News Alerts

NSW Budget funding for research

The New South Wales budget will invest $30 million in the state’s science and medical research base, including $10 million in new funding for the Science Leveraging Fund in 2010-11 and ongoing support for the Medical Research Support Program.

The NSW Government has so far invested $37.5 million over four years through the Science Leveraging Fund, linked with a further $392 million in cash investments from the Commonwealth and other sources.

Other science-related elements in the 2010-11 NSW Budget include:

• $5 million in funding to support the establishment of the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute to provide infrastructure support to underpin research activities in NSW;
• $1 million in funding to support life science researchers and companies to build their capabilities and international linkages.

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Victorian Premier’s Award for Health and Medical Research

The 2010 Victorian Premier’s Award for Health and Medical Research has been awarded to Dr Julia Archbold of the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at Monash University for her work in understanding why organs are rejected after transplant.

By looking at the interactions between the immune system and molecules on the transplanted tissue, Dr Archbold has shown that if the 3D structures of molecules on the transplanted tissue are different to that of the host, then the transplant may have a better survival rate.

Dr Archbold receied $16,000 in prize money and the Premier, John Brumby, also presented Monash University with the $30,000 Jack & Robert Smorgon Families Award. Three other Victorian young scientists received $8,000 Commendation awards at the ceremony. They are:

• Dr Radwa Badawy for her research into epilepsy using transcranial magnetic stimulation;
• Dr Benjamin Howdin for his work on the problematic superbug Golden Staph; and
• Dr Mark McKenzie for his research on how insulin-producing cells are destroyed in diabetes.

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New funding for stem cell research

The Australian Government will establish a $21 million Special Research Initiative in Stem Cell Science to build Australia’s capacity to conduct stem cell research.

The initiative will be administered by the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) will also invite applications for Centres for Research Excellence in Regenerative Medicine.

The ARC Special Research Initiative is now open for proposals. Funding will commence in July 2011 and be offered for up to seven years. For more information, visit www.arc.gov.au.

The NHMRC expects to seek proposals forCentres for Research Excellence, including those in regenerative medicine, in July. Funding will commence in 2011 and be offered for five years.

Applications for funding must be through an eligible Australian research institution.

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AusBiotech to manage biofuel investment

In another award under the Education Investment Fund, AusBiotech has been appointed to manage a new Federal Government project to boost research into second generation biofuels, with a $3 million investment. The “Sustainable Energy – Second Generation Biofuels Research Infrastructure EIF Project” will be undertaken at two pilot-scale production facilities established under the National Collaborative Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) program, which AusBiotech also manages.

AusBiotech will support the efforts of the two project participants - The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) - in the development of the facilities and be responsible for the overall management of the project.

QUT’s Mackay Renewable Biocommodities Pilot Plant (MRBPP) Facility will receive $1.765 million to purchase infrastructure to increase the range of capabilities they are able to offer researchers developing processes for the conversion of cellulosic biomass into renewable transport fuels (bioethanol) and high-value biocommodities.

SARDI will receive $1.235 million to expand their NCRIS Photobioreactor Facility to include additional photobioreactors, raceway ponds and a biodiesel plant for larger scale experiments into the production of biodiesel and other high value algae-derived products.

Both facilities aim to link innovations in product and process development with the assessment of commercial viability to enhance the uptake of these technologies in Australia. The infrastructure will be available to Australian and international researchers, but Australian public-sector researchers and small companies will receive substantial discounts to access these facilities.

The management agreement between AusBiotech and the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIISR) will extend to 31 Dec 2011.

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Funding awarded from Education Investment Fund

Universities and the CSIRO in Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland have been awarded funding under from round three and the sustainability round of the Education Investment Fund.

In Western Australia, CSIRO’s Sustainable Energy for SKA will build geothermal and solar power generation and distribution infrastructure at the Murchison Radio-Astronomy Observatory and the Pawsey High Performance Computing Centre in Perth – both part of Australia’s bid to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

A new Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre at the University of Western Australia will be constructed to house 240 researchers in the area of resource development and ecosystem management off Australia’s north-west coast.

In New South Wales, the University of Sydney will receive $40 million to establish the Australian Institute for Nanoscience (AIN).

The University of Wollongong will receive $25.1 million for a new facility to research ways to make existing buildings more energy-efficient.

In Queensland, Griffith University will receive $21 million to develop the Sir Samuel Griffith Centre at the Nathan campus. The Sir Samuel Griffith Centre will integrate business, engineering and environment science disciplines around a sustainability theme.

The University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus will receive $40.2 million to create a new Centre for Advanced Imaging and to enhance the current National Imaging Facility. The new National Imaging Facility capabilities will be established in four states and operated by a consortium of seven universities and research institutions, allowing greater collaboration and attracting strong international research and commercial collaborations.

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Collaborative Research Networks draft guidelines released

Draft guidelines for the new Collaborative Research Network (CRN) program have been released for comment by the higher education sector.

The CRN program, announced in the 2009-10 Budget, will provide $114.1 million over six years from 2010-11 to assist university researchers to work more closely together across institutions.

The initial round will provide up to $51 million from 2011 until mid 2013 to help less research-intensive smaller and regional universities develop their research capacity by teaming up with other institutions in areas of common interest.

Universities can provide comments on the draft guidelines until 15 June 2010.

The program guidelines will be finalised in time to allow eligible universities to apply for grants under the CRN program from July.

The draft guidelines are available at www.innovation.gov.au

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Announcements

2011 Awards and Grants - The Australian Academy of Science

2011 AWARDS AND GRANTS – THE AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

The Australian Academy of Science Honorific Awards for scientific excellence are made to early-career researchers under 40 years of age, and to career researchers for life-long achievements.

The Academy also supports research through the sponsorship of conferences that focus on rapidly developing fields of research; by awarding travelling fellowships for the exchange of scientific ideas; and providing grants to support research.

The Academy invites the following:

• 2011 HONORIFIC AWARDS

Nominations for Medals and Prizes for early-career and career researchers, including the new early-career Christopher Heyde Medal in the mathematical sciences

Website: http://www.science.org.au/awards/

Closing date – 30 July 2010

• 2011 TRAVELLING FELLOWSHIPS

Nominations for the Selby Fellowship in all fields of science for overseas scientists to visit Australia

Website: http://www.science.org.au/awards/awards/selby.html

Closing date – 31 August 2010

• 2011 MARGARET MIDDLETON FUND FOR ENDANGERED NATIVE AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS

Applications for funding for research in conservation biology

Website: http://www.science.org.au/awards/awards/conservation.htmlb

Closing date – 31 August 2010

• 2011 W H GLADSTONES POPULATION AND ENVIRONMENT FUND

Applications for funding for empirical research into how characteristics of Australia’s population are likely to affect our environment

Website: http://www.science.org.au/awards/awards/gladstone.html

Closing date – 31 August 2010

• 2011/12 RESEARCH CONFERENCES

Expressions of Intent to hold the following conferences in 2011/12:

• Boden Research Conferencein the biological sciences
• Fenner Conference on the Environment
• Elizabeth and Frederick White Research Conferencein the physical sciences

Website: http://www.science.org.au/awards/research-conferences.html

Closing date – 31 August 2010

Email enquiries to: awards@science.org.au

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Key Strategies for Market Survival

Harnessing your business’s ability to respond effectively to crisis, and maximising innovation opportunities is a key strategy for market survival.

Identifying and making the most of opportunities, while minimising threats, is a crucial challenge during tough economic times. Innovation is critical to business viability throughout a crisis and beyond.

Facing the crisis

There are various corporate responses to crises:

Protectionism

Some businesses aim to maintain core technologies and intellectual property (IP) along with core customers. There is little room for raw ideas or new directions.

✦The benefits: A profound understanding of a business’s core technologies and customers’ core concerns is critical to success in a crisis.

A review of existing IP can prove insightful.

✦The risks: Generally, crises favour disruption. Incumbent businesses that lock down may survive in the short-term, but will likely see trouble long-term.

Reductionism

Some businesses actively simplify their products, offering only basic services and technologies.

✦The benefits: Simplifying can free resources for innovating in key areas. Further, simplification can itself result in innovation. The resulting basic technologies may be valuable IP.

✦The risks: Over-simplification can mean a reduction in creativity. Simplification without preparing for opportunities will not lead to long-term viability.

Opportunism

Some businesses see opportunities for innovation and immediately grasp them. This is particularly true of new businesses.

✦The benefits: These businesses are prepared to exploit opportunities. With a solid market and a small l, focused IP protection plan, they can flourish.

✦The risks: Businesses without a known core technology or a stable customer base must fight to survive. This means keeping costs and charges low.

Strategic innovation succeed quickly

Businesses can’t always support technologies requiring years of pre-market lead time. To decrease lead time, businesses should allocate additional resources to critical developments. An IP review may reveal existing technologies that can be utilised to quickly create innovative businesses.

Fail cheaply

When businesses innovate they will sometimes fail. It’s important to keep costs of failure low. For example, a business can utilize internal resources for focus groups or trials.

Innovate reductively

Innovation does not necessarily result in new products – it can equally result in cost cutting and procedures that save time and resources. Such developments may be valuable IP.

Innovating through crisis

Harnessing a range of responses to crisis can help build businesses. A business that adapts their innovation programs to crisis will have a good chance of flourishing.

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

AIRG Southern Region Dinner Meeting

Southern Region Dinner Meeting

Managing IP in an Open Innovation Environment

Thursday 24 June 2010

6:00pm onwards

Libertine, North Melbourne

The Australasian Industrial Research Group (AIRG) will be holding a dinner meeting at Libertine, North Melbourne, with drinks from 6:00pm for 6:30pm start.

An after dinner talk will be given by Rob McInnes, Principal, Spruson & Ferguson on the subject of Managing IP in an Open Innovation Environment.

“Managing IP in an Open Innovation Environment” presents unique challenges. Rob will give insights and experiences on this increasingly important topic. Rob will highlight some of the issues related to greater implementation of “open innovation” to drive the commercial introduction of technologies across Australasian and Global innovation. Given the nature of Open Innovation, and with numerous players and organisations involved in any one open innovation environment, there can be greater potential for issues to emerge in the identification, control and ownership of intellectual property, in its various forms.

As well as a stimulating talk, we intend to have a lively after dinner discussion on Open Innovation.

For information about the speaker, see http://www.sprusons.com.au/profiles/robmcinnes.html

Registration for Non-AIRG Members: $135.00

(Note the capacity of the venue requires an attendance limit of 50 registrants at this meeting. Therefore please register early to assure your registration)

To register, please email your contact details to: airg@atse.org.au

For further information, please contact:

Ms. Anne Houston, AIRG Secretariat

Australasian Industrial Research Group

Telephone: 03 9864 0913

Fax: 03 9864 0930

Email: airg@atse.org.au

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AIRG 2010 Winter Conference

“The National Importance of Industrial R&D:

Measuring and Communicating the Impact in Australasia”

Hotel Realm, Canberra

Thursday 2 September, 2010

The meeting will describe identified best practices in the conduct of industrial R&D in Australia and New Zealand. It will consider metrics as applied to “take-up” of Industrial R&D outputs; point to how industrial R&D is best leveraging public sector research and R&D resources; understand the primary drivers for companies to conduct their R&D in Australasia, both today and into the future; and ask AIRG members what they would like to see as a future role of government that might best assist them to sustain and grow the role of Australasian industrial R&D.

Program Summary:

Wednesday 1 September

Dinner with invited Members of Parliament

Thursday 2 September

Session One:

What are the primary drivers that cause companies to decide to conduct industrial R&D in Australasia today? Does the R&D in SMEs and its impact on the technology supply chain to larger companies have an effect? What are likely future impacts?

Session Two:

How is Australasian industrial R&D best leveraging public sector research and R&D resources?

Session Three:

What use is made of metrics as applied to the “take-up” of Industrial R&D outputs in Australian and New Zealand industrial R&D, and elsewhere?

Session Four:

Discussion including considerations of what AIRG members would like to see as a future role of government that might assist the sustenance and growth of Australasian industrial R&D, and how AIRG should advocate these positions.

Please visit www.airg.org.au or email airg@atse.org.au for further details

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Local Government Sustainable Development Conference 2010

August 24 - 25th 2010, Dockside Convention Centre, Sydney

~ PROVIDING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ~

The Local Government Sustainable Development Conference 2010 is the leading sustainable development conference for local government, with CEOs, Mayors, Councillors and senior managers from local councils around Australia attending each year.

The national Conference will showcase leading edge examples of outstanding environmental initiatives by Australian local governments, including the winners of the Australian Sustainable Cities Award and the International Liveable Cities Awards as well as international best practice case studies.

Topics will include:

• Climate change and energy efficiency
• Integrating sustainability into economic imperatives
• Future directions for asset management
• Practical approaches to water management
• Sustainable planning and urban design
• Waste management and resource recovery
• Land remediation
• Community engagement in environmental initiatives
• Green purchasing and procurement

Invited speakers include:

• Chris Davis, Commissioner, National Water Commission
• Cr Paul Bell, President, Local Government Association of Queensland
• Professor Peter Newman, Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute
• Professor Gary Jones, Chief Executive, eWater CRC
• Kelly Pearce, Assistant Secretary, Waste Policy Branch, Department of Environment and Heritage
• Rod Welford, CEO, Australian Council of Recyclers
• Dave West, Founder, Boomerang Alliance
• Pete Williams, CEO, Deloitte Digital
• Ian Blair, Director, Quadraco Asia-Pacific
• Martin Brennan, Deputy CEO, ICLEI Oceania
• Tom Roper, President, Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council
• Wayne Wescott, Chair, Local Government Task Group, Green Building Council of Australia
• Dr Ralf Haese, Project Leader, Coastal Research and Management, Geoscience Australia
• Sean Rooney, Sustainability Program Manager, Sinclair Knight Merz
• Marcus Spiller, Director, SGS Economics and Planning
• Dan Atkins, Managing Director, Shaper Group
• Cr Angelo Tsirekas, Mayor, City of Canada Bay
• Shayne Silcox, Chief Executive Officer, City of Melville
• Bob Gaussen, Managing Director, Review Today Pty Ltd
• Percy Allan, Research Director, Review Today Pty Ltd
• Michele Leembruggen, 1200 Buildings Program Coordinator, City of Melbourne
• Colin Pitman, Director, City Projects, City of Salisbury
• Charles Turner, Manager Asset Management, Bayside City Council
• Greg Hunt, Executive Officer, South East Councils Climate Change Alliance

REGISTRATIONS

Register now by going to http://www.halledit.com.au/lgsd2010 or contact Denise McQueen on 03 8534 5021 or denise.mcqueen@halledit.com.au

SPONSORSHIP/EXHIBITION

For sponsorship and exhibition enquiries, contact Brian Rault on 03 8534 5014 or email brian.rault@halledit.com.au

PLATINUM SPONSOR

SUPPORTING PARTNER

NETWORKING DRINKS SPONSOR

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Positions Vacant

Position Vacant - Lecturer/Senior Lecturer for Faculty of Science

Salary for Lecturer $78K - $92K per year; for Senior Lecturer $95 - $109K per year plus up to 17% employer superannuation plus leave loading.

As part of a strategic initiative in the management and ecology of wetlands and rivers, the Australian Wetlands and Rivers Centre (AWRC), within the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, is appointing an individual in remote sensing and analysis of river and wetland systems.

BEES is a large and multi-disciplinary school in the Faculty of Science at the University of New South Wales. The school incorporates a range of environmentally relevant disciplines enabling the School to undertake comprehensive education and research in the broad fields of Biology, Ecology, Marine Science, Geography and Geology.

The appointee will be expected to build a research program in the use of remote sensing and GIS and its application to the management and analysis of river and wetland systems, to teach in remote sensing and GIS, ecology and landscape ecology and to supervise Honours and postgraduate students with interests in wetland and river ecology and management. Preference may be given to applicants whose research involves analysis of large scale systems and experience of diverse remote sensing platforms. Applicants need to demonstrate track record in quantitative analysis.

This position is for three years with provision for conversion to a continuing position, subject to School requirements and satisfactory performance.

Candidates holding existing ARC fellowships and/or research grants, as well as those who are able to form synergistic interactions with existing UNSW research groups, are encouraged to apply. Women and people from EEO groups are encouraged to apply.

Applicants should systematically address the selection criteria in their application.

Having read all the documentation you may then direct any enquiries to Professor Richard Kingsford on telephone (+61 2) 9385 3442 or email richard.kingsford@unsw.edu.au

To view a position description and to apply on line please click HERE

Applications close 30 June, 2010.

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Principal Environmental Scientist - 2IC

Specialist consultants in the Environmental industry in Perth, this international consultancy has an established track record spanning 25 years.

As their Perth operations continue to gain momentum, the Managing Principal for Australia requires a 2IC to help drive the Perth operations.

As a Principal Environmental Consultant you will enjoy a flat management structure and have the scope and support to develop your team in the way you see fit. Working with an established list of resources clients, you will be the technical lead as well as actively involved in operational responsibilities.

As expected, an established track record in the local consulting market as well as proven excellence in the delivery of innovative, solutions focused projects is essential.

Work within a friendly team focused atmosphere and receive a market leading salary with strong opportunity for career development, healthy bonuses and job satisfaction.

Further information is available here.

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