge sharing through business networks; expert innovation workshops; tapping into the knowledge generated by our research institutions; and using the capacity of broadband to enhance regional business innovation.

The Strategy is available at www.business.nsw.gov.au/innovation

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NHMRC Excellence Awards

Fifteen of Australia’s most distinguished health and medical researchers have been recognised for their outstanding contribution to the success of medical research at the National Health and Medical Research Council Excellence Awards.

Recipients of the Awards include:

NHMRC Award for Outstanding Contribution - 
Professor David Weisbrot, Macquarie University, New South Wales

David Weisbrot, AM is Professor of Law and Governance at Macquarie University.  He was formerly President of the Australian Law Reform Commission, chairing inquiries into the Protection of Human Genetic Information, Gene Patenting and Human Health, and Privacy.  David is a member of the NHMRC's Human Genetics Advisory Committee and the Working Group on Research Integrity.

NHMRC Ethics Award - 
Professor Don Chalmers, University of Tasmania, Tasmania

Donald Chalmers is Distinguished Professor, University of Tasmania and a Foundation Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law.  He was Chair of the Australian Health Ethics Committee from 1994 to 2000 and Australian Red Cross Ethics Committee from 2000 until 2010.  Currently Don is Chair of the Gene Technology Ethics and Community Consultative Committee, Deputy Chair of the Embryo Research Licensing Committee and member of the HUGO Ethics Committee, the International Cancer Genome Consortium, and International Scientific Review Panels of Genome Canada since 2004.

Achievement Award for Highest Ranked Program Grant
 - Professor Sam Berkovic, University of Melbourne, Victoria

Sam Berkovic is in the Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Austin Health. He is a clinical neurologist and clinical researcher closely linked to basic scientists.  His group, together with molecular genetic collaborators in Adelaide and Germany, discovered the first gene for epilepsy and subsequently have been involved the discovery of many of the known epilepsy genes.

Achievement Award for Top Ranked NHMRC Research Fellow
 - Professor Jonathan Sprent, Garvan Medical Research Institute, New South Wales

Professor Sprent works on T cell immunobiology with emphasis on T cell formation, lifespan, activation, and the formation of memory cells. He is also interested in immunoregulation and the role of cytokines in controlling T cell homeostasis and survival.

Achievement Award for Top Ranked NHMRC Practitioner Fellow - 
Professor David Paterson, University of Queensland, Queensland

Professor David L. Paterson is an Infectious Diseases Physician and Clinical Microbiologist. He is Deputy Director (Clinical) of the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research located at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. His areas of research include antibiotic resistance in Gram negative bacilli and infections in immunocompromised patients.

The full list of recipients can be found here.

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University interim agreements published

Interim agreements between the Australian Government and universities have been published as the first step in the development of mission-based compacts, as part of the Australian Government’s $5.7 billion higher education and innovation reform agenda.

The Bradley Review of Australian Higher Education recommended that the Government provide performance funding for universities.

The universities have responded to the Government’s reform agenda and will use the compacts to position themselves to meet the Government’s higher education objectives and participation targets.

The compacts will allow universities to align their plans with national priorities, including the Government’s goal of 40 per cent of all 25 to 34-year-olds holding a qualification at bachelor level or above by 2025.

The Government welcomed universities’ focus on collaboration as an important step to improving the quality and excellence of research and research training.

Later this year, each university will negotiate a compact with the Government, which will define its individual mission and how it will contribute to the Government’s policy goals, including agreed performance targets.

From 2012, universities that meet their performance targets will share in additional Government funding of $135 million per year.

The interim agreements and a summary of the key issues that emerged during agreement negotiation are available at www.deewr.gov.au/interimagreements and www.innovation.gov.au

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Innovative projects receive Telstra support

Mobile mental health diagnostics, low cost tags for tracking cattle and a high tech encrypter are among five innovative projects to win support from the inaugural Telstra External Research and Development Program.

Their selection ends a six month judging process looking for Australian research projects that will hopefully provide a benefit to the wider Australian community.

'Australia was the birthplace of extraordinary innovations such as the black box flight recorder, the cochlear implant and solar hot water and at Telstra we want to help contribute to innovation through our new Research and Design program,' Telstra Chief Technology Officer Dr Hugh Bradlow said.

'When we started the search for submissions we weren't sure what we would find but after reviewing more than 220 submissions it's fair to say that technology innovation is alive and well across Australia.

Taggle Systems Pty Ltd Currently in prototype, the 'taggle' is a small, low-cost, long-life tag which aims to allow users to track the location and status (eg. temperature) of assets over the internet. There are many ways that taggles could be used by businesses, governments and consumers, including tracking and monitoring of pallets, tools and equipment, livestock, sporting goods or pets.

Dev-Audio Intelligent Microphone Device For Groups. This project aims to develop an intelligent microphone device - the Microcone - for use in group conversations. A small table-top unit, the Microcone is designed to pick up voices from multiple directions while reducing background noise. Currently in prototype, the Microcone will be suitable for meeting the teleconferencing needs of small to medium enterprises.

QuintessenceLabs Quantum Link Encryptor (QLE-1). QLE-1 is a second generation, untappable, quantum cryptography technology which could be deployed over commercial optic-fibre networks to enable untappable, ultra-secure, high-speed communications.

LaTrobe University - Rehabilitation for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) The COPD rehabilitation system is designed to provide a supervised remote exercise regime where patients' responses are monitored and observed through video-link, with the potential to enable provision of this therapy wherever the patient may be located.

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New fund manager established

Australian innovators now have access to an extra $40 million in venture capital funding with the establishment of new fund manager OneVentures, which has been awarded a license under the Australian Government’s Innovation Investment Fund (IIF) program.

The IIF program provides fund managers with $20 million which they must match with private sector capital to establish new funds to invest in promising early-stage Australian companies commercialising Australian research.

OneVentures, headquartered in Sydney, will invest in emerging Australian companies in the cleantech, new media / information technology and life sciences sectors. 

The OneVentures fund will also be structured as an Early-Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnership (ESVCLP).  

An ESVCLP receives flow-through tax treatment – that is, it is not a taxing point and investors receive a full tax exemption on their share of the fund’s income and capital.  

Fund managers are urged to submit applications under the latest round (Tranche 3 of Round 3) of the IIF program, which closes on 31 May 2010.

 For more information on the IIF and ESVCLP programs and other AusIndustry assistance measures, visit the website at www.ausindustry.gov.au

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New member of NSW Innovation Council

Vice-Chancellor of the University of NSW - Professor Fred Hilmer - has been announced as the newest member of the NSW Innovation Council in his capacity as Chair of the NSW Vice-Chancellors’ Committee.

The addition of the NSW Vice-Chancellors’ Committee Chair to the Innovation Council is part of the NSW Government’s efforts to strengthen links between business, government and higher education.

The current membership of the NSW Innovation Council is:

• Steven Harker (Chair) - Managing Director and CEO Morgan Stanley Australia
• Barry Buffier - Deputy Director General, Industry & Investment NSW
• Michael Coutts-Trotter - Director General, Department of Education and Training and Managing Director, TAFE NSW
• Dr Dahle Suggett - Deputy Director General, Department of Premier and Cabinet
• Catherine Livingstone AO – Chair, Telstra Corporation Ltd
• Kevin Cosgriff – Deputy Secretary, Fiscal and Economic Strategy Directorate, NSW Treasury
• Professor Mary O'Kane - NSW Chief Scientist and Scientific Engineer
• Dr David Skellern - CEO, National ICT Australia
• Greg Smith - Director, Public Affairs, Animal Logic
• Dr Jonathan West - Director, Australian Innovation Research Centre
• Professor Fred Hilmer – Chair of the NSW Vice-Chancellor’s Committee.

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Announcements

The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science

Nominations now open for 2010
Closing date: 21 May 2010, AEST 5.00 pm

 

The Australian Government awards five prizes annually for outstanding scientific achievements and excellence in science teaching.  These awards are the most prestigious and significant of their kind in Australia.  Each award comprises a solid embossed gold/silver engraved medallion, with matching lapel pins, and tax-exempt cash components totaling A$500,000.

• The Prime Minister's Prize for Science;
• The Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year;
• The Science Minister's Prize for Life Scientist of the Year;
• The Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools; and
• The Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools.

Nominations are now invited for these awards, which are offered to Australian citizens or those who hold permanent residence status in Australia.  Nominations must be made by nominators who are personally knowledgeable of the nominated achievements and who can offer expert opinions on its worth. Self nominations will not be considered.

Online Nominations: www.innovation.gov.au/scienceprizes

Expression of Interest: pmprize@innovation.gov.au

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March 2010 edition of Australian Private Equity & Venture Capital Journal

The March edition of Australian Private Equity & Venture Capital Journal reports on two divergent strategies being followed by special purpose private equity vehicles in the fast-changing Australian logistics sector.

The first is a $161 million deal to build a new force at the high volume low value add warehousing and trucking end of the sector, while the other is an ambitious plan to raise up to $100 million to roll up some of hundreds of small businesses at the low volume high value add international freight forwarding end of the sector.

Other articles in this month’s Australian Private Equity & Venture Capital include:

• AVCAL adds its voice to concerns over the federal government’s proposed changes to  the R&D incentives scheme.
• Existing  institutional  investors with a New Zealand funds manager on  average double their commitments to the manager’s new fund.
• A private  equity firm from the Netherlands invests in a listed  West Australian-based aquaculture company.
• Figures compiled by the Australian  Bureau of Statistics show private equity and venture capital funding inflows into Australia dropped by 19 per cent in  financial year 2008-09.
• Two draft  Australian Taxation Office determinations which might have implications on the  tax paid by overseas investors on private equity investments in  Australia are examined by a legal  specialist.
• The  Journal  speculates on what the planned $3.4 billion merger of Seven  Network Limited and Kerry Stokes’ privately owned Westrac might mean for US  private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts’ joint venture with Seven Network.

To subscribe to the Australian Private Equity & Venture Capital Journal, please go to www.privateequitymedia.com.au/subscribe

For more details about Private Equity Media, please visit www.privateequitymedia.com.au www.privateequitymedia.com.au

If you have any queries about subscribing, please contact Naomi Braham at naomi.braham@privateequitymedia.com.au  
Tel 03 8534 5003

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Own what you develop! - Practical steps to auditing the IP in your organisation

Many scientists and research managers will be fully aware of the value and importance of intellectual property in their organisations. Very few organisations reinforce this importance with regular IP audits. The beginning of the new year is usually the best time for an IP audit.  

An IP audit is often simpler than it sounds. IP will exist in a number of forms, and should be recorded in lists or schedules. Such schedules should include all available data such as the approximate dates of development, public release and commercial sale, who developed it, what the invention does, and if it has been protected. These schedules can be as simple as a spreadsheet, though may extend to very sophisticated IP management databases for larger companies. Once set up, they are not that difficult to maintain, and specialised support is also available to assist you.

IP in your organisation can include:

• Products and Processes. Any product or process that has a function may be protectable by a patent or trade secret. Objects with distinctive designs may be protected by a design registration.
• Brand names, Trade Marks and Domain names.Trade marks can be unregistered (i.e. used in commerce but not registered) or registered with IP Australia.
• Copyright.Copyright automatically protects creative works such as documents, websites, artistic designs including logos and artwork, databases, compilations, videos, product designs and concepts, and software.
• General Trade Secrets.This includes customer lists, supplier lists, standard processes etc. These should be regarded and managed as trade secrets, and may also be protected by copyright.
• Patent, Trade Mark & Software Licenses and Confidentiality Agreements.

Reasons for preparing these schedules include:

• Recording the return from your R&D efforts.IP schedules can help to show a tangible return from your R&D programs. Government grants increasingly recognise and reward IP outcomes.
• Providing legal support for IP disputes. Good records that help to prove what you did, and when you did it, can make a critical difference to the outcomes of IP disputes. They can also reduce your reliance on key staff who now may be working elsewhere. This is doubly important in the US, where the law assigns patent ownership on a ‘first to invent’ rather than ‘first to file’ basis. Laboratory notebooks and other dated records can support your ownership.
• Recognising and reviewing opportunities to secure registered IP rights such as patents, trade marks and designs.An all too common error with R&D staff is assuming a new invention cannot be protected because it is ‘obvious’, to them at least. If an invention is commercially valuable, consult a patent attorney regarding options for protection. Unless you are very knowledgeable about IP law, never make the assumption that something cannot be protected.
• Identifying ownership issues.Not all of the IP used by your company may actually belong to the company. In general, IP created by you or your employees as part of their defined role will belong to the organisation. Other IP may belong to its employees, contractors, suppliers and customers. If this IP is important to the business, you may be able to arrange to assign (buy) or license in this IP. A bigger risk is using external IP without a license, which may be a significant organisational risk. However if the risk is identified, it can then be managed. 

Want to know more? Griffith Hack Patent and Trade Mark attorneys and IP lawyers are always pleased to provide direct support and staff training, and to secure protection for your IP. Griffith Hack’s aim is to partner you through the provision of clear, commercially relevant and cost effective IP advice to help you achieve your commercial goals. For more information, visit the Griffith Hack website: www.griffithhack.com.au

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Conferences & Events

IP Business Strategy

Australian businesses stand to gain large-scale commercial benefit and competitive advantage from effective use and commercialisation of intellectual property.

Gain insight into how IP strategy can be used to identify new market opportunities, reduce expenditure, and increase revenue for your business at the IP Business Strategy event, taking place in Sydney from 31st May to 2nd June 2010.

Key benefits of attending this event include:

• Generate new income streams for your business by developing a strategy to exploit or license IP for commercial value
• Examine the emerging issues of content protection and access online and position your business to take advantage of social media opportunities
• Gain competitive advantage by strengthening your brand position and building strong IP coverage in new markets
• Reduce expenditure on your IP portfolio through an assessment of how IP assets are being used and which assets are generating value for your business
• Protect your brand and prevent loss of revenue by developing a strategy to prevent or reduce parallel importation and trade of counterfeit goods.

For the full agenda click here or visit www.IPBusinessStrategy.com.

Book Early to take advantage of Early Bird Rates by contacting Tonkin Corporation on 
02 9224 6000 or email registrations@TonkinCorporation.com

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Pathfinders 2010: The Innovators Conference

Challenge and Change: Sourcing Evidence to Tackle the Real Issues

26^th – 28^th May

Alice Springs Convention Centre

Why Attend?

• Now in its 12^th year recognised as the pre-eminent conference influencing innovation policy in Australia
• Mentoring Program for new CRC bids
• Discuss critical issues impacting the future direction of collaborative innovation
• Annually attracts 400-450 delegates comprising senior management
  from Cooperative Research Centres, Universities, CSIRO, Federal & State Governments

Pathfinders will explore:

• Which has the most influence on policy development – Evidence or Anecdote?
• How can policy makers find a balance within scientific opinion?
• National Intervention – based on Evidence or Anecdote
• Can policy makers see the world through a different lens?
• How can we maintain our own peak professional performance?
• Working together – is that where the answer lies?

Alice Springs offers a unique conference experience

• Incredible networking opportunities
• The ability to see cooperative research working at its best, and demonstrating that collaboration can occur anywhere!
• Partners of the Desert Knowledge CRC have been incorporated into the programme – experience how they collaborate and how the partnerships bring funds back into the local community
• Fantastic international speakers
• Experience unique cultural and social landscapes
• And touch base with others that cross your world in a location that lends itself to networking

Register Now!   www.crca.asn.au/conference

• Book early for cheaper flights as rates change weekly
• Students are encouraged to attend – feedback from 2009 – “It was a really valuable experience and will have a real and positive impact on my future career in research”.

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RACI 2010 — Chemistry for a Sustainable World

 

Melbourne Australia will be an exciting place for scientists in July 2010.

Chemistry for a Sustainable World is the focus of two major conferences that will be held together from 4th - 8th of July 2010 at the Melbourne Convention Centre:

 

The 13^th Royal Australian Chemical Institute’s National Convention, RACI 2010

In conjunction with

The 12th IUPAC International Congress of Pesticide Chemistry 

As the demand for energy, food, materials, resources and technology grows, and environmental stresses become increasingly apparent, there is an urgent need for new approaches to provide a sustainable future.  The 13th RACI National Convention will provide a cross-divisional forum for chemical scientists to present their latest work and discuss the directions that chemistry research, industry and education will take as we address these challenges. 

Themes & Plenary Speakers:

Chemistry Education & Community

Marcy Town, Purdue University, USA

Chemistry, Health & Wellbeing

Donald Hilvert, ETH, Zurich

New Technologies & Industry

John Blaker, University of Leeds, UK

Materials – from Nano to Macro

Energy & Green Chemistry

Hiroyuki Nishide, Waseda University, Japan

Measurement & Environmental Sustainability

Stephen Haswell, University of Hull, UK

Deadline for Abstract Submissions has been extended to Friday 16^th April 2010

Early Bird Registration closes on Monday 26^th April 2010

With a state-of-the-art conference venue, an internationally relevant scientific program, and outstanding invited speakers we offer to you a valuable opportunity to learn, network, contribute ideas, and provide leadership towards a sustainable future.

For more information and to register go to www.raci2010.org

                  

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3rd Victorian Sustainable Development Conference

The 3rd Victorian Sustainable Development Conference is to be held on May 25-26, 2010, at Zinc, Federation Square, Melbourne.

The Conference will be solution-oriented, bringing together key decision-makers from the private and public sectors, industry leaders, local government, scientists, conservationists and others to discuss ways in which to achieve real and lasting change in areas such as:

• Water
• Waste and resource recovery
• Energy efficiency
• Climate change response
• Planning and urban design
• Land remediation
• Air quality
• Human health
• Sustainable workplaces

Speakers include:

• Dr Kate Auty, Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability
• Anita Roper, Chief Executive Officer, Sustainability Victoria 
• Rob Freeman, Chief Executive, Murray-Darling Basin Authority
• Professor Chris Davis, Commissioner, National Water Commission
• Dr Deborah Peterson, Deputy Secretary, Policy & Strategy, Department of Primary Industries
• Kevin Love, Deputy Secretary, Department of Sustainability and Environment
• Clare McArdle, Executive Director, Melbourne @ 5 Million Integration Unit, Department of Planning and Community Development
• Fiona Calvert, Director, Sustainable and Active Transport Policy, Department of Transport
• Professor John Thwaites, Chairman, Monash Sustainability Institute
• Stuart McConnell, Director, Future Focus, EPA Victoria
• Brendan Sydes, Principal Solicitor, Environmental Defenders' Office
• Peter Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Deloitte Digital 
• Carl McCamish, Executive General Manager, Origin Energy
• John Hunt, Technical Manager, Thiess Services
• Louise Hicks, Partner, DLA Phillips Fox
• Dave Appels, Economist, Frontier Economics
• Erin Simpson, Sustainability Services Manager, Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Professor John Wilson, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Swinburne University/Spokesperson, Engineers Australia
• Professor John Fien, Innovation in Leadership Programme, RMIT
• Professor Ralph Horne, Director, Centre for Design, RMIT
• Dan Atkins, Managing Director, Shaper Group
• Chris Newman, Manager, Councils Reforming Business, Local Government, Department of Planning and Community Development
• Phil Hughes, Principal Consultant: Sustainability and Water Management, Halcrow
• Jennifer Williams, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Corporate Express 
• Mike Lloyd, IP Management Consultant, Griffith Hack Patent and Trademark Attorneys
• Donavan Marley, Research Scientist, CSIRO Land and Water

The Conference will also feature best practice case studies in the above areas, as well as addressing challenges of sustainability, and provide advice on how state and local government and business can truly achieve social, environmental and economic sustainability.

The price for registering to attend the two-day Conference is just $695.

To view the Agenda or to register, go to www.halledit.com.au/vsd2010 or contact Denise McQueen on (03) 8534 5021 or denise.mcqueen@halledit.com.au

Platinum Sponsor    

Gold Sponsor

 

Supporting Partner

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Positions Vacant

ResearchJobs

ResearchJobs is an email and website based service that lists advertisements for vacant research-related positions, scholarships, and fellowships, within the research and development, scientific and academic industries.

It is distributed straight to the desk top of over 11,000 researchers and management professionals within universities, CSIRO, research agencies and institutes, government departments and the private sector.

It is free to receive, with only a small cost to advertise.

For further information about advertising a position, contact Blake Duggin on 03 8534 5012 or blake.duggin@halledit.com.au

To subscribe or to view current positions go to www.researchjobs.net.au

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