Manufacturing Summit focuses on innovation

A new National Manufacturing Forum and the development of a Strategic Action Plan for Manufacturing are key outcomes of the National Manufacturing Summit held in Melbourne late last year.

The Strategic Action Plan, to be completed by September, will be developed by a Secretariat, funded by state and federal governments and overseen by the Executive Chair of the Forum would develop the Strategy.

The Summit, attended by 200 delegates from industry, business associations, trade unions and governments, also agreed that Ministers with responsibility for manufacturing will meet on at least an annual basis to oversee the implementation of commitments arising from the Summit and to determine future policy priorities to be pursued collectively.

A communiqué released after the Summit highlighted the need to improve "the focus of business expenditure on R&D to increase the transformation of ideas into commercial applications and exploring mechanisms to accelerate the uptake of new technologies as a cost-effective means of innovation".

It also advocated the development and adoption of ‘platform’ technologies, such as materials science, nanotechnology, biotechnology and ICT, which are generic, cost cutting and enabling.

"The development of our innovative capabilities and skills base will be vital if we are to capitalise on these opportunities, as will appropriate investment if we are to grow local businesses into global players."

Opportunities for Australian manufacturing were the focus of workshops and plenary sessions, and highlighted the importance for Australia of emerging economies such as China and India, and Australia's strength in its ability to manufacture specialist, short-run or niche products. Another significant strength was Australia's expertise in addressing the demands of environmentally sustainable manufacturing practices, which can drive the development of world class clean production methods and new environmentally friendly technologies.

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Intelligent Island funds to go to new marketing program

The Federal Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, has announced that up to $18 million of the remaining funds of the Intelligent Island program will be allocated to a new Market Access and Partnership Program (MAPP) to assist Tasmanian information, communication and technology (ICT) companies to develop or market an ICT product or service for export from Tasmania.

The MAPP grants will support Tasmanian firms in areas of need identified by the ICT industry, including product development, access to external markets, partnership development, and management and business skill acquisition activities.

A further $15 million will be allocated over five years for the proposed establishment of a CSIRO ICT Centre in Tasmania. CSIRO has undertaken to invest an additional $15 million in the Centre and will develop the research program in consultation with the Tasmanian ICT industry.

Dr Alex Zelinsky, Director of the CSIRO ICT Centre, said that work would commence immediately on a detailed proposal for the new Centre for submission to the Intelligent Island Project Executive which is expected to reach a decision on whether to proceed by February 2006.

The redirection of funds from the $40 million Intelligent Island program follows the abandonment last year of plans for Tasinformatics, a proposed $20 million Centre of Excellence in health informatics and bioinformatics at the University of Tasmania, following the university's refusal to accept limitations on research using data sourced from human embryos. A consultative process was undertaken in June last year to determine how the money would be spent.

The draft MAPP guidelines are located on the Department of Economic Development website, at www.development.tas.gov.au/intelligent. Comments are invited by 30 January 2006, and the first call for MAPP proposals is anticipated in March 2006.

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Macquarie Island research station to be abandoned

The Australian Antarctic Division has announced its decision to abandon Australia's only permanent sub-Antarctic research station, on Macquarie Island, drawing criticism from scientists, conservationists and the Tasmanian Government.

The station has provided a base for wildlife, climate, meteorological and medical researchers since 1948.

AAD chief scientist Professor Michael Stoddart told The Australian the federal agency was also considering "down-scaling" its activities at Mawson station in Antarctica. He told the newspaper that the move was based on research priorities, with Heard Island seen as a more useful barometer of climate change than Macquarie.

"Our scientific priorities are going to be far better supported by the terrific work done on Heard Island," he said. "As a government department we have to undertake research in the place that is going to provide the best answers. And if that means we have to downgrade activities in one place ... that's acting on priorities."

Scientists have said that AAD's abandonment of the island would set back globally significant research, threaten the survival of unique wildlife and diminish Australia's standing as an Antarctic nation.

Tasmania's Deputy Premier David Llewellyn warned the AAD's withdrawal would "severely hamper" Tasmania's ability to protect the island's wildlife, including elephant and fur seals and more than a million birds during the breeding season, including Royal penguins and other penguin species, albatross and petrels.

Mr Llewellyn said environmental work, such as a recent world-renowned program to eradicate feral cats, would become "all but impossible".

The Australian and Tasmanian Greens also condemned the decision. "Downgrading Australia's presence on Macquarie Island at a time of Japanese whaling, increased poaching of Patagonian toothfish stocks and soaring tourism pressures would be a huge policy mistake," said Greens senator Bob Brown.

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WA joins the Synchrotron

Western Australia will participate in the Australian Synchrotron in Melbourne, investing a total of $5 million for use of a beamline. Of the total, $3.75 million has been contributed by the State Government and $1.25 million jointly by the University of WA and Curtin University.

The WA investment brings total funding commitments to beamlines at the Synchrotron to $40 million. Other partners are New Zealand, Queensland, Melbourne University, Monash University, the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes, CSIRO and ANSTO, each contributing $5 million in beamline funding.

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Five-year ICT plan for Victoria

The Victorian Government has released its five-year plan for the ICT industry, identifying a number of new initiatives and programs to support future industry growth.

These include:

• New whole-of-government ICT procurement policies that allow contractors to, by default, retain ownership of intellectual property they develop under contract with Government;
• $1 million over three years for establishment and growth of ICT clusters and networks;
• $1.9 million for ICT Scholarship and industry skills package;
• Doubling the Bracks Government’s commitment to its ICT trade fairs and mission program;
• Developing emerging market strategies to assist Victorian ICT companies to identify new export opportunities; and
• Assisting in the establishment of a world class motion capture facility for the computer games industry.

The Victorian ICT Industry Plan 2005 – 2010 is at http://www.mmv.vic.gov.au

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Knowledge Management - The Key to Innovative Health Programs

Date: March 8 - 9, 2006
Venue: The Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney
Workshops: March 10, 2006

The Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS) invites you to participate in a national first: Knowledge Management - The Key to Innovative Health Programs.

This conference will focus on Knowledge Management in the health sector and showcase in particular the work being done by ARCBS and other innovative organisations in this field. The conference is suited to Health Sector Executives, Research Managers and Knowledge Management Professionals. The key objective will be to enable delegates to improve health outcomes by employing innovative strategies within their own organisations. Interactive workshops are also being held on March 10.

Themes include:

• Value and benefits of Knowledge Management within the health environment
• Knowledge Transfer: Turning medical research into improved clinical practice
• Challenges of inter-organisational Knowledge Management
• Information-based medicine - future directions
• Building Knowledge-communities and Knowledge-networks

The conference will feature two international keynote speakers: Prof Karl-Erik Sveiby and Prof Dorothy Leonard, supported by experts from within Australia. These speakers are world leaders in the field of Knowledge Management, ensuring a world-class program and unique opportunity for participants to gain valuable insight from their international expertise.

All conference details available at: www.donateblood.com.au/research/events/km

E-mail aleks@conferenceaction.com.au
Phone 61 2 9437 9333

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AIRG Conference 2006: Australian R&D in the Global Business Environment

The AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH GROUP (AIRG) will be holding its Conference 2006 in Melbourne from 26-28 February 2006. The venue will be Rydges Riverwalk Hotel, 649 Bridge Road, Richmond, Victoria.

On this occasion, the theme of the conference will be,

“AUSTRALIAN R&D IN THE GLOBAL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT”

We have entered a new era characterised by removal of trade barriers, an explosion in international travel and communication and the rapid development and translation of knowledge across the globe. To this must be added the phenomenal growth in the new economies represented primarily by China, India, Russia and Brazil. The situation in the developed countries is further complicated by the pending retirement of the baby-boomers and the challenge to replace the knowledge and skills that they take with them. This changing world order represents a significant challenge for Australia and our ability to respond and use our R&D expertise across all sectors to remain competitive and prosperous in this new environment. The conference focuses on these issues with an impressive array of speakers from industry and Public Sector R&D. In addition, workshop sessions will provide the opportunity for delegates to contribute to the development of a conference view on the role of Australian R&D in this environment and the opportunities that it presents.

We invite those people interested in the role that Australian R&D can play in providing Australian industry with a competitive advantage to attend this important conference.

For further information please contact Dr. Errol McGarry, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Industrial Research Group ( Ph. 61 3 9439 0075 or e-mail airg@bigpond.net.au)

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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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Envisage the Enterprise of the Future … Today

Macquarie Institute for Innovation presents a series of one-day workshops discerning the impact of emerging technologies on the enterprise of the future. The first of these, to be held on February 7, is entitled “When All Things Have A Digital Identity, “and will be led by Visiting Professor Gordon Bell a member of Microsoft Research in Silicon Valley and a statesman in the computer industry.

Each workshop will examine a new technology that is unarguably going to happen in five-plus years, such as “cameras everywhere”. The first, “When All Things Have a Digital Identity”, focuses on the implications of a world enabled by $1 to $10 wireless platforms, where widespread adoption of wireless sensor nets, RFID tags, and personal medical monitors makes everything, everyone, everywhere and at all times, part of an organisation’s actionable collective memory.

With Gordon Bell will be John Gloekler, Silicon-Valley-based CEO of G2 Microsystems, Bruce Satchwell, CEO of Alive Technologies and Dr Peter Corke of CSIRO’s ICT Centre.

Registration is $1903. Limited scholarships are available to qualified applicants.

Workshop details: “When All Things have a Digital Identity” will be held at Macquarie University on Feb 7. For details and an application form, visit the web site www.mii.mq.edu.au or call (02) 9850 4800.

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Integration enhances communication

Current trends indicate that key departments and teams within organizations have overlapping data requirements, but need to process that data in a variety of different ways. This data is much easier to access and share if it’s available through one integrated solution.

Thomson PharmaSM integrates the best of the drug, intellectual property, literature and news, company, target, chemistry, and sequencing content owned by Thomson in a single solution. It enables professionals working at all stages of the drug development pipeline, from clinical researchers and chemists to competitive intelligence and licensing and business development professionals, to annotate and share a common source of integrated information.

By combining powerful annotation and file sharing features with premium content, Thomson Pharma encourages collaboration, enhances communication, and expedites decision-making across departments and enhances an organization’s ability to innovate, work faster and smarter, and attain outstanding research and business results.

Thomson Pharma can help your organization to:

• Conduct world-class research
• Break new ground
• Be the first to market
• Make better decisions faster

To find out more, go to: here

You can e-mail us at: ts.info.asia@thomson.com
Or call us at: +61 2 8587 7948 or 1 800 007 214 (from Australia)

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Spruson&Ferguson: patent and trade mark attorneys

With over 115 years experience, Spruson&Ferguson is a leading intellectual property firm in Australia which provides a fully integrated service for the protection, commercialisation and enforcement of your intellectual property.

Spruson&Ferguson is one of the largest intellectual property firms in Australia, with a team of over 220. Our 60 plus patent and trade mark attorneys and lawyers work in specialised practice areas; Chemical/Life Sciences, Mechanical, Electrical/Information & Communications Technologies (ICT) and Trade Marks, together with Spruson&Ferguson Lawyers which provides intellectual property commercialisation, enforcement and dispute resolution services.

Spruson&Ferguson’s patent and trade mark attorneys and lawyers have extensive intellectual property and industry experience in science and engineering including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, electronics, phototonics, transport, telecommunications, mining, publishing, consumer products, ceramics, chemistry and mechanical/medical technologies.

The depth of our industry experience is an attribute that many of our clients hold in high regard. Spruson&Ferguson is a recognised as a market leader with multinationals and many of Australia’s foremost research institutions entrusting to us to protect and assisting with the maximisation of returns on their intellectual property assets.

Our comprehensive range of services includes patents, trademarks, designs, domain names, IP audits, due diligence, dispute resolution and litigation and intellectual property commercialisation services including licensing, joint ventures and research and development collaborations.

For more information about our comprehensive range of intellectual property services, please contact one of the following relationship principals:

Chemical: Dr John McCann BSc (Hons) PhD FIPTA
Life Sciences: Dr Andrew Blattman BScAgr (Hons) PhD GDipIP FIPTA
Electrical: Robert Miller BE BLegS FIPTA
ICT: Scott Berggren BSEE MSEE LLB FIPTA
Mechanical: Greg Turner BE FIPTA
Trade Marks: Annette Freeman BA LLB (ANU) LLM (UTS)
IP Commercialisation: Rob McInnes BSc (Hons) LLB (Syd)
IP Litigation & Dispute Resolution: Simon Williams BA LLB (Syd) LLM (Lond)
Managing Principal: David Griffith BE (Hons) FIPTA

Telephone: (02) 9207 0777
Fax: (02) 9261 5486
Email mail@sprusons.com.au

www.sprusons.com.au

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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.

See here

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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