Productivity Commission calls for changes to tax concession and CRC program

The Productivity Commission's final report on Public Support for Science and Innovation has called for a number of changes to Australia's public and private R&D system, including tightening of the R&D Tax Concession and changes to the focus of the Cooperative Research Centres program.

The report found that while there are widespread and important economic, social and environmental benefits generated by Australia’s $6 billion public funding support of science and innovation, major improvements are needed in some institutional and program areas.

It concluded that, as it currently operates, the R&D Tax Concession does not screen out R&D that would have happened anyway - and this is the bulk of business R&D.

"This increases the costs to revenue from stimulating any additional R&D and reduces the magnitude of net benefits from the program. At present program settings, the net benefits of the program are not large and could be negative."

The report proposed that:

• only small firms should have access to the 125 per cent concession;
• the existing 175 per cent incremental tax concession scheme should retained for both small and large firms, but enhanced by: adopting a fixed base of an R&D to sales ratio as the basis for payment, rather than the current rolling base; giving start-up firms access to the premium component from which they are currently largely excluded, but taking account of the fact that such firms usually commence with high R&D to sales ratios; assessing the merits of relaxing the beneficial ownership requirement by allowing foreign subsidiaries that hold their IP abroad to have access to the incremental concession only; and potentially even increasing the concession rate for the premium component, or introducing a tiered system with progressively higher subsidy rates that depend on the extent of the increase in a firm’s R&D activity; and
• a narrower definition of R&D be adopted in line with international conventions which requires eligible R&D to be innovative and highly risky (rather than the present condition for R&D to be highly innovative or highly risky).
The report also concluded that the Commercial Ready program supports too many projects that would have proceeded without public funding assistance, and suggested that a repayment mechanism should be introduced to "improve the inducement rate associated with the program".

In relation to the CRC program, the report called for a return to the original objectives of the program - namely, the translation of research outputs into economic, social and environmental benefits, rather than focusing public support on the commercialisation of industrial research alone. It found that business collaborators were the primary beneficiaries of CRCs and proposed that "the share of public funding should be aligned to the level of induced social benefits provided by each CRC, thereby reducing some of the large rates of subsidy to business collaborators".

It recommended that a complementary program should be introduced to support smaller, shorter and more flexible arrangements between groups of firms either independently or in conjunction with universities and public sector research agencies. An enhancement of the ARC Linkage program could be used as a pilot of such a program.

Other areas where changes to the science and innovation system were proposed include:


• reduction of public funding to some industry centred RRDCs to be determined by an independent assessment of the induced spillovers associated with public support; and
• greater flexibility in pay and related reward structures for teachers to help address the ongoing shortage of high quality science and mathematics teachers.

The report, Public Support for Science and Innovation, is available at here

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ALP to invest in Green Car Innovation Fund

The ALP has committed to a $500 million “Green Car Innovation Fund” with the aim of generating $2 billion in investment and manufacturing low emission vehicles in Australia.

Under the initiative, industry will be asked to match a $500 million government contribution on a one-to-three dollar basis. This would fund industry research and development of fuel-efficient cars, such as hybrid and low-emission diesel.

The fund will operate over a five year period from 2011, and will be implemented by an industry taskforce in partnership with a Labor government.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries has cautiously welcomed the fund.

"We believe this is a constructive initiative which will encourage the Australian car industry to increase its future investment in the development and uptake of advanced new vehicle technologies, and help underpin enhanced environmental outcomes," said the FCAI's chief executive Peter Sturrock.

"It is important to acknowledge that this initiative builds on a strongly supportive package of existing policy arrangements," he said.

"It also requires a very significant investment of $1.5 billion by Australian automotive manufacturers."

A background paper on the automotive sector, its contribution to R&D and innovation and the benefits of supporting innovation in the car industry to deal with climate change is here

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New Resources and Chemistry Precinct for Curtin Uni

A $100 million Resources and Chemistry Precinct is to be established at Curtin University of Technology in Bentley, Western Australia.

The Precinct will be an education, research and training centre, bringing together the expertise government agencies and university and industry bodies involved in resources and chemistry related research and education.

The main building of the Precinct will house the relocated Chemistry Centre (WA) and Curtin’s Department of Applied Chemistry in purpose-built facilities.

Ultimately, more than 300 scientists, engineers and support staff in areas such as hydrometallurgy, water quality and treatment, energy, forensic science, environmental and food chemistry, corrosion and biotechnology will be based at the Precinct.

The Precinct is a joint investment between Curtin and BHP Billiton. BHP Billiton has committed $5 million to support the Precinct. The first stage of the Precinct is expected to be operational by January 2009.

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New centres for climate change research

Two new research centres focusing on climate change will be established at Australian universities.

At the University of New South Wales, a new climate change research centre will be funded with $6 million provided by the university.

The UNSW Centre for Climate Change Research, to be jointly headed by Professor Matthew England and Professor Andy Pitman, will bring together some 60 academics across the university in an integrated research program addressing all aspects of climate change, from its causes to its impact on communities, public health, the law, the built environment and the economy.

As well, it will become the focal point for a diverse national network of researchers from universities and major government research groups - including ANSTO, CSIRO, Bureau of Meteorology and Australian Antarctic Division - known as the ARC Research Network for Earth System Science.

Professor Pitman, an expert in climate modelling was lead author of part of the recent global report card issued by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). He has announced his resignation from Macquarie University to join the new centre.

Professor Pitman plans to focus initially on exploring the likelihood of abrupt climate change over Australia driven by terrestrial processes, and exploring the role of increasing carbon dioxide levels in causing plants to shut down transpiration, which leads to higher surface temperatures. He has an Australian Research Council grant to explore this issue over the Murray Darling Basin.

A priority for the new centre is to better understand the mystery of why Australia's most populated region, the continent's east coast, has suffered such major declines in rainfall in recent decades.

The University of Adelaide will open a Research Institute for Climate Change and Sustainability with funding from the South Australian Government and the University of Adelaide. The Institute will be headed by Professor Barry Brook, previously a Professorial Research Fellow at Charles Darwin University, who has taken up the position of the Sir Hubert Wilkins Chair of Climate Change.

As part of his role at the University, Professor Brook will help to advise government, industry and the community on how to tackle climate change.

Professor Brook was this month awarded the Edgeworth David Medal from the Royal Society of New South Wales. The medal is awarded for distinguished contributions by a scientist under the age of 35 of any discipline, for work in Australia or which assists the advancement of Australian science.

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School of Environment and Society for ANU

The ANU will establish a new Fenner School of Environment and Society to focus on issues such as climate change, water management and biodiversity loss.

The School will combine the resources of the former Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies (CRES), and the School for Resources, Environment and Society (SRES).

It will be headed by Earth System scientist Professor Will Steffen, former CRES Director and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research).

The Fenner School for Environment and Society is named in honour of Professor Frank Fenner, who was instrumental in establishing environmental and resource research at ANU as the Foundation Director of CRES in 1973. Known also for his pioneering work in the eradication of smallpox, Professor Fenner is a passionate advocate of environmental research.

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Victorian research collaboration to focus on water

The University of Melbourne and Monash University are collaborating in a new venture called Uniwater to bring together expertise in water-related research.

Each university will contribute more than $1 million over three years.

The Director of Uniwater is Professor John Langford who has headed the University of Melbourne's Melbourne Water Research Centre, and a Research Development Manager will be located at Monash.

Uniwater's independent board is chaired by Professor John Lovering, geologist and a former President of the Murray Darling Basin Commission and Chairman of the Victorian Environment Conservation Council.

Uniwater has four strategic objectives --

• maximising environmental return on investment in repair of rivers, groundwater and catchments.
• realising the potential of irrigated and dryland agriculture using less water.
• providing a reliable and sustainable water supply to Australia's growing cities, and
• developing water policies and institutions within a Federation framework.
Uniwater's research will focus on two geographic locations -- Melbourne and the Goulburn Valley.

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2007 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science - Closing 27th of April

Closing Date: Friday 27 April 2007, 5.00 pm AEST

We are seeking nominations for any of the following five (5) prestigious science and science teaching annual awards:

- Prime Minister's Prize for Science 
-  Science Minister's Prize for Life Scientist of the Year 
-  Malcolm Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year 
-  Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools 
-  Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools

Information about the Prizes and the online nomination process is available on website here.

Contact Information: Science Prizes Secretariat, Department of Education, Science and Training, Tel: (02) 6240 5066, Fax (02) 6123 6168, email: pmprize@dest.gov.au  

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Clinical Research Excellence 2007

Clinical Research Excellence 2007 will bring together leading medical, clinical and allied health professionals, including internationally recognised speakers, in a program that will inspire participants to achieve even greater national and international recognition for Australia’s excellence in clinical research.

Registrations now OPEN: www.crx07.com  

When: 17, 18, 19 August 2007

Where: School of Enterprise, The University of Melbourne, Hawthorn- Melbourne

• Build your clinical research expertise
• Work with outstanding local and international speakers
• Network with key influential decision makers
• Contribute to developments in national and international excellence

Under the guidance of Professor Peter Ebeling, a team of leading professionals have developed an educational and thought provoking business and scientific program.

Conference themes will include; ‘Creating pathways in clinical research training’, ‘Partnering science with industry’, and ‘Expanding clinical research sites in Australia - how can we compete?’, alongside many more.

The trade exhibition, business partnering event, an enjoyable social program, and pre and post conference workshops will complement the scientific program, ensuring that participants leave the conference with valuable tools, knowledge and contacts to expand their ability to undertake good clinical research.

For more information or to register go to: http://www.crx07.com/Registration.htm  
Contact CRX07 Conference Secretariat on (+61 3) 9682 0500 or email: info@crx07.com     

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2007 Cooperative Research Centre Conference to share innovation experiences

A selection of high-profile speakers will share their perspectives on the innovation process at the 2007 Cooperative Research Centres Association (CRCA) Conference on 16 -18 May in Perth, Western Australia.

In 2007, the conference looks beyond CRC-based research and invites anyone interested in research and development to attend the Conference and hear eight highly-regarded international and national speakers present their own invaluable perspectives on science and technology innovation.

2007 CRCA Conference Chairman Mark Woffenden said some of the Conference Keynote Speakers include Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Jim Peacock; Retired Lockheed Martin Corporation Chairman and CEO, Mr Norman Augustine; and Professor Anil Gupta, Executive Vice-Chairman of India’s National Innovation Foundation – the guru of grass-roots invention.

“In addition, Professor Leo Tan from Singapore’s Nayang Technological University will give his insights into how Singapore has implemented innovative solutions to deal with domestic problems such as the creation of a sustainable, high-quality water supply for the island,” Mr Woffenden said.

“ANU Professor Tim Brown will provide an insight into how the Chinese Government has planned to use science and technology as pivotal drivers for continued economic expansion.”

Other keynote speakers presenting at the conference include:
-

• Dr BI Choe: Director, Office of Strategic Planning and Policy, Samsung Medical Centre, Korea
  
• Mr David White: Director of Lifelong Learning, Education and Training Policy Education and Culture Directorate General, European Commission, Belgium
  
• Mr Anthony S. K. Wong: Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Innovation and Technology Commission, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong.
  
  

To find out more, or to register for the 2007 CRCA Conference, please visit: www.crca.asn.au/conference  

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Intellectual Property (IP) Management and Commercialisation for Hospitals

BioMed North Limited, Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service and Sydney West Area Health Service are pleased to announce their Inaugural Conference focusing exclusively on ‘Intellectual Property (IP) Management and Commercialisation for Hospitals’.

When: Wednesday 23rd May 2007

Where: Centenary Lecture Theatre,
Royal North Shore Hospital,
Reserve Road,
St Leonards, Sydney, NSW

The program is an exciting one with a number of case studies including Commercialisation of PAPP-A; From Clinical Need to Medical Device – The Laryngoscope Story; and Commercialisation of Stem Cells – the Journey so far, as well as presentations on the importance of IP, insights into the process of establishing an Office of Commercialisation within a hospital environment and other vital elements of commercialisation.

Importantly, staff from Northern Sydney Central Coast Health, Sydney West Area Health Service and South East Sydney Illawarra Area Health Services in NSW, and staff from their Offices of Commercialisation will share experiences from their IP commercialization efforts with conference attendees.

Who Should Attend:
Hospital-based executives, medical researchers, clinicians, support staff and policy makers. From industry: IP investors and advisers, lawyers, patent attorneys, and health commercialisation professionals. 

REGISTRATION DETAILS: One day Conference Registration
(includes lunch and refreshments) is $185.00 per person

FOR PROGRAM & REGISTRATION DETAILS, and SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES VISIT:
http://www.officeofcommercialisation.com

For Further Information Contact:
Lindy Ferris on Ph: (02) 9926 8348

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A Practical Guide to Managing Intellectual Property in the Public Sector

Friday, 30 March 2007, Novotel, Canberra

Spruson&Ferguson, together with Learning Network Solutions will be holding a practical one day seminar on Managing Intellectual Property in the Public Sector. The seminar, which is designed to be highly interactive, will look at key issues specific to IP management in the public sector including identifying, recording, managing and commercialising IP.

For more information or to request a seminar brochure, please contact Learning Network Solutions on (02) 9585 2304 or email info@learningnetworks.com.au  

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Introduction to Cost & Schedule Analysis

Risk Analysis is a key component of the risk management process, used to model uncertainty and risks to meeting objectives. It produces an overall picture of risk exposure, for cost/budget, time/schedule or other quantitative measures.

This one-day workshop course for up to eight people, uses hands-on Predict! Risk Analyser exercises and practical examples to consolidate learning including:

• Basic concepts of risk, opportunities and uncertainty and how to model them
• Understanding the required data inputs and results outputs of the analysis.
• How to build cost and schedule models

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
The course is suitable for people who either want a basic introduction to risk analysis, or those who wish to understand how to build and use cost and schedule models well, including:
• Cost & Schedule Estimators
• Risk analysts and risk coordinators
• Managers responsible for setting and managing contingency budgets

BENEFITS
Delegates will be able to apply risk analysis in a confident manner, to produce information for bids, contract negotiations and ongoing contingency planning.

DATE: Friday, 1st June 2007
8:00am - 5:30pm

COST: $950 + GST
This price also includes a fully functional copy of Predict! Risk Analyser licensed for 60 days.
10% discount will apply where 2 or more from the same organisation register at the same time, or with the registration of “Introduction to Cost & Schedule Analysis”

VENUE: Graduate House
220 Leicester Street
Carlton VIC 3053

Places are strictly limited to 8 so we do encourage you to register your interest early to secure a place. For more information and to secure a place contact Elise Strande on (03) 9810 3136 or email e.strande@soe.unimelb.edu.au.

Please visit our website here for further information.

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Introduction to Risk Management

Every organisation must manage risk (both threats and opportunities) and increasingly this is done through a formal process. However, risk process documentation alone is not enough to transform an organisation's culture to one of risk maturity.

Using case study examples to consolidate learning, this interactive one-day workshop covers all the basics required to help people understand their role in risk management, and the benefits to be gained, whatever their position in the organisation including:

• Practical understanding of the concepts of risk and uncertainty
• Risk context and planning
• Risk appetite and the importance of proactive risk mitigation
• Risk management techniques including risk parsing, risk prioritisation and assessment, 3-point estimating, Contingency planning and presentation of risk information

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
• Project & Program Managers/Leaders
• Risk practitioners (owners and leaders)
• Risk coordinators and administrators
• Business Risk Managers

BENEFITS
Delegates will be better equipped to apply their organisations risk management process in a practical and consistent way, and will be able to move and work across the organisation, applying the same techniques to prioritise, report, present, communicate and manage risk.  Using these principles, they will gain confidence to make decisions locally or to escalate to senior managers in a timely manner to meet objectives and deliverables.

DATE: Thursday, 31st May 2007
9:00am - 5:00pm

COST: $550 + GST
10% discount will apply where 2 or more from the same organisation register at the same time, or with the registration of “Introduction to Cost & Schedule Analysis”

VENUE: Graduate House
220 Leicester Street
Carlton VIC 3053

Places are strictly limited to 20 so we do encourage you to register your interest early to secure a place. For more information and to secure a place contact Elise Strande on (03) 9810 3136 or email e.strande@soe.unimelb.edu.au.

Please visit our website here for further information.

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Specialist Certificate in Clinical Research (Biomedical Research Management)

Thinking of Further Education?

Enrol now for the April 2007 intake in Biomedical Research Management (But hurry as places are restricted to 20 places)

With the longer term goal of creating clinical outcomes for projects in human and animal health, including medical devices and dentistry, this course has been designed for professionals who are involved with running biomedical research projects, those seeking a more senior project management role on such projects and research managers who would like to transfer their project management skills to biomedical projects. This may include staff working in CCRE’s, research organisations, universities, start-up companies, as well as research fellows and postgraduate students.

This course covers all the important areas that effective biomedical research managers need to be conversant with, and make decisions about, to develop sound biomedical research project plans and budgets. The focus is then on developing skills for the proactive management and communication projects where uncertainty is the norm. Finally, assessment is built around demonstrating the ability to apply skills learned to a real work based project.

PART 1 – April 16, 17, 19 & 20
PART 2 –May 21, 22, 23 & 25

NEED TO KNOW MORE? Check out more information at;

http://www.soe.unimelb.edu.au/biomedicalresearchmanagement  

Express your interest in this course or related courses by contacting;

Elise Strande on (03) 9810 3136 or email e.strande@soe.unimelb.edu.au  

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Are you a health care professional working with Infectious Diseases?

The School of Enterprise, University of Melbourne, is pleased to announce that we will be holding a 4 day short course on Infectious Diseases on November 10th, 11th and December 8th, 9th.

NUMBERS ARE LIMITED, so be quick!

Despite medical advances that have produced hundreds of drugs that are safe and effective against bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, infectious diseases are still a major cause of death, disability and social and economic upheaval for millions around the world. This course focuses on clinical research to address diseases that are responsible for more that 90% of deaths from infectious diseases around the world every year.

Specialist Certificate in Clinical Research (Immunisation and Infectious Diseases)

The 25 points specialist certificate is a Masters level award and is achieved by completion of the two four day subjects, Clinical Immunisation Research and Infectious Diseases, with associated assessment. It provides full credit into the Masters program in Clinical Research.

NEED TO KNOW MORE? CHECK OUT INFORMATION AT:

http://www.soe.unimelb.edu.au/iid  

Cost: $1975 + GST

When: November 10th, 11th and December 8th, 9th

Where: The University of Melbourne
Level 3, 442 Auburn Road
Hawthorn, Victoria Australia 3122

Express your interest in this course and related courses by contacting: 

Brad Atkins on (03) 9810 3185 or email b.atkins@soe.unimelb.edu.au  

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In this week’s issue of New Scientist - HOW TO MAKE BETTER CHOICES

Our lives are full of choices – what to wear, what to eat, who to partner with, what job to take and how to raise children. We jealously guard our right to choose yet sometimes we make bad decisions that leave us unhappy or full of regret. Can science help us make better choices? The mental processes behind decision-making are a hot topic of investigation and thankfully, scientists are discovering things that may help us choose more wisely. Pages 35-43

Subscribe for just $220 per year + receive a FREE New Scientist Bag.

The prices (in Australian dollars) are as follows:
2 year subscription: Aus $398 + New Scientist Bag
1 year subscription: Aus $220 + New Scientist Bag
6 month: Aus $130

Subscribe to New Scientist for what’s new in science, what’s new in technology and what’s new each week.

Click here to subscribe.

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Looking for news about water management?

Land and Water News is Australia's only independent, comprehensive digest of news and developments in the natural resource management sector.

It is an essential information tool for issues relating to land and water management.

Each issue of the e-magazine (22 editions per year) includes news, reports, policy analysis, legislative developments at State and Federal level, research findings on natural resource management, salinity, water policy and greenhouse issues.

One subscription allows 5 people within your organisation to receive Land and Water News directly.

To view a sample issue of Land and Water News, please go to http://news.envirocentre.com.au/lawn/sample.php

For subscription information, please click here

For further information, please call 03 8534 5017.

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