News Alerts

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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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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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 will 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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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 for Centres 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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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 received $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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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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New head of SARDI

Affiliate Professor Pauline Mooney has been appointed Executive Director of the South Australian Research and Development Institute.

Professor Mooney joined SARDI five years ago as Research Director, and has been Deputy Executive Director for the last year.

She replaces Affiliate Professor Rob Lewis, who has led SARDI for the past 17 years.

Professor Lewis will continue to serve on various private and public sector boards, including as independent Chair of the Fisheries and Aquaculture National Priorities Forum.

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Australian Laureate Fellowships awarded

Fifteen Australian Laureate Fellowships have been awarded for 2010, with a total of $35.5 million provided through the scheme.

The recipients are at Macquarie University (1), the University of New South Wales (3), the University of Sydney (2), James Cook University (1), the University of Queensland (1), Swinburne University of Technology (1), and the University of Melbourne (2).

More details are at www.arc.gov.au/media/major_announce.htm.

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Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication opened

The new $63 million Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication, the centrepiece of the Australian National Fabrication Facility and a joint venture involving Australian and Victorian Governments and a consortium comprising Monash, Swinburne, Deakin and La Trobe universities, RMIT, CSIRO and MiniFab Australia Pty Ltd, has been officially opened.

The Victorian Government provided $15 million in funding for the MCN through its Science, Technology and Innovation initiative, and the Commonwealth Government provided a matching grant of $15 million. CSIRO, Monash University, Deakin University, La Trobe University, Swinburne University of Technology, The University of Melbourne and RMIT University contributed $15 million to build the MCN and $12 million of in-kind support will come from the academic partners.

The centre, which includes the largest purpose-built, clean room complex in the Southern Hemisphere be open to researchers from Australia and overseas and to industry.

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Victoria joins Permedia R&D Consortium

The Victorian Government has signed an agreement to join the international Permedia Research and Development Consortium, a group of energy companies and research organizations that is developing CO2 sequestration technologies.

Energy and Resources Minister Peter Batchelor said Victoria’s membership would give the state access to advanced tools, such as 4D modelling software, for safe underground storage of CO2.

The Victorian Government will also be part of the consortium committee, which reviews and prioritises research and development across the world.

Consortium members are based across the world in the United States, Malaysia, Norway, Germany and Australia and include BHP Billiton, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Geoscience Australia, Norsk Hydro, Shell and Woodside.

Consortium members meet twice a year to review and prioritise geological carbon storage research and development projects across the world.

The Permedia Research and Development Consortium was founded in 1998. Its research to understand CO2 injection and storage is supported by the world's leading industrial and academic organisations currently pioneering CO2 storage.

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Announcements

CSIRO Flagship Collaboration Fund: Round 6 Clusters now open

The CSIRO National Research Flagships program brings together large multidisciplinary teams to focus on Australia’s major challenges and opportunities.

Collaboration is a key principle of the CSIRO National Research Flagships program. Flagship Clusters help solve specific science problems whilst also building capability and fostering collaboration between CSIRO, universities and other publicly-funded research agencies. To date, 24 collaborative research Clusters have been approved for funding.

Flagship Clusters will be funded for three years at A$1 million per annum.

Co-investment from partner organisations is expected and Clusters are listed on the Australian Competitive Grants Register.

Applications for clusters will be accepted from:

• eligible Australian and overseas higher education institutions
• Cooperative Research Centres & not for profit research institutions
• other Australian and international publicly funded research agencies.

Each cluster must include at least one Australian university.

Applications close Wednesday 8th September 2010.

More information: www.csiro.au/Flagship-Cluster

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Network Patent Analytics - the revolutionary method for translating patent data into business advantage

Introducing Network Patent Analytics

The world’s patent literature contains over 72 million published patents, and 1.7 million new patents are published every year by a wide spectrum of applicants. Over 6 million patents are in force and may restrict your freedom to operate.

Griffith Hack is the exclusive Australian provider of the revolutionary Optimice Network Patent Analytics service. Network Patent Analytics can reveal patents, technology areas and companies that matter to your business.

Commercial applications of Network Patent Analytics

Commercial applications of Network Patent Analytics include:

• Objectively determining which patents, companies, technology types and inventors dominate in a particular area of technology

• Assessing the technology ownership structure of a given technology area

• Complementing freedom to operate searches and finding unexpected infringement risks

• Assessing the overall quality of your patent portfolio as an aid to acquisition, fund raising and disposal of patents and patent owning businesses

• Determining the highly and lowly rated patents in individual patent portfolios, assisting patent management decisions

• Identifying ‘orphan’ technologies, which are patents that are considered ‘non-strategic’ by their owners but which are however rated highly other patent owners.

A seamless solution

Griffith Hack’s patent search and analysis professionals have proven skills to search the worldwide patent literature to identify patents relevant to your business, and to interpret this patent data to understand and predict business trends. Griffith Hack has direct experience in the application of Network Patent Analytics and other patent analysis techniques in the clean technology area, and has developed the capability and tools needed to apply this to any area of technology.

Talk to Griffith Hack today about how Patent Analytics can help your business.

Contact

Melbourne

Mike Lloyd

mike.lloyd@griffithhack.com.au

(03) 9243 8315

Sydney

George Mokdsi

george.mokdsi@griffithhack.com.au

(02) 9925 5975

Brisbane

Brendan Nugent, Principal

brendan.nugent@griffithhack.com.au

(07) 3232 1718

Perth

Tony Mizzi, Principal

tony.mizzi@griffithhack.com.au

(08) 9213 8309

Or for more information, visit the Griffith Hack website: www.griffithhack.com.au

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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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Conferences & Events

Smart Technology for Healthy Longevity: Official Launch & Seminar

Dr Robin Batterham AO FREng FAA FTSE

President of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE)

Invites you to the official launch of the

ATSE Report

SMART TECHNOLOGY FOR HEALTHY LONGEVITY

by

Senator the Hon Kim Carr

Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research

09:30am

Thursday 22 July

Coles Theatre Room, Melbourne Business School

200 Leicester Street, Melbourne

Followed by the Seminar and Lunch

RSVP: Please reply by Monday 19th July 2010 to

Anne Houston (03) 9864 0920 or anne.houston@atse.org.au

Parking: Paid parking is often available at University Square (entrance off Berkeley Street) and there is limited paid street parking in Leicester Street, Carlton

PROGRAM

09.15am Registration

09.30am Official Launch

10.00am Morning Tea & Media Conference

10.30am Seminar:

Professor Greg Tegart AM FTSE, Author of the ATSE Report Technological Aspects of Ageing in Place

A/Professor Elizabeth Ozanne, Sociological Aspects of Ageing in Place

11:40am Question and Answer

12.00pm Close and Lunch

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The 13th International Riversymposium

The 13th International Riversymposium program will focus on moving water and will be a kaleidoscope of activities and fascinating topics from around the globe focusing around 6 key themes –

• Water Sources
• Rivers & Catchments
• Water for Industry
• Policy & Regulations
• Community
• Climate Change

The unimpeded movement of water through wild rivers, environmental flows, estuaries and groundwater as well as moving water across borders, through dams, agriculture, cities and multiple times through industry will be examined. The latest in monitoring techniques and keeping communities engaged and determining the economic values of rivers will be discussed along with the changing states and strategies with impacts of climate change on rivers, discussions about drought and preventing freshwater extinctions as well as some exciting innovations in industry use of water.

Our feature sessions and case studies will cut across the 6 key themes to bring examples from different continents, industry and research groups. As usual, the program will encourage interactive discussion as much as possible with 30 minute discussion periods at the end of each session and a number of discussion fora held in the lunchtime breaks.

Those lucky enough to register in time will enjoy building on the feature session content with the study tours and all delegates will share the celebrations of our various award winners.

The program will conclude with an exciting debate around the statement “The oceans are our solution for future water”.

Earlybird registration has been extended until Wednesday 14 July. Register online via our website to save $300 on the fulltime registration fee!

Visit our website – www.riversymposium.com – for further information including full program, keynote speakers, themes, study tours and to register online for the conference.

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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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6th Australia-New Zealand Climate Change & Business Conference

10-12 August, Sydney

The 6^th Australia-New Zealand Climate Change and Business Conference will be held in Sydney, Australia, on 10-12 August 2010 with the New South Wales Government as Foundation Sponsor. The conference is the pre-eminent climate change conference for business in this region, designed by business for business. The conference serves as the major gathering point for business leaders and chief policy makers and allows exchange of information across the Tasman.

The 2010 conference will focus on how business is moving forward on climate change response in a time of policy uncertainty. Plenary sessions will examine:

• The potential for reduced emissions from key sectors: how and how much?
• Australian and New Zealand policy response to business requirements
• What is needed to unlock and leverage investment in low emissions technology
• Adaptation as a priority response
• The international policy framework and the potential impact on this region
• Inside China and the USA
• The power of complementary measures: what’s working internationally
• Climate change science and communicating the challenge

Additional workshops and concurrent sessions will look at practical lessons learned, including:

• New Zealand’s implementation of an ETS
• International carbon markets
• Energy efficiency best practice
• Summary findings from a full year of NGER reporting
• The growing role of land use
• Cleantech update
• Participating in voluntary markets with/without an ETS

The 2010 conference will again feature an exhibition that will be themed around the conference program.

For further program details and registration, please see the website at: www.climateandbusiness.com.

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