News Alerts

Second exposure draft of R&D tax incentive legislation released

A second exposure draft of the legislation for the new R&D tax incentive has been released by the Federal Government.

The modifications to the legislation include a revised definition of core R&D that uses clearer language and dispenses with a range of overlapping tests.  The Government has also decided not to extend the exclusions list to supporting activities and to narrow the scope of activities to which the new dominant purpose test will apply. 

The second exposure draft also takes a new approach to software R&D.  Generally, software R&D will be subject to the same rules as all other kinds of R&D, but will be subject to a more targeted exclusion for certain in-house software.

The Government still expects the new R&D tax incentive to start from 1 July 2010.  Legislation for the new scheme will be introduced in the next sittings of Parliament. 

Submissions on revised tax incentive legislation are required by Monday, 19 April 2010.  The exposure draft legislation and explanatory materials can be found on the Treasury website www.treasury.gov.au

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CSIRO to appear before the Public Works Committee

The Public Works Committee is conducting an inquiry into the proposed Pawsey High Performance Computing Centre for Square Kilometre Array, proposed by CSIRO, in Kensington, Perth.

The $66 million proposal would provide a new purpose-built building to house the Centre, as well as the high-performance computer system and associated infrastructure. The proposal would give Australia a supercomputer amongst the top twenty worldwide, for use in radio astronomy as well as nanotechnology, biotechnology and geoinformatics.

Submissions to the inquiry close on 9 April, and a the Committee will hold a public hearing in Perth on 16 April.

More information is on the Committee website at http://www.aph.gov.au/pwc

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Lucas Heights under Parliamentary scrutiny

The House of Representatives Public Works Committee is conducting an inquiry into a proposed Centre for Accelerator Science and extensions to other facilities for the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) at Lucas Heights, NSW.

The project, estimated to cost $62.5 million, proposes to construct a new building for the Centre for Accelerator Science, as well as extensions to the OPAL reactor building and Bragg Institute. The new Centre is proposed to enhance Australia's capacity for research into climate and environmental science, nuclear safeguards and forensics, materials science, human history, medical physics and radiation physics.

The extensions will enable expansion of existing programmes with neutron beam instruments, as well as providing centralised accommodation for reactor operations staff.

The Public Works Committee is responsible for ensuring that the need, cost and scope proposed is appropriate. Public submissions have been called for, and a public hearing will be held in Sydney on April 9.

Further information is on the Committee website http://www.aph.gov.au/pwc or contact the Committee Secretariat on 0434 567 521.

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New water data transfer format developed

CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology have developed a new data transfer format which enables the Bureau to produce a clearer picture of Australia’s water resources.

Developed jointly by CSIRO’s Water for a Healthy Country Flagship and the Bureau’s Water Division, the web-based Water Data Transfer Format (WDTF) provides the Bureau with the means to more efficiently collect and process the 6 million data files of water resource information supplied by more than 200 organisations over the past 12 months.

Data providers currently use a variety of methods ranging from mature data management systems to ad hoc spreadsheets to manage this information.

The format specifies a standard encoding for information about groundwater observations, transfers of water between storages, observation sites and samples, water quality, channel profiles and time-series streamflow observations, as well as conversion tables.

It also includes an information model that can capture business rules associated with the data. This provides a powerful mechanism to support validation of data provided to the Bureau.

The Bureau’s Assistant Director Water Data Services, Tony Boston, said the WDTF is now the Bureau’s preferred format for water data delivery and is being promoted as the standard format for data transfer.

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Oceans Institute launched

The University of Western Australia has established an Oceans Institute, bringing together expertise from across the University and the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences (AIMS).

The objectives of the Institute are:

• To provide research and services to underpin sustainable development and management of marine habitats and resources in the Indian Ocean and the coastal region and offshore waters of Western Australia.
• To foster and promote multi-disciplinary marine related research across traditional science, engineering and policy boundaries.
• To provide a focal point for quality training of postgraduate students in ocean research.

For further information about the Institute go to www.oceans.uwa.edu.au  

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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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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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Products & Services

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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Positions Vacant

Executive Level 1 - Assistant Director - NHMRC

National Health and Medical Research Council

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Deputy Chief Executive & Director, Health Systems Reports - Bureau of Health Information

Bureau of Health Information

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ResearchJobs

ResearchJobs is a weekly email service that lists new positions available within the research and development sector throughout Australia. It also includes details of scholarships, awards and grants available.

The ResearchJobs email employment service is distributed every Friday and is free to receive, but there is a small cost to advertise.

With a distribution of over 13,000 emails direct to subscribers a week plus over 2,500 hits a day on the website, ResearchJobs is the best way to find the right applicant for your Research & Development job.

For further information or to advertise please contact Blake Duggin on (03) 8534 5012 blake.duggin@halledit.com.au or Jeanné Alexander (03) 8534 5024 jeanne.alexander@halledit.com.au

To subscribe to ResearchJobs go to www.researchjobs.net.au

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