News Alerts

NSW reviews impacts of federal policies on research

The New South Wales government is undertaking a review of the impact of Commonwealth Government research funding reforms on research in New South Wales, and in particular on health and medical research.

The Commonwealth reforms, announced over the past four months, include

• Changes to research infrastructure funding support available to universities through the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research and to medical research institutes through the National Health and Medical Research Council; and
• National health reforms announced by the Federal Government, including a commitment to fund 60% of the recurrent costs of research and training undertaken in public hospitals.

A discussion paper has been released and submissions are due by Friday 7 May. More information is at www.osmr.nsw.gov.au

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NSW awards lure top medical researchers

The New South Wales government has awarded $800,000 in funding In the latest round of the Life Sciences Research Awards, established to entice leading medical scientists to New South Wales.

Four researchers have been awarded funding, which will be matched by the institutions hosting them. They are:

• Dr Matthias Klugmann, University of NSW, whose research into the underlying mechanisms in neurological and psychiatric conditions such as chronic depression will translate into improved treatments.

• Dr. Darren Saunders, Garvan Institute, whose research into functional genomics will develop treatments and improve patient rates for multiple cancerous tumours.

• Professor David Ryugo, Garvan Institute, whose research into the mechanics of hearing has the potential to result in new treatments for tinnitus and help discriminate speech from background noise, both of which are significant problems in age-related hearing loss.

• Dr Ravinay Bhindi, North Shore Heart Research Group at the Kolling Institute, whose research into surgery for coronary artery bypass vein graft disease will assess whether a new technique can reduce injury during cardiac surgical procedures to improve patient survival rates.

More information on the Awards is at www.osmr.nsw.gov.au

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New Science and Innovation minister for WA

Western Australia has a new Minister for Science and Innovation, following the resignation of Troy Buswell, who held the portfolio along with Treasurer and Minister for Housing and Works.

The new Minister for Commerce; Science and Innovation; and Housing and Works is Bill Marmion, Member for Nedlands. Mr Marmion is an engineer by training and a former state government executive. He was elected to Parliament in 2008.

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Collaboration to improve scientific information for coastal planning

CSIRO and the Curtin University of Technology have launched an $11 million collaboration focused on ways to present and communicate scientific resultsl to people who make complex decisions about the future of our coasts.

Researchers will use techniques such as Google Earth and custom-built animations to visualise research data and phenomena like sea-level rise. They will collaborate with a wide range of people who make decisions about the future of our coast, including scientists, local, state and federal governments, non-government organisations, indigenous leaders and the community.

The research will extend across vulnerable coastal regions from Mandurah in Western Australia to the Derwent-Huon region in Tasmania and through to south-east Queensland.

The three-year project is a collaboration between the Curtin University of Technology, the University of Adelaide, Deakin University, Flinders University, the University of the Sunshine Coast, the University of Tasmania, the University of Wollongong and CSIRO’s Wealth from Oceans and Climate Adaptation Flagships.

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Biopharmaceuticals facility for Queensland

The Federal and Queensland governments have entered an agreement with international drug manufacturer DSM Biologics to operate Australia’s first major contract manufacturing facility for biologic drugs and therapeutics.

The $62 million facility is being built in partnership with Queensland Government-owned BioPharmaceuticals Australia, and will be located with the Translational Research Institute on the Princess Alexandria Hospital campus in Brisbane.

The Queensland Government has provided $7 million in seed funding for the facility under its ten-year Biotechnology Strategic Plan and the Commonwealth is investing $10 million. The remaining $45 million will come from the Translational Research Institute funding pool, which includes $140 million from the Commonwealth and $100 million from the Queensland Government, along with contributions from philanthropic and institutional partners.

The Translational Research Institute, headed by the inventor of Gardasil, Professor Ian Frazer, will open in 2012, with the BioPharmaceuticals Australia facility expected to begin manufacturing by 2013.

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New Centre for Energy Efficient Telecommunications for Melbourne

A new $10 million Centre for Energy Efficient Telecommunications (CEET) will be established at the University of Melbourne, in collaboration with communication services company Alcatel-Lucent. The Centre will involve Alcatel-Lucent’s research arm Bell Labs and the University of Melbourne, and will focus on reducing the energy consumption of telecommunications networks.

The Centre will employ at least 22 new Victorian researchers, including 11 PhD research positions over the next three years.

Melbourne University has been involved in the Bell Labs-led global initiative, GreenTouch, that is aimed at reducing the energy consumption of communications networks. With a broader research scope, CEET will complement the GreenTouch initiative, whose founding members include the Institute for a Broadband Enabled Society (IBES), the University of Melbourne, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Huawei, Telefonica, AT&T, China Mobile and Freescale Semiconductor.

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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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The Innovation Patent System

Australia’s unique Innovation Patent System came into force in 2001. Recently an increasing number of patentees have been relying on the innovation patent system to enforce their rights, as it provides strategic advantages. Importantly, an innovation patent provides the same exclusive rights and remedies as a standard patent, but with a lower threshold for inventiveness.

Main Features

The distinguishing features of an innovation patent are:

• a maximum eight year term;
• a maximum of five claims;
• a lower level of inventiveness than for a standard patent: inventions are only required to have an ‘innovative step’ rather than an ‘inventive step’; and
• no pre-grant opposition.

Innovative Step Test

The most important feature of the innovation patent is the lower threshold test for ‘inventiveness’. Unlike a standard patent, an innovation patent need not involve an inventive step, only an ‘innovative’ step.

An invention is taken to involve an innovative step unless the invention would - to a person skilled in the relevant art - vary from prior art only in ways that make no substantial contribution to the working of the invention. It has recently been confirmed by the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia that the test for ‘innovative step’ is a different and less onerous test than the test for an ‘inventive step’ (obviousness): Dura-Post (Aust) Pty Ltd v Delnorth Pty Ltd [2009] FCAFC 81. Importantly, the Court indicated that obviousness has no relevance in determining whether the invention involves an innovative step. Basically, provided an invention is novel and differs from the prior art in a significant respect, then it is also likely to involve an innovative step.

Strategies for Filing Innovation Patents

• File and certify a divisional innovation patent while the parent application is still pending in order to have an immediately enforceable right.
• Make the claims of the innovation patent as broad as possible (i.e. just novel over the known prior art), and pursue the more “realistic” claims in the parent application.
• File a (or another) divisional innovation patent just before the parent application is granted
• the innovation patent’s claims can be tailored to capture an infringer at a later stage.

Significance for Enforcement Strategies

We have recently acted for numerous clients who have taken advantage of the innovation patent system when seeking to enforce their rights. The advantages include:

• an innovation patent can be divided out of a pending standard application and, once certified, can immediately be enforced;
• unlike standard patents, there is no pre-grant opposition which means a potential infringer cannot commence an opposition in order to delay enforcement;
• the lesser standard of inventiveness may mean an innovation patent is more likely to survive a cross-claim for invalidity by the infringer.

Want to know more? Griffith Hack Patent and Trade Mark attorneys and IP lawyers are always pleased to provide direct support with the 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

Eco Innovation Forum

Eco Innovation Forum

25 May 2010 Sydney

Eco Innovation Forum is about commercializing environmental technologies and business ideas. It brings together environmental innovators, entrepreneurs and investors.

12 speakers will talk about raising venture capital, finding angel and high net worth investors, government grants, intellectual property, capital raising on the ASX, and what's happening in overseas cleantech markets.

The Forum will be one of the best ever events for environmental entrepreneurs and business people to hear, meet and network with some of most experienced early stage environmental investors and business builders in Australia.

These include two venture capital firms: CVC Ltd, which manages Australia's first cleantech venture funds, CVC REEF and CVC Sustainable Investments; and OneVentures, Australia's newest Innovation Investment Fund with $40 million to invest. Three entrepreneurs at the Forum will each have the chance to win a two hour one-on-one working session to pitch and discuss their business with the managing director of OneVentures, Michelle Deaker.

The Forum has five angel investor networks presenting: AusFirst Angels, BSI, Strategon Capital, Australian Small Scale Offerings Board, and Sydney Angels. Each network represents different investors and has a different business model and entrepreneurs can learn from the experiences of all of them.

Other presenters are: IP law firm Griffith Hack, Austrade, Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and the Australian Solar Institute.

There will also be many investor groups among the delegates.

The Forum is $165 and includes a networking lunch.

The Forum website is Here

The Forum brochure is Here

You can register online Here

The Forum is presented by Eco Investor, Australia's specialist environmental investment magazine. It is sponsored by CVC Sustainable Investments, AusFirstAngels, Industry & Investment NSW, Austrade, and BSI, and is part of the 2010 Australian Innovation Festival.

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Pathfinders 2010: The Innovators Conference

26^th – 28^th May, Alice Springs Convention Centre

Why Should You Attend Pathfinders 2010?

This year you’re probably attending several conferences. Here’s why the CRC Association recommends you attend Pathfinders.

Policy Development Opportunities
The major focus of the conference will be the vital issue of evidence vs anecdote: what really pushes the buttons of policy makers be they industrial or political. Is it the passionate speaker who leads the thought process, or is it the scientist with the peer-reviewed facts?

Key Speakers
Keep up to date with the Conference Program here

Mr Paul Henderson, Chief Minister, NT
Opening Address

Clare Martin, CEO, Australian Council of Social Service
The Struggle To Find The Balance Between Important Policy Changes & Political Reality

Mr David Kalisch, Commissioner, Productivity Commission
Building Evidence & Being Influential in Public Policy

Professor Barney Glover, VC, Charles Darwin University
Fostering & Developing Collaboration Strategies: An NT Perspective

Benefits of CRCs

• CRCs are Instrumental in promoting public-private research partnerships
• CRCs promote collaboration between universities and industry
• CRCs help translate great ideas from universities, public research agencies, and innovative firms into money-making products and services
• Over 1,230 companies large and small involved in research collaborations via CRCs last financial year – with the small outnumbering the large by nearly two to one
• CRCs are involved in 448 international alliances and hold 465 overseas patents and 201 Australian patents
• Last year >280 postgraduates were awarded degrees – 2/3^rds receiving PhDs, and all of them enriched by their exposure to the real world of industry through CRCs
• It is an Iconic program of the Australian Innovation System, maintaining high standards for 19 years
• Government has invested $3 billion in CRCs since the program began and intends to invest another $682 million over the next four years

Industry Links

Pathfinders 2010 presents a rare opportunity for innovation to thrive due to the vast melting pot of expertise and interest. When industry and government talk to each other the results can be impressive.

Your personal knowledge, experience and interests coupled with others will pollinate new ideas. Social events more than conference sessions, offer a low barrier of entry to talk to like-minded people.

Sessions are designed to make you think, and the speakers at Pathfinders will ensure you do just that. Pathfinders conferences are designed to make you think together. That’s what they’re all about - collaborative innovation. Every speaker and every session is relevant to that concept.

So come to Pathfinders 2010 to teach, to learn, to play and most importantly to make things happen collaboratively.

You + Networking = Tomorrow’s Innovation Today

Register now! to ensure your place at the conference

Further information is available on the website or by calling Caroline Jones, PCC Event Management on +61 2 8677 3428.

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GreenTech 2010 - Where innovators and investors meet!

Regardless of whether Australia ends up with a carbon tax or a cap and trade emissions trading scheme, ultimately Australia is committed to reducing emissions and building a sustainable ‘green’ economy.

GreenTech 2010 offers a unique opportunity to evaluate the most promising high-growth cleantech sectors; gauge industry experts, innovators and investors’ views; gain clarity on the direction of our CPRS legislation and better understand the direction of carbon markets, taxes and the greentech trade and investment opportunities.

Featuring a faculty of top local and international speakers, GreenTech 2010 brings together policymakers, economists, investors, financiers and industry stakeholders to discuss and debate the key socio-political implications and business and investment opportunities in cleantech and carbon markets.

By registering, delegates will be able to connect with the key stakeholders shaping Australia’s rapidly growing green business and technology sector... all together, under one roof.

By attending, delegates will:

• meet and learn from clean technology innovators, solution providers, investors and expert advisers
• receive detailed information about forthcoming legislative changes and new programmes to expand our cleantech industry, promote efficiency in our energy, transport and infrastructure grids
• get expert advice, support and assistance in evaluating the trade and investment opportunities in clean technologies
  

Key issues addressed include:

• Government initiatives
• Debt markets
• Equity investment
• Investment opportunities
• Institutional investors
• Venture capital
  

Full programme and speaker details are available at: www.acevents.com.au/greentech2010

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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

Director - eResearch SA

University of Adelaide, South Australia Salary: Level SM1/C6, $106,539 - $110, 929 per annum or salary commensurate with employee qualifications and experience (plus 17% superannuation and salary packaging options)

eResearch SA seeks to appoint a dynamic Director who has the vision to transform research practices in South Australia. Based at the University of Adelaide, eResearch SA is a collaborative joint venture between the University of Adelaide, Flinders University and the University of South Australia. It was established in 2007 to provide eResearch support, training, and infrastructure for South Australia's vibrant research community.

As Director you will have exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills, a strong record of innovative achievement as a leader, and a demonstrated knowledge and awareness of state and national eResearch agendas. Suitably qualified and experienced professionals with a demonstrated understanding of the underlying technologies, solutions and support required in this key leadership role should apply.

This fixed term position is available from 1 July 2010 for a period of 3 years in the first instance.

Further information is available here.

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Professor - Chair in Coastal Science - University of Waikato

Location - Hamilton New Zealand

Reference Number - 300083

The University is seeking to fill a professorial level position to provide academic leadership of the highest order through research, teaching and administration, in the area of coastal and estuarine science and management. The position is funded by Environment Bay of Plenty.

General responsibilities will be to provide leadership for multi-disciplinary research on coastal and estuarine science and management, which would contribute to the establishment and development of an Environmental Research Institute

The successful applicant will have high level expertise and extensive experience in coastal science, with specific expertise in at least two of the following areas:

• Coastal marine and estuarine ecosystem structure, function and processes
• Management of coastal marine and estuarine ecosystems, particularly the land-water margin
• Coastal engineering relating to surf beaches, shipping channels, canals, marine transport and port dredging
• Commercial and recreational fisheries, aquaculture

If the candidate is not an ecologist, a demonstrated ability to work with ecologists is essential. Experience in working leading, or working within multi-disciplinary teams would be advantageous.

It is expected that the successful applicant will maintain a close and collaborative working relationship with Environment Bay of Plenty – The Regional Territorial Authority for the Bay of Plenty coastal zone.

We are looking for a person with an outstanding record of research and scholarship who can lead, supervise and undertake research programmes and attract external funding. The appointee will be expected to supervise postgraduate students and to contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.

A suitable remuneration package will be available to the right candidate.

Further information is available here.

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