PMSEIC meets

The Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) met at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday 2 December.

The Council heard three presentations. The first was a presentation of the report by the PMSEIC Working Group on Biodiscovery, chaired by Professor Snow Barlow. The report found that while Australia stands to benefit from its vast and unique biodiversity, there were currently impediments which make this difficult, including legal and regulatory clarity and consistency, the extent and nature of data collections and networks, and taxonomic skill needs.
The Working Group identified two key needs to accelerate biodiscovery in Australia:

• to sustainably manage our existing biodiversity knowledge and acquisitions - identify, describe, understand, conserve and protect the species of our continent; and
• to create certainty for the commercialisation of biodiscovery and thereby improve conditions for investment, benefit sharing and capacity building.

Recommendations included:

• Develop an Atlas of Living Australia (a “Biodiversity Google”) by 2015, based on a real time identification and web-based taxonomy system, and incorporating Australian engagement in the International Barcode of Life Program and linked to a National Network of Collections.
• Establish a National Screening Network, incorporating a compound library facility and Australia’s national collections including centres of indigenous and traditional Knowledge
• Achieve National Harmonisation of access and benefit-sharing legislative frameworks, to provide legal certainty for biodiscovery and ensuring swift access (lower cost transactions) for commercialisation.

The PMSEIC Working Group on Tsunamis, chaired by Professor Fiona Stanley, also reported to the Council, outlining the impact on Australia and Asia of the tsunami late last year and the potential for further tsunamis and our readiness for them.

The report noted that while the Australian Tsunami Warning System, was being established with funding of $68.9 million over four years, there is no facility for coordinating Australia’s existing scientific expertise to fully manage and mitigate the risk.

The working group recommended:

• establishing a Regional Centre of Excellence for Tsunamis,
• ensuring support for the Australian Tsunami Warning System is sustained, and
• creating formal pathways to better apply Australian science and innovation to emergency management planning and decision-making.

It proposed that a working group be established to guide the formation of the Regional Centre of Excellence for Tsunamis, and report to the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) in December 2006 on progress made.

A report on the role of creativity in the innovation economy, prepared by a working group chaired by Professor Iain McCalman, concluded that to be globally competitive, Australia needs to formulate a comprehensive approach to fostering creativity.

"Essentially, this means that we need to implement the political, economic, social and technological infrastructure that facilitates relationships amongst creative industries sectors and between creative industries and other sectors."

The report recommended that PMSEIC should consider how to:

• Enhance innovation policy by the inclusion of design, creativity and creative industries;
• Review existing government programs for research and innovation to ensure that design and creative processes are not excluded;
• Facilitate a critical mass of activity through the Creative Innovation Fund; and
• Facilitate greater cross-disciplinary and crosssectoral research collaborations between SET and HASS sectors.

More details of the PMSEIC meeting and the reports is here

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Australian Science Media Centre begins operations

The Australian Science Media Centre, established with support from the South Australian government, has begun operations, providing the media with access to a database of science experts who can speak to accredited news outlets on a wide range of topics and disciplines about current and breaking events.

The Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC), proposed last year by Adelaide Thinker in Residence Baroness Susan Greenfield, has the backing of the major media organisations in the country as well as a number of leading science and industry groups.

The AusSMC is sponsored in equal parts by the private sector and media outlets, and the SA Government has contributed $105 000 to assist with start up costs.

Sponsors include Fairfax Holdings Ltd, ABC, PBL, News Limited, APN, Macquarie Bank, CSIRO, Shell Australia, Royal Australian Chemical Institute, ResMed, Ernst &Young and Prime TV.

The AusSMC is led by a 16-member board chaired by Peter Yates, CEO, Allco Finance Group. It is advised by a 21-member Science Advisory Panel comprised of prominent scientists from around Australia.

More information is at http://www.aussmc.org/ or phone 08 8207 7415,

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Antarctic Appointment

Professor Linda Blackall, Director of Research at the Environmental Biotechnology Cooperative Research Centre and Professor of Microbiology at the University of Queensland and the University of New South Wales, has been appointed the new chair of the Antarctic Science Advisory Committee (ASAC).

Professor Blackall replaces Professor Kurt Lambeck who is retiring from the position after six years.

The Antarctic Science Advisory Committee (ASAC), in collaboration with the wider Antarctic scientific committee, sets the scientific directions of Australia’s Antarctic Program. It also undertakes regular evaluations of the program.

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BMA invests in mining skills

The University of Queensland has entered partnership with BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) to establish a $50 million mining industry teaching and research program called `Skills for Growth'.

Under the agreement, BMA will provide $3.43 million a year to a program called "new pathways into mining through cadetships" and $2.18 million to "diversifying and extending professional skills." 30 cadetships will be awarded in 2006.
BMA is also boosting its annual commitment of $160,000 by $136,000 for mining scholarships. 16 new scholarships will be awarded in 2006.

In partnership with the University of Queensland, BMA will commit $270,000 a year for five years to support the establishment of two new teaching and research positions, the BMA Chairs of Mining Engineering and Minerals Processing.

BMA has also formed a partnership with Central Queensland University to provide $250,000 a year for 3 years for new BMA Cadetship and Engineering Extension Programs.

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Unclaimed Lotto prize generates medical research grants

Five Queensland medical research organisations will share in almost $1 million in grants, taken from the interest earned on an unclaimed first division $23 million Lotto prize.
The grants were provided under the Golden Casket Foundation Grants program which was established by the Queensland Government in April when the Powerball prize was not claimed.

The five grants are:

• $201,250 to a Sir Albert Sakzewski Virus Research Centre (Herston) program aimed at creating new vaccines to prevent and cure a range of diseases such as childhood respiratory infections and Epstein-Barr virus associated lymphoma.
• $250,000 for the Queensland Institute of Medical Research to purchase equipment for studies aimed at understanding the causes breast, ovary, womb, skin, liver, oesophagus and colon cancers.
• $230,000 to the Queensland Cancer Fund to help develop and evaluate better ways to monitor and improve the care of cancer patients in Queensland.
• $195,045 to the Royal Brisbane and Women's hospital to be put towards a population based study into inflammatory bowel disease to identify current environmental and genetic factors that determine IBD.
• $104,315 to the Princess Alexandra Hospital towards developing a method to optimise detection of curable hypertension.

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Victoria and Israel to fund joint R&D projects

A US$6 million Victoria-Israel Science and Technology Research and Development Fund has been formed to fund up to 50 per cent of the R&D costs of joint Israeli-Victorian market-oriented projects.

VISTECH is involved in four broad activities:

• Promoting and marketing the benefits of joint market oriented Victorian-Israeli R&D collaboration
• Matching companies in one state seeking a partner in the other
U Facilitating the identification of specific projects or collaborations between Victorian and Israeli companies that could lead to R&D cooperation

• Supporting projects by contributing up to 50% of the joint eligible R&D costs.

VISTECH will begin in 2006 and with Israel and Victoria each providing US$1 million each year over three years with grants of up to $US500,000 available for approved projects.

VISTECH is operated by a Manager and a supporting team located in Victoria and in Israel. The Manager reports to a Management Committee, comprised of three members from each state.

Proposals for first round of funding are due by 31 January 2006
More information is at http://www.business.vic.gov.au/VISTECH, or contact Ayal Marek, Manager of the Victorian VISTECH office on 03 9651 8170.

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Cooperative Research Centres Programme 2006 Selection Round

The Australian Government Minister for Education, Science and Training,
the Hon Dr Brendan Nelson, MP invites applications for the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Programme’s 2006 selection round.

The CRC Programme funds collaborations between researchers and industry to improve the effectiveness of Australia’s research and development effort.

Applications for Stage 1 of the selection process close on 31 March 2006. Other deadlines and information on applying are contained in the 2006 Selection Round Guidelines for Applicants.

These guidelines and further information about the CRC Programme can be obtained from www.crc.gov.au, by contacting 02 6240 5011 during business hours, or by sending an e-mail to crc.program@dest.gov.au.

The CRC Programme is supported by the Australian Government’s Innovation Statement, Backing Australia’s Ability Building our Future through Science and Innovation.

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Intellectual Property Law

Want to brush up on the latest developments in intellectual property law? Law & Finance has hand-picked Australia’s 6 best IP lawyers covering topics such as recent changes to the Copyright Act, implications of the Australia-US FTA on intellectual property, cases involving patents, trade marks, copyright and designs, business method and IT patents, plus open source software innovations.

Speakers include:

• Rob McInnes, Principal, Spruson & Ferguson and President, Licensing Executives Society of Australia & New Zealand
• Odette Gourley, Partner, Minter Ellison
• Scott Bouvier, Partner, Mallesons Stephen Jaques
• Adam Lieberman, Partner, Freehills
• Mark Vincent, Partner, Truman Hoyle
• Nick Abrahams, Partner, Deacons

Click here for the FULL PROGRAMME, then call Law & Finance on (02) 9224 6000 to register. Hurry! Places strictly limited.

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Strategic Business Planning

A 5 day intensive program for researchers, scientists and engineers who need to develop commercialisation skills, where you will:

• Learn strategies to commercialise new products and services
• Find out how to attract finance
• Polish your business planning and strategic skills

If you apply your skill to the completion of a commercialisation plan for your business, you can gain an accredited award at the same time.

Don’t take our word for it – hear what one of our participants employers had to say:

“Just thought I'd let you know that I've recently reviewed a business plan developed … in relation to the dysphagia device - and it is easily the best piece of work I've seen in my 3 years at CSIRO.” Dr Kathy Kociuba, General Manager, Commercialisation, CSIRO Business Development & Commercialisation.

Melbourne, February 20th to 24th 2006

Cost $2,700 + GST short course only. Award program $4,200.

Places are strictly limited so contact Gemma Rohan, 03 9810 3174 g.rohan@soe.unimelb.edu.au to register.

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The University of Melbourne launches a new course in Clinical Research

The Vice Chancellor Glyn Davies and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne launched a new suite of graduate programs in clinical research on November 28th.

The University of Melbourne recognised the need for a specific training program for the many excellent people already involved in clinical research, as well as the need for an entry pathway for those wishing to enter this exciting field, and to meet the growing demand for professional standards in clinical research.

The Program uses a modular approach, so that qualifications can be built from Professional Certificate to Graduate Certificate to Graduate Diploma to Masters and is available to all practitioners in the growing field of clinical research – doctors, nurses, administrators, clinical research associates, and allied health professionals, and the approach of embedding industry qualifications into an accredited award programs means that the growing clinical research community can look forward to more unified and better understood standards of professional capability.

The program recently launched is:

• both academic and decidedly practical, combining the current state of knowledge with best practice;
• takes into account the time demands on busy professionals in how the program is delivered (mainly intensive teaching); and
• provides high-quality instruction and teaching from experts in the field
• Articulates well with other forms of professional accreditation.

Contact us now for 2006 enrolment information:

Delyth Samuel: d.samuel@soe.unimelb.edu.au
or Gemma Rohan: g.rohan@soe.unimelb.edu.au

Website: www.soe.unimelb.edu.au/clinicalresearch

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Achieve world class results with business critical information

Thomson Scientific is the world’s leading provider of scientific and patent information. We help drive innovation by equipping the research and business communities with the latest information in all technologies from patents, scientific journals, and conferences.
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Ernst & Young R&D Services

Would you like to receive a tax break or grant from the government to help your R&D investment stretch further? Do you need government R&D assistance but you are too busy to pursue it? We can help you. Ernst & Young helps hundreds of Australian companies to access substantial R&D benefits each year. We have extensive experience helping companies to access:

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Ernst & Young Australia boasts one of the most experienced and multi-disciplined Innovation & Incentives practices in Australia. Comprising specialists with hands-on expertise in developing technology and leveraging government assistance, Ernst & Young’s team is dedicated to helping clients gain maximum value from their R&D investments. Ernst & Young can help you to select the type of R&D assistance that best suits your company, considering your circumstances, your industry and your R&D projects.

For more information on how Ernst & Young can help, please contact an office near you or visit our website at http://www.ey.com.au

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Sydney: Mark Tafft (02) 8295 6987
Brisbane: Murray Graham (07) 3011 3264
Adelaide: Chris Sharpley (08) 8233 1685

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Looking to advertise a new R&D position, scholarship or call?

ResearchJobs is an email and website based service that lists advertisements for vacant research related positions, scholarships, fellowships, and calls for proposals within the research and development, scientific and acedemic industries.

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It is distributed straight to the desk top of over 11,000 researchers and management professionals within universities, CSIRO, research agencies and institutes, government departments and the private sector.

ResearchJobs:

• weekly electronic advertising medium for R&D and scientific positions vacant and scholarships
• email document that is sent to over 11,000 subscribers
• website that has been averaging over 1000 visits per day for April 2006
• ad length 200 words, $1 plus GST extra for ads over 200 words
• cost for both website and email document is $180 plus GST per ad for one week, $300 plus GST for two weeks, $400 plus GST for three weeks.

For further information see here, email scott@halledit.com.au or call Scott McKinnon on 03 8534 5000

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