$60 million for carbon geosequestration demonstration project

The Federal Government has committed to providing $60 million in funding to help develop carbon sequestration technology in Western Australia that could allow the $11 billion Gorgon Gas project to go ahead.

The funding, from the Government’s $500 million Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fund, provides for a demonstration project liquefying the carbon dioxide so it can be injected 2.5km underground.

"It is one of the key technologies that the world will need if we are to address climate change," Minister for Environment and Heritage, Ian Campbell said.

"This is a life and death technology we must find, we must develop, and to have the biggest injection project happening off the coast of WA is an incredibly exciting thing."

However, WWF scientist Gilly Llewellyn has expressed concern about the plan to bury carbon dioxide in "leaky" rock formations beneath Barrow Island.

In the Environmental Impact Assessment document prepared by the Gorgon developers, eight out of 20 potential failure scenarios, resulting in the unplanned release of carbon dioxide, were assessed as "possible" or "likely", she said.

WWF was particularly concerned that previous wells drilled around the formation, and the presence of a natural fault line, may cause the carbon dioxide to leak, which would add to Australia's greenhouse gas emissions, she said.

An investment decision on the Gorgon gas project will be made by ExxonMobil, Shell and project operator Chevron by the end of the year.

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Renewable Energy Development Initiative grants announced

$13 million has been awarded across eight renewable energy projects under the Australian Government’s Renewable Energy Development Initiative (REDI).

The grants have been handed to the projects in order to assist them to meet Australia’s already substantial demand for energy while simultaneously meeting environmental challenges. The awarded projects cover a diverse spectrum of renewable energy technologies.

The announcement of the $13 million in grants are an addition to the $46 million that has been awarded across 24 other renewable energy companies nationwide from the REDI program.

The eight projects awarded funding under the recent grants are:

• Snowy Hydro Ltd, (NSW/ACT), $4,022,304 for cloud seeding research to increase natural snowfalls and inflows to storages of the Snowy Mountains Scheme.
• Brockway DiCOM Facility Pty Ltd (WA), $2,712,050 for development of DiCOM Waste Recycling System WMRC Demonstration Plant.
• MicroBiogen Pty Ltd (NSW), $2,482,061 for new yeast technology for converting plant waste into ethanol.
• BP Solar Pty Ltd (NSW), $1,581,411 for photovoltaic cell process engineering development for improving the yield from silicon.
• Proactive Energy Developments Limited (NSW), $1,224,250 for a novel regenerator for adapting supercritical cycles to geothermal power applications.
• Dynamic Systems Australia Pty Ltd (NSW), $612,679 for development of a prototype 100KW vertical axis wind turbine.
• Windlab Systems Pty Ltd (ACT), $368,292 for its computational model for prediction of turbulence on wind energy sites.
• Downer Energy Systems Pty Ltd (Qld), $345,500 for a new generation modular biomass power plant.

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Commercial Ready grants awarded

Twelve companies have been awarded funding under the latest round of AusIndustry's Commercial Ready program.

They include:

• Intellection Pty Ltd, Qld, $5 million - to develop commercially viable continuous processing technology for the co- production from grain starch hydrolysates of high value food-grade yeast-derived products and fuel ethanol.
• Bio-Layer Pty Ltd, Qld, $2,691,139 - to develop abiotic (synthetic) surface coatings that mimic the biological specificity of antibodies and receptors.
• Microwave and Materials Designs Pty Ltd, Qld, $2,369,321 - the use of high temperature superconductors in cellular telecommunications.
• Advanced Nanotechnology Ltd, WA, $ 1,947,755 - for the Transparent Functional Coatings project which will enable the development of advanced coatings and films that exhibit enhanced properties, such as combined UV and abrasion resistance,
• Redarc Technologies Pty Ltd, SA, 1,693,845 - to complete the research and development of the [Smart Battery Charger], a 'plug n play' device, which will eliminate the guess work from battery charging. Likened to a battery management computer, complete with diagnostics, the charger will ensure the battery is 100% charged and prolong battery life.
• OMC International Pty Ltd, Vic, $ 1,377,774 - to research, develop and commercialise a ship Grounding Warning System (GWS) to facilitate the safe passage of deeper draught vessels through remote restricted waterways.
• Alternative Fuels Corporation Pty Ltd, NSW, $ 1,216,900 - development of commercially viable continuous processing technology for the co- production from grain starch hydrolysates of high value food-grade yeast-derived products and fuel ethanol.
• MRC Biotech Pty Ltd, NSW, $ 832,750 - to assist with a project aimed at completing a Phase 1 clinical trial of MRC202, a new treatment for malignant ascites, an accumulation of free fluid in the peritoneal cavity brought about by cancers of the abdomen (ovarian, liver, pancreatic, kidney and colorectal) or chronic liver disease.
• Rekuna Tas Pty Ltd, Tas, $ 249,993 - production mechanisation and research into large scale cultivation options for ginseng.
• EVRSafe Marine Technologies Pty Ltd, SA, $ 249,582 - an innovative integrated, gas detection / sensor device for pleasure crafts, to be installed within the hull design.
• Radar Portal Systems Pty Ltd, Qld, $ 167,779 - to produce a prototype system that images the road subsurface in 3D to a depth greater than 1m at 100km/h, with higher image quality, resolution and reliability than existing systems.
• Zipbolt Pty Ltd, SA, $ 87,531 - to develop the UT ("Universal Technology") Zipbolt range of fasteners, for the woodworking and cabinet making industries.

More information is at www.ausindustry.gov.au

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Australia-India Collaborative Research Network formed

The Australian Technology Network of Universities has formed an Australia-India Collaborative Research Network with India's Energy and Resources Institute, its National Institute of Technology and the Delhi College of Engineering.

Professor Archie Johnston, President of the Australian Council of Engineering Deans and Dean of Engineering at the University of Technology Sydney, said the consortium was seeking support from the Australian Government's Australia-India Strategic Research Fund to conduct research and development workshops next year in Australia and India.

The workshops would open the way for research collaboration in priority areas already agreed upon by the Indian and Australian governments – environmental science, renewable energy and micro electronic devices and materials.

Professor Johnston said the initiative had the support of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), which represents more than 100,000 companies and professionals in India. In March this year ASSOCHAM appointed Professor Johnston an Honorary Advisor on education and industry links with Australia.

The Australian Technology Network (ATN) is made up of Curtin University of Technology, the University of South Australia, RMIT University, the Queensland University of Technology and UTS

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New research cluster focuses on Concentration and Separation of Bioactives in Food Science

CSIRO's Food Science Research Cluster has launched a new $7 million research cluster with Monash University and the University of Melbourne to develop techniques for extracting bioactive compounds from plant, meat and dairy agricultural and food processing streams.

Director of the Flagship, Dr Bruce Lee, said that materials that are often thrown away by the food industry, such as grape skins and seeds, olive leaves, cartilage and cow hides, are known to contain compounds with valuable bioactive properties.

“For example, dermatan sulphate which is extracted from cow hides is reported to have anti-inflammatory properties and inhibit the formation of blood clots.

“The Cluster aims to make the extraction of bioactive materials like these more cost-effective thereby reducing the cost of the ingredients and ultimately cutting food production costs,” Dr Lee says.

The cluster will be led by Monash University’s Professor Milton Hearn and over the next three years will develop environmentally acceptable techniques using molecular imprinting of polymers and foam fractionation to extract useful materials in the laboratory.

The Flagship will test the resulting bioactives using biochemical, cell-based and physiological systems and then optimise the production processes to ensure they meet the needs of industry. The technological developments will also be licensed to industry.

University of Melbourne Associate Professor, Mathupandian Ashokkumar, said the Cluster will develop a new ultrasonic atomisation technique to concentrate and separate bioactive compounds.

More information is at http://www.csiro.au/csiro/channel/_ca_dch35.html

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Centre of Excellence in Comparative Genetics launched

The WA Centre of Excellence in Comparative Genetics, headed by Professor Matthew Bellgard, has been officially launched at Murdoch University as part of the Western Australian State Government Centres of Excellence program.

The WA Government has committed $1.45million to the Centre, part of which has been used to build a high resolution display wall (measuring four metres across and three metres high which will be used in genetic analysis.

The display wall is believed to be the first of its kind in Australia and has never been applied to the field of genomics before. It will enable groups of international scientists from different fields to come together in one room to examine a DNA sequence, analyse gene location, gene expression, protein and clinical information in the one place.

The capabilities of the centre’s Bioinformatics Research Laboratory include:

• Comparative Genomics
• Functional genomic and proteomic analysis
• Genome sequence assembly and annotation
• Customisation of a wide range of bioinformatics tools and datasets
• Education and training.

The Centre also incorporates the Centre for Bioinformatics and Biological Computing.

Further information is at http://ccg.murdoch.edu.au/index.php/Main_Page

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Funding for new Tasmanian centres for vegetable and dairy research

The Tasmanian Government and the University of Tasmania have signed a memorandum of understanding covering the investment of $25 million in centres of excellence in vegetable and dairy research and development at the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research (TIAR) over the coming 10-years.

The Tasmanian Government committed to the centres under its SMART Farming policy, and under the initiative the Forthside (vegetable) and Elliott (dairy) Research and Demonstration farms and their associated human, physical and financial resources will transfer to the University, and a further $6 million over four years will be provided for capital and research development."

The centres will be based at the University's Cradle Coast Campus (at Burnie), Stoney Rise (at Devonport), the Elliott and Forthside Research and Demonstration Farms and the TAFE/University Farm (Freer Farm).
TIAR is a joint venture between the Tasmanian Government and the University of Tasmania.

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Position Vacant: Principal Scientist/Engineer - Hydrometallurgy

• Enjoy the lifestyle benefits of a full time career opportunity in either Newcastle NSW or Perth WA - Australia
• Cutting edge technology development projects
• Global team, world leader, two positions

Our client, a global resources sector leader, has a substantial research and development program that focuses on developing and implementing innovative technology. They have a strong track record of working in partnership with internal customers on innovative solutions to technical problems.

We are seeking two mature and experienced individuals to lead technology development projects for operations in the areas of mineral separation and hydrometallurgy. The role will provide strategic leadership to research teams working on projects to optimise the development and commercialisation of innovative technology. Your strong customer focus, technical expertise and communications skills will enable you to work effectively across the business and to establish a constructive internal and external international network. You will be an accomplished manager of people, able to influence and leverage the skills of others to achieve objectives

Your key accountabilities will include:
• Partnering with internal customers to identify and develop revolutionary and evolutionary technology solutions for their operations;
• Managing teams developing emerging technologies from concept stage to adoption by operations;
• Managing resources to ensure delivery of high quality outcomes on time and on budget;
Well connected to University and Government research groups, you will have a track record of achievement in collaboration with scientists and engineers. A higher degree in the Physical Sciences or Engineering is essential.

Remuneration packages will be negotiated to reflect the experience and achievements of the successful applicants. Overseas applicants are encouraged to apply.

To register your interest send a resume via e-mail to richard@exec-search.com.au, fax on +61 8 9481 7040 or mail to exec.search pty ltd, PO Box 787, West Perth, WA 6872. Telephone queries can be directed to Richard Hazlewood +61 8 9481 7033.

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Call for applications: strategic awards for dementia research grants

The Dementia Research Program is a joint initiative between the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Department of Health and Ageing. The program is part of the Australian Government’s Helping Australians with dementia and their carers 'Making Dementia a National Health Priority' initiative.

The dementia research program aims to improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their carers through non-biomedical approaches to research into identified gaps in dementia research. Through a broad consultation process, four themes have been identified for the program:
(i) early intervention and risk reduction;
(ii) assessment, treatment and management;
(iii) care and service; and
(iv) epidemiology and population health.

Applicants for this award must demonstrate that the proposed research:
(i) is innovative and addresses gaps in knowledge in non-biomedical areas of dementia research that have not previously been funded;
(ii) supports collaborative approaches and demonstrates linkages, or, ability to engage with relevant stakeholders and policy-makers to ensure the translation of research outcomes into policy and practice; and
(iii) focuses on the practical applications of evidence based research.

Up to $11.5 million over two or three years will be available for Round 2 under this program. The NHMRC strongly encourages applications from researchers in the field of dementia willing to collaborate with other researchers and share knowledge and skills to ensure translation of research outcomes to improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their carers.

Applicants must consult the supporting documentation which provides further information regarding this program at http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/funding/apply/granttype/strategic/index.htm  

Administrative enquiries can be directed to the NHMRC project officer Mr Adrian Wilson on 02 6217 9458 or email adrian.wilson@nhmrc.gov.au.

Closing date: 5.00pm AEST 23 February 2007. Late applications will not be considered.

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Mergers & Acquisitions 2007

7-8 June 2007, The Arts Centre Melbourne.

Leading practitioners will present on the latest developments of consortium deals including taxation and legal considerations, the impact of private equity in the boardroom, lessons learnt from selling to private equity, the role of M & A in successful overseas expansion, case studies of ABC Learning Centres, Toll Holdings, Nutricia Ltd and the power of global media in the M & A market.

Selected key speakers include:
- David Williamson, Blake Dawson Waldron
- Nick Chipman, PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Simon Moore, The Carlyle Group
- Wayne Lonergan, Lonergan, Edwards & Associates
- David Mustow, Macquarie Bank
- Jon Webster, Allen Arthur Robinson
- Peter Gold, Archer Capital and Paul Calthrop, Bain & Company.

For further information and conference program call +61 3 8534-5011 or visit www.capconnect.com.au  

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Pathways to Commercialisation

The School of Enterprise, University of Melbourne are pleased to announce the 2007 dates for Pathways to Commercialisation.

Who is this course for?
This 5 day course is for anyone working in the technology commercialisation and new product development area that is required to put together effective business cases for investment projects for both internal and external funding. Designed to enhance practical experience gained in the workplace, the principles learned on the program are applied immediately into a team project that runs throughout the week, culminating in each team giving a presentation to an independent panel in a “pitch” for fund.

What will I get out of this course?
„Ï Enhanced ability to commercialise new technologies, products and services
„Ï Business case development skills and capabilities
„Ï Enhanced capacity to build a business case to attract investment finance

Numbers are limited, so be quick!

Cost: $2,995 + GST per person
10% discount for 3 registrations from the same organisation when registered and paid for together.
When: 26th to 30th March 2007.
Where: The University of Melbourne,
Hawthorn Campus
442 Auburn Rd, Hawthorn

NEED TO KNOW MORE?
Click here for more information.

Express your interest in this course or related courses by contacting;
Elise Strande on (03) 9810 3136 or email here 

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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.
We take you beyond access to information by helping you enhance the way your organization competes, discovers, innovates, creates and licenses - so you can market your products more successfully.

Stay ahead of the competition

• Keep up-to-date with new trends and developments
• Track the activities of your business rivals
• Get an early warning of new product launches
• Obtain new ideas for capturing market share
• Avoid costly infringement lawsuits
• Uncover profitable licensing opportunities
• Locate and headhunt experts to enhance your R&D

Let Thomson Scientific help your organization’s ability to innovate, work faster and smarter, and attain outstanding research and business results.

• Patents
• Scientific Literature
• Standards
• Trademarks
• Analytic Tools
• File Histories
• Professional Services
• Search Services

To find out more, go here

You can contact us at: ts.asia.info@thomson.com or +61 2 8587 7948

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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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