National code on responsible research released

A new national code on responsible research practices and handling misconduct has been released by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the Australian Research Council (ARC) and Universities Australia.

The Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research advocates and describes best practice in research for researchers and institutions, as well as setting out a framework for handling breaches of the Code. While the document is aimed at universities and researchers, it can be applied by any organisation involved in conducting research.

The Code provides advice on how to manage research data and materials; how to publish and disseminate research findings (including proper attribution of authorship); obligations in peer review; how to collaborate across institutions; and how to manage conflicts of interest. The Code also provides guidance to institutions when establishing independent external inquiries to evaluate allegations of serious misconduct.

The Code can be found at www.nhmrc.gov.au

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OPAL shutdown to continue

The shutdown of the OPAL research reactor due to the problem of dislodged plates in the reactor’s fuel assemblies is to continue longer than the predicted eight weeks.

The new reactor, which reached full power in November last year and was officially opened by the Prime Minister on April 20 this year, was shut down on July 27 as a result of problems identifed in its first eleven months of operation. These included seepage of light water from the reactor pool into the heavy water contained in the reflector vessel surrounding the core, and the dislodgement of fuel plates in each of the three fuel assemblies inserted into OPAL’s core in the last monthly fuel change.

Analysis and testing of the fuel assembly fault has been undertaken by the fuel manufacturer in Argentina, and the results will determine the measures needed to fix the problems. Returning to power will then require approval by the independent safety regulator ARPANSA.

ANSTO’s Chief of Operations, Dr Ron Cameron, said the detailed examination and removal of the fuel assemblies, including taking high resolution video footage of the fuel elements at the bottom of the 13 metre deep reactor pool, had been painstaking and had required progressive approval and consultation with ARPANSA.

“The responsibility for fixing the problem is with the reactor designer under the reactor warranty. “ At this stage, ANSTO cannot give a firm time as to when the reactor will be back to full power and producing neutrons for research,” he said.

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National Survey of Research Commercialisation released

The National Survey of Research Commercialisation (NSRC), produced by the Department of Education, Science and Training, has found that commercialisation of research conducted by publicly funded research organisations, including universities, publicly funded research agencies (CSIRO, AIMS, DSTO and ANSTO), and medical research institutes, has continued to grow.

In 2004 institutions reported income from licenses, options and assignments (LOAs) of over $59 million, contracts and consultancies with end-users worth almost $900 million, and equity holdings valued at almost $185 million. Institutions estimated that returns from sales were in the order of $3 billion in 2003 and $4 billion in 2004. In 2004 the cost to institutions of conducting research commercialisation activities, including staffing and associated administration costs, was almost $70 million.

The survey found that most commercialisation indicators have increased over the period 2000 to 2004. Across all institutions the total number of:

• invention disclosures increased by 77%;
• patents and plant breeder rights issued worldwide increased by 79%;
• LOAs yielding income per year increased by 36%;
• start-up companies operational at the end of each year nearly tripled, with the
• value of institutional equity in start ups increasing by 41%; and
• commercialisation staff increased by 74%.

However, during the same period, the numbers of licences, options and assignments (LOAs) and start-up companies decreased.

The report noted that large proportion of IP and LOA activity is carried out by a relatively small number of institutions, which include CSIRO and a selection of universities, and these institutions account for much of the income generation. However, the majority of institutions are active in both research contracts and consultancies and commercialisation skills development and transfer activities.

The report and a companion volume presenting a series of commercialisation case studies reported by respondents to the survey are available at: www.dest.gov.au/research/NSRCR03_04

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Private sector funding for Australian contribution to international reef study

A partnership between BHP Billiton, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) has been announced which will allow three Australian reef sites to be studied as part of CReefs, a global research initiative to document and assess the diversity of coral reef ecosystems.

This $3.4 million project, over four years, will enable marine scientists and taxonomists to collect and identify samples during a series of field trips to the Great Barrier Reef’s Heron and Lizard Islands and Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia.

Great Barrier Reef Foundation Chief Executive Judy Stewart said the partnership has delivered urgently needed private funding into the reef research sector.

"The private sector’s investment in this effort is both timely and important. Australian reefs are rich in biodiversity and are hugely valuable storehouses of information. To exclude them from a study of the world’s coral reefs would be unthinkable," Mrs Stewart said.

Launched in late 2005, CReefs (www.creefs.org) is the coral reef component of the Census of Marine Life (www.coml.org), a global network of researchers in more than 80 nations engaged in a ten year initiative to assess and explain the diversity, distribution, and abundance of marine life in oceans - past, present, and future.

The partnership will see the implementation of an employee participation program for BHP Billiton staff who will engage in the research project by attending field trips and assisting with data collection.

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$70 million for international greenhouse reduction programs

New funding for three measures to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions through international cooperation has been announced by the Federal Government.

The $70.7 million funding announcement includes a $50 million commitment to the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate. Australia's initial investment of $100 million has been fully committed to 63 projects. The second installment will fund a new round of cooperative projects to develop and deploy more efficient technologies.

$15.7 million has been allocated to a new initiative, the Asia-Pacific Forestry Skills and Capacity Building Programme, to assist regional countries improve the ability of their forests to capture and store carbon dioxide and help to develop their forest management expertise.

Seed funding of $5 million has been provided to initiate the Asia-Pacific Network for Energy Technology. APNet will improve linkages between researchers in the APEC region on emerging low emissions energy and energy efficiency technologies, accelerating their development and contributing to medium- and long-term reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

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Business group calls for national low emission technology strategy

Urgent development of a National Low Emission Technology Strategy is required to complement an Australian emissions trading scheme, according to a group of leading Australian businesses.

The Australian Business and Climate Group has been formed by companies including Deloitte, Anglo Coal, BP Australia, Mirvac, Rio Tinto, Santos, Swiss Re, VicSuper and Westpac.

In a new report, Stepping Up: Accelerating the Deployment of Low Emission Technology in Australia, the group has called on the Federal Government to take over research and development into emissions technology from the states, and recommends that low-emissions technology be in place by 2016

The group has warned that if Australia does not succeed in carbon-emissions capture and storage by 2015 then nuclear power will be developed by default.

The group says the Federal Government must be a world leader in reducing carbon emissions and pass on clean-energy technology to developing nations.

Lorraine Stephenson from Deloitte, who launched the report, said Australia could not afford a fragmented approach to climate change.

"Government and business needs to work more closely in driving essential technological change, otherwise we risk business not making the necessary investment," she said.

"Achieving greenhouse gas targets, in line with scientific recommendations, will require an integrated, national response which is strongly linked to international action."

The Group is seeking to stimulate debate in Australia between government, industry and the community to determine appropriate policies and measures to trigger a transformation of the energy market towards low emission technologies, while leveraging national comparative advantage

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New company replaces Forest and Wood Products R&D Corporation

The Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation (FWPRDC) has been replaced by a new industry-owned company, Forest and Wood Products Australia.

The new company will continue the FWPRDC’s research and development work, and will also undertake marketing and promotion on behalf of Australia’s forest industries.

It will be funded through industry levies and matching Commonwealth payments for research and development. Levy payers include all Australian forest growers and managers, hardwood and softwood sawmillers, panel, plywood and veneer manufacturers, woodchip exporters and timber importers.

Board members and staff of the former FWPRDC have been transferred into the new company. The Chairman is Ron Adams, and Dr Glen Kile, formerly Executive Director of the FWPRDC, has been appointed Managing Director. The first annual general meeting will be held in mid-2008.

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Plantation Hardwoods Research Fund

The Queensland Government established the Plantation Hardwoods Research Fund (PHRF) to assist the development of a viable plantation-based hardwoods industry in Queensland.

The PHRF will support collaborative R&D projects that make Queensland a more attractive location for private investment in hardwood plantation establishment or processing, including the processing and manufacturing sectors.

The Queensland Government will provide grants of up to $500,000 (ex GST) for successful projects. Grants of larger amounts may be considered depending on the level of economic and financial return to Queensland.

Funding is provided on a 2:1 basis ($2 of PHRF funding for every $1 of eligible contribution by project participants). It is anticipated there will be only one round of offers.

To be eligible for funding, projects must:
• contribute to the aims of the Plantation Hardwoods Research Fund as outlined in the Guidelines
• demonstrate economic and financial benefits to industry and the greater Queensland economy and
• involve at least one industry participant external to Government.

The PHRF Guidelines provide further information on the funding scheme, a list of preferred research topics and instructions on how to apply.

The PHRF was established to support the Queensland Government’s Statewide Forests Process.

The closing date for project proposals is Monday 5 November 2007.

For more information contact:

Department of State Development
Project Development and Facilitation – Timber
Web: www.sd.qld.gov.au/hardwoods  
Email: hardwoods@sd.qld.gov.au  
Phone: +61 7 3224 6516

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2007/08 DuPont Innovation Awards - Enter Now

The 2007/08 DuPont Australia & New Zealand Innovation Awards are now open for entry.

Launched in 2004, the biennial awards program is an independently judged competition that recognizes and rewards the introduction of a new and innovative technology, application, product or service.

The Awards are free to enter, and are open to individuals, companies or tertiary students.

The program is an official event of the National Innovation Festival, with each of the seven categories supported by leaders in the fields of science, industry and environmental sustainability.

Winners of these prestigious awards will be announced at the DuPont Innovation Awards presentation in Sydney in May 2008 and gain opportunities to further develop designs and ideas through access to industry and government networks.

2007/08 AWARD CATEGORIES
1. Building Innovation - sponsored by Fletcher Building Limited
2. Medical & Healthcare - sponsored by Invetech
3. Sustainable Energy - sponsored by BHP Billiton
4. Sustainable Services - sponsored by Worley Parsons
5. Agriculture & Food Production - sponsored by Cargill Australia Limited
6. Performance Materials - sponsored by Plantic
7. Tertiary Student Award - sponsored by ABB

KEY DATES
May 1, 2007 - Call for Entry Opens
November 30, 2007 - Call for Entry Closes
March 2008 - Finalists Announced
May 2008 - Award Presentation in Sydney

Find out more and download an entry form here.  

Or contact:

DuPont Innovation Awards, c/- Two de Force, Suite 5 / 50 Reservoir St, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Awards Hotline - Tel: +61 2 9923 6144
Email - innovation@aus.dupont.com  

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A Practical Guide to Managing Intellectual Property Effectively

Friday, 5 October 2007, Rydges South Park, Adelaide

Spruson&Ferguson, together with Learning Network Solutions will be holding a one day seminar on managing and understanding the dynamics of IP within an organisation. The seminar is highly interactive and will look at key issues including developing strategies to create an IP framework within your organisation to manage IP effectively, the practical considerations in identifying, recording and managing IP, and the issues arising in IP commercialisation. This is another in the successful series of seminars already conducted by Spruson&Ferguson in Canberra, Brisbane and Melbourne. The seminar is based on Spruson&Ferguson's work with the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department to develop an Australian Government 'IP Better Practice Manual' for use by all Commonwealth departments and agencies.

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

For more information about Spruson&Ferguson please see website here.

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