News Alerts

Draft legislation for R&D Tax Credit released

Draft legislation for the new R&D Tax Credit was released before Christmas, providing the basis for the new system that will replace the R&D Tax Conession.

Under the new R&D Tax Credit, companies can claim a tax offset of at least 40 per cent of their expenditure on R&D activities, rising to 45 per cent for companies with a turnover of less than $20 million. The R&D Tax Credit will be administered by the Innovation Australia Board for the purposes of registering and assessing eligible R&D activity, but the system will operate largely on a self-assessment basis.

The exposure draft legislation follows the consultation paper released in September 2009.

The legislation is expected to be introduced into Parliament in early 2010 with a proposed 1 July 2010 start date for the new scheme.

Submissions on the exposure draft legislation and explanatory materials are due by Friday, 5 February 2010. The exposure draft legislation and explanatory materials can be found on the Treasury website www.treasury.gov.au.

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New appointments to ARC Advisory Council

Professor Emeritus David Siddle, Affiliate Researcher with the University of Queensland, and Professor Robyn Owens, Pro Vice-Chancellor of The University of Western Australia, have been appointed to the ARC Advisory Council.  They replace retiring members, Professor Margaret Seares and Professor Arun Sharma.

The Advisory Council, which has now been in operation for two years, provides advice to the Chief Executive Officer of the ARC on strategic issues relating to the mission of the ARC, including strategic planning; policy matters relating to innovation, research and research training; and matters relating to the evaluation of the quality and outcomes of research and research training in an international context.  It is chaired by the the CEO of the ARC, Professor Margaret Sheil.

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2010 CRC Selection round announced

The 13th Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program selection round was opened by Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, on 16 December 2009.

Two key priority areas are Manufacturing Innovation and Social Innovation, although applications from all sectors and research disciplines are invited. Information sessions will be conducted in February and March. Applications are due by Friday 2 July 2010.

More information is at www.crc.gov.au.

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2009 CRC funding round announced

The latest selection round of the Cooperative Research Centres Program, announced in December, has funded seven CRC with a total Commonwealth contribution of $130 million.

The successful CRCs are:

• CRC for Advanced Composite Structures ($14 million): will connect Australian small and medium enterprises in manufacturing, materials supply and engineering to international value chains.
• CRC for Infrastructure and Engineering Asset Management ($12 million): to increase the availability, productivity and useful life of defence assets (including combat aircraft and ships), and of railways and power and water utilities.
• CRC for Environmental Biotechnology ($4 million): to commercialise biotechnologies that use natural biological systems to transform waste into useful products and green energy, and rapid microbial monitoring platforms.
• CRC for Optimising Resource Extraction ($17.5 million): to transform mineral deposit evaluation and extraction, to enlarge Australia’s mineral resource and generate a more sustainable mining industry.
• CRC for Remote Economic Participation ($32.5 million): to support the Government’s commitment to close the gap on Aboriginal disadvantage and develop economically sustainable communities in remote areas.
• Wound Management Innovation CRC ($28 million): to improve wound healing and quality of life for people with wounds, and provide cost-effective wound care that lessens burdens on our healthcare system.
• Vision CRC ($22 million): extension funding for five years, to deliver new vision care treatments and products for sufferers of eye problems like myopia and cataracts.

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Inquiry into international research collaboration

Submissions to the House of Representatives Industry, Science and Innovation Committee inquiry into international research collaboration are due by close of business this Friday.

The inquiry was referred to the Committee by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Kim Carr, on 25 November last year. The terms of reference require that it report on:

• The nature and extent of existing international research collaborations.
• The benefits to Australia from engaging in international research collaborations.
• The key drivers of international research collaboration at the government, institutional and researcher levels.
• The impediments faced by Australian researchers when initiating and participating in international research collaborations and practical
  measures for addressing these.
• Principles and strategies for supporting international research engagement.

A schedule of public hearings is expected to be announced shortly.

More information about the inquiry is at http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/isi/intresearch/index.htm

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Space Industry Innovation Council announced

The membership of the Federal Government’s new Space Industry Innovation Council has been announced.

The Council will be chaired by Dr Rosalind Dubs, formerly Deputy Vice-chancellor (External Relations) at the University of Technology, Sydney.

Members include:

• Mr Brett Biddington, Chair, Australian Space Industry Chamber of Commerce (ASICC)
• Mr Chris Jenkins, Managing Director, Thales Australia
• Mr Paul Sheridan, Director Satellites, Optus
• Dr Terry Stevenson, Chief Technology Officer, Raytheon Australia
• Dr Ben Greene, Chief Executive Officer, Electro Optic Systems Holdings Limited
• Rob Lorimer, Position One consulting
• Dr Susan Anderson, R&D Tax Concession Manager, BAE Systems
• Dr Philip Diamond, Chief, CSIRO Astronomy & Space Sciences Division
• Professor Peter Hall, Professor of Radio Astronomy Engineering and Director of the Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy
• Professor Andrew Parfitt, Pro Vice Chancellor, Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment, University of South Australia
• Ms Naomi Mathers, Research Scientist & Program Developer, Victorian Space Science Education Centre
• Dr David Nayagam, Astronaut candidate with the European Space Agency
• Dr Roger Lough, former Chief Defence Scientist
• Dr Sue Barrell, Observations and Engineering Branch, Bureau of Meteorology
• Dr Chris Pigram, Chief of Division, Geospatial and Earth Monitoring Division, Geoscience Australia
• Dr Michael Green, General Manager Innovation and Space, Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.

The inaugural meeting of the council will be held in February. Dr Dubs said the year’s work would focus on earth observation, satellite communications and navigation, and the implications arising from the Defence White Paper and the National Security Science and Innovation Strategy.

More information at www.innovation.gov.au.

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Commercialisation Australia accepting applications

Commercialisation Australia, the Federal Governments new $196 million innovation support program, is now open to receive applications.

The program will offer grants to researchers, entrepreneurs and innovative firms on a co-contribution basis, including:

• Up to $50,000 to pay for specialist advice and services; 
• Up to $200,000 over two years to engage experienced executives; 
• Proof of Concept grants up to $250,000 to test the commercial viability of a new product, process or service; and 
• Early Stage Commercialisation repayable grants up to $2 million to develop a new product, process or service to the stage where it can be taken to market.

To guide applicants, a pre-application checklist at www.commercialisationaustralia.gov.au provides details on eligibility and merit criteria. There is no deadline for submitting applications.

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Fund managers selected for Innovation Investment Follow-on Fund

Eleven fund managers have been allocated a total of $64 million under the Australian Government’s Innovation Investment Follow-on Fund (IIFF) program to assist 35 early stage companies to continue development and commercialization of new technologies.

The IIFF was announced in March 2009 as part of the governments response to the global recession, and the 35 companies had previously received investment capital through the first two rounds of the Innovation Investment Fund, the Pre-Seed Fund and the former ICT Incubators programs.

The fund managers are:

• Allen & Buckeridge Asset Management Ltd, Sydney, NSW
• AMWIN Management Pty Ltd, Sydney, NSW
• Coates Myer and Company Pty Ltd, Brisbane, Qld
• Divergent Capital Partners Pty Ltd, Lilyfield, NSW
• GBS Venture Partners Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Vic 
• iQ Fund 3, Bundall, Gold Coast, Qld
• In-tellinc Pty Ltd, Sandy Bay, Tas
• Neo Technology Ventures, North Sydney, NSW 
• Playford Capital Pty Ltd, Adelaide, SA
• Starfish Ventures Pty Ltd, East Melbourne, Vic
• Start-up Australia Ventures Pty Ltd, Sydney

For more information visit www.ausindustry.gov.au

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NHMRC approves clinical trials involving animal to human transplantation

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has announced that clinical trials involving animal to human transplantation (xenotransplantation) will be allowed to proceed, when stringent regulatory and surveillance frameworks have been put in place.

NHMRC Chairman, Professor Michael Good, said the Council, in making its recommendation, had noted the developments in science and technology since 2004, and in particular evidence relating to the risks of transmission of animal viruses.

“After careful consideration, the Council is of the view that, although there is a wide range of community views on the topic, xenotransplanation research was acceptable in Australia when there are robust regulations in place,” Professor Good said.

“Council has taken into account a range of issues including the risk of viral transmission and the evidence available on the safety of the therapy for individuals and the wider community.”

NHMRC CEO, Professor Warwick Anderson AM, said that as with other medical technologies, the process for testing new procedures through clinical trials can take many years and involve several phases.

“Trials would be able to proceed once ethical approval has been given and the Therapeutic Goods Administration has implemented a robust framework to regulate clinical trials involving xenotransplantation,” Professor Anderson said.

“Further the NHMRC, using the advice of its Australian Health Ethics Committee and Animal Welfare Committee, would now develop guidance for researchers and ethics committees involved in animal-to-human studies.

“The NHMRC will also work with the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) to determine appropriate surveillance and monitoring frameworks to support clinical trials going forward.”
International experience has largely been in the area of using insulin-producing cells from a pig pancreas to treat a person with type 1 diabetes.

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Announcements

Postdoctoral and Invitational Fellowships in Japan 2010

The Australian Academy of Science, in association with the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), invites applications from Australian researchers to undertake Postdoctoral and Invitational Fellowships in Japan. Postdoctoral Fellowships are for a period of twelve to twenty-four months; Invitational Fellowships are either short term, for fourteen to sixty days, or long term, for two to ten months.

Researchers in any field of natural sciences, including technology, engineering and medicine may apply.

Applications in the humanities and social sciences are also accepted but ONLY for the Postdoctoral Fellowships. Medical doctors without a doctorate are not eligible to apply for the Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Applications close on Friday 5 February 2010.

Please see website for information and guidelines.

Postdoctoral Fellowships: http://www.science.org.au/internat/jspspd.htm
Invitational Fellowships (short term): http://www.science.org.au/internat/jspsfst.htm
Invitational Fellowships (long term): http://www.science.org.au/internat/jspsflt.htm

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Grants for international travel: International Science Linkages — Science Academies Program

The Australian Academy of Science is inviting applications from professional scientists to visit Europe, North America (Canada, USA and Mexico) and North East Asia (China, Korea and Taiwan) between 1 July 2010 and 31 March 2011 to collaborate with researchers in those countries.

Proposals in any field of natural science, basic and applied, including mathematics and engineering science, will be considered.

Applicants must propose a collaborative research project, or a specific activity, which has been developed in consultation with host scientists. Under this scheme applicants can request travel support to access international leading-edge small to medium research facilities and equipment.

Support will not be provided for costs associated with the use of these facilities or when the purpose if the visit is to attend a conference. The duration of the visits must be between 14 and 40 days.
This project is supported by the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research’s International Science Linkages – Science Academies Program.

Information, deadlines and application forms are available on the web site: http://www.science.org.au/internat/programs.htm  

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Funding to stage strategically significant international conferences in Australia

The Sir Mark Oliphant Conferences – International Frontiers of Science and Technology provide financial support to stage conferences in Australia on high priority, cutting edge, multi-discxxiplinary themes.

Applications for funding to hold conferences between 1 July 2010 and 30 June 2011 are invited. Each conference can be supported up to $90,000.

Two conferences will be managed on behalf of the Australian Government, one by the Australian Academy of Science and one by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

Guidelines, information and application forms can be found at www.oliphant.org.au

Applications open 1 February 2010. Deadline: 12 March 2010

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Expression of Interest: Research & Development Projects

Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW) manages water related services including storage, delivery and drainage systems within a region of 68,000 square kilometres across Northern Victoria. G-MW’s Research & Development (R&D) program is calling for projects which will address our investment priorities, generate innovative ideas, mitigate risk, improve how we operate and address knowledge gaps.

PROCESS
The call has two stages: a short 1st round application to outline ideas for projects; and then following assessment of the EoI’s, a shortlist of projects will be invited to prepare a detailed 2nd round application.

INVESTMENT PRIORITIES:
Current investment priorities for G-MW’s R&D program have been created around a commitment to sustain, modernise and develop our services. The five priority areas are: surface water and ground water interaction; aquatic weed control; healthy environment; mini hydro and people and capabilities. G-MW encourages projects that are collaborative and will run for a number of years however; projects that do not fall within these criteria will not be excluded.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• G-MW’s website: http://www.g-mwater.com.au/projects/researchanddevelopment
• EoI application form should be downloaded from the website or requested from G-MW’s R&D Coordinator, email below or phone 03 5833 5495
• EoI’s should be submitted electronically or in hard copy by 12 February 2010 to:

R&D Coordinator – Nichelle Schrader
Goulburn-Murray Water
PO Box 165
Tatura VIC 3616
research@g-mwater.com.au

• Please note that all EoI’s will be treated as commercial-in-confidence.

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USPTO on the rise since Kappos?

In August 2009, David Kappos (former IP counsel for IBM) was appointed Director of the US Patent & Trade Mark Office (USPTO) by the Obama administration. Since then, the USPTO has undertaken a number of interesting and important initiatives. These initiatives in part seek to address one of the key issues presently facing the USPTO - the backlog of cases to be examined. The new developments also provide patent applicants with the opportunity to consider alternative prosecution strategies for their US patent applications. Some of these developments are discussed below.

1. Pilot program to accelerate examination for small entity applicants

Under this trial program, a small entity applicant (which includes individuals and companies with less than 500 employees) can have a pending application brought to the front of the queue for examination if they agree to abandon another of their applications. The application to be abandoned must not have been examined yet.

2. Pilot program to accelerate examination of “green” technologies

Under this pilot program, patent applicants can apply to have their green technology patent applications taken up for expedited examination. This will effectively reduce the time taken for the application to be examined by about 12 months. Technologies which are eligible for this program are those relating to environmental quality, energy conservation, development of renewable energy, or greenhouse gas emission reduction. Qualifying for expedited examination under this program will be significantly easier for green technologies than the conventional mechanism for having examination accelerated.

3. Rescinding of regulations to limit patent prosecution

In August 2007, the USPTO had sought to bring in new regulations which limited the number of claims to 25 (including a maximum of 5 independent claims) per application. The regulations also had intended to limit the number of times a patent applicant could effectively continue to prosecute an invention in the face of Examiner rejections. These regulations were highly controversial and GlaxoSmithKline had brought suit against the USPTO to prevent their implementation.

Shortly after taking up his appointment, David Kappos moved to rescind the new regulations (before they ever came into force) and to end the lawsuit brought by GlaxoSmithKline against the USPTO. Accordingly, patent applicants in the US still have a great deal of flexibility for continuing their prosecution of important inventions, despite rejections from an Examiner.

Kappos is also working to change the culture in the USPTO, and is encouraging US examiners to better engage with applicants, especially at the outset of examination. Initial indications suggest a positive change is occurring.

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, especially in the US. 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 2010 National Meeting

Craigieburn Resort, Bowral, New South Wales

February 21 – 23, 2010

“How can R&D Managers influence & improve the future of Australasian Research and Innovation?”

The international knowledge base regarding the optimal organization and management of industrial R&D and innovation for maximum high-level impact, productivity and outcomes continues to develop and grow. Therefore, at the 2010 AIRG National Conference, the meeting will outline the currently recognized range of best practices, issues and opportunities. Additionally attendees will examine how Australasian industry’s future actions might result in improvements related to the influence of R&D and/or to innovation management’s role in the evolution of certain industry segments, or in the economy as a whole.

Program Summary -

Sunday PM:

Closed panel session related to planned changes to the R&D tax concession program.

Monday:

“Current Situation and Leaders’ Views of the Future”
Six well-recognized Australian and New Zealand R&D policy and process thought leaders discuss their views regarding the present and future roles of technology and R&D management relative to the future development of Australasian research and innovation.

“The Evolving Face of Australasian Technology Management”
From a “within company” orientation, in this session three senior industry speakers and a well-know academic review how industry in our region is seeking to “Do R&D Better”, including the role of ICT in R&D, and the impacts of scale of activity, etc.

Tuesday:

“Stakeholder Influence -- Influencing Stakeholders”
Four speakers working in strategic positions in industry and/or at the industry/government interface discuss how they are working to influence government and corporate stakeholders, including describing best practices in receiving support for industrial R&D.

“Cross-Industry Sharing and Comparisons”
Given that Australia and New Zealand are far from other nations with well-recognised capabilities in high performance R&D and innovation management, speakers in this session will consider how can we, as a group, as nations, or as a region, best support continuing research and technology; either across any one industry in Australasia and/or between industries and sectors.

Please note that the AIRG’s 2010 national meeting is jointly sponsored by the Australasian Industry Research Group, the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, AusBiotech, the Australian Institute for Commercialisation, the CRC Association, the CSIRO, Invetech, the Pearcey Foundation, and the Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering.

Please see www.airg.org.au for additional conference details & to register for the 2010 AIRG National Conference.

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Tertiary & Higher Education Conference 2010

16-17 March, 2010

Dockside, Cockle Bay,Sydney

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

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

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

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

Major themes include:

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

Who will be attending:

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

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

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Marketing & Funding Universities Today 2010

March 17, 2010

Dockside, Cockle Bay Sydney

The Rudd government has committed to full university research funding, adopting Bradley’s recommendation that Research Infrastructure Block Grant (RIBG) amounts should be raised from 20 to 50 cents for every dollar won through competitive grants.

The new Reform, billed as ‘Sustainable research excellence in universities’, will be phased in over five years with the initial outlay being – $30.5 million next financial year, rising to $120.5 million in 2010-11 and progressively increased until it reaches $301 million in 2013-14.

Universities’ relative success in attracting research income – the current means of allocating RIBG funds – will be given only 20 per cent weighting in allocating the extra money. The remaining 80 per cent of the additional funding will be conditional on universities undertaking activity-based costing of the indirect costs of research, and meeting performance targets to be negotiated over the next financial year.

The Institutional Grants Scheme (IGS), will be replaced by the Joint Research Engagement Scheme in a cost-neutral reform designed “to get university researchers working more effectively with industry – and with each other” and the government will establish another new program, the Collaborative Research Networks Scheme, to help “smaller, regional and less research-intensive universities” increase their research capacity.

This one day Summit will deliver answers to many of those questions concerning marketing and funding of universities today and how to obtain the maximum funding dollar for research projects and diversify their funding sources. 

Who attends?

• Vice Chancellors
• Deans
• Heads of Departments
• University Marketing Staff (Marketing Officer/ Manager/ Administrator/ Coordinator/ Assistant)
• Associate Deans (Marketing and Admissions)
• Faculty Marketing Officers
• Managers of International Marketing
• Directors of International Strategy, Marketing and Communications
• CIOs and Senior IT Managers
• Managers of Development and External Relations
• Senior Administrators
• Financial Managers

Further information about registering for the Conference is available at www.unifund.com.au/

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Positions Vacant

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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