R&D INFO, December 4, 2003
SUMMARY
NEWS ALERTS
1.
NEW RESEARCH PRIORITY GOALS ANNOUNCED
2. S&T MAPPING REPORT WARNS OF SCIENCE WEAKNESS
3. 2004 CRC ROUND ANNOUNCED
4. NEW APPROACH TO ARC GRANT ASSESSMENT
5. VICTORIA TO BOOST RESOURCES R&D SUPPORT
CONFERENCE
6. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF SYNTHETIC METALS
BUSINESS SERVICES
7.
AUSTRADE'S AUSTRALIAN SUPPLIERS DATABASE
8. SPRUSON&FERGUSON COMMERCIALISATION SERVICES
9. ASSISTANCE FOR ENTERING THE UNITED STATES MARKET
NEWS
ALERTS
1. NEW RESEARCH PRIORITY GOALS ANNOUNCED
The Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Dr Brendan Nelson, has announced four additional goals within the set of National Research Priorities (NRPs), following a period of consultation with humanities and social sciences research leaders.
The new research goals are:
* Responding to climate change and variability (NRP: Environmentally Sustainable Australia)
* Strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric (NRP: Good Health)
* Promoting an innovation culture and economy (NRP: Frontier Technologies)
* Understanding our region and the world (NRP: Safeguarding Australia)
Further information about the National Research Priorities is at http://www.dest.gov.au/priorities
2. S&T MAPPING REPORT WARNS OF SCIENCE WEAKNESS
The report of the Federal Government's science and innovation mapping initiative has concluded that while Australia has technological advantage in some areas such as agricultural science, medical science and primary metals, and research strengths in emerging areas such as biotechnology and photonics, there is evidence that our scientific standing in the world, as measured by citation impact of research, may be at risk.
The
report, prepared by a taskforce within the Department of Education, Science
and Technology headed by Dr Judy West, assessed the strengths and weaknesses
of Australia's science and innovation system, both in the public and private
sectors. Of 19 key findings, 8 were in the `strengths' category, while 11 warned
of weaknesses.
The report, Mapping Australian Science & Innovation, is available at http://www.dest.gov.au/mapping/
The Federal Science Minister, Peter McGauran, has announced the 2004 round of the Cooperative Research Centres Program, with the objectives and selection criteria to be focused on industrial, commercial and economic growth. Prospective applicants need to lodge a Notification of Intent by 30 January 2004, and successful applicants are expected to be announced in December 2004, to commence operations in July 2005. More information is at http://www.crc.gov.au.
4. NEW APPROACH TO ARC GRANT ASSESSMENT
The Australian Research Council (ARC) has announced plans to overhaul its grant peer review process. The ARC is proposing to replace the existing Expert Advisory Committees that assess grants with a remodelled "college of experts" that will prioritise funding decisions across disciplines, with the aim of providing consistency with the government's National Research Priorities.
5. VICTORIA TO BOOST RESOURCES R&D SUPPORT
The Victorian Government is planning to boost its support for earth sciences as part of its new resources statement, Promoting Victoria's Prospects - The Challenge for the Mining, Extractive and Petroleum Industries.
Delivering the statement in Parliament, the Minister for Resources, Theo Theophanous, said the Government would drive change and science for the minerals and petroleum industries by supporting R&D in earth sciences, downstream industry development and social and environmental sciences.
Particular areas being considered are support for the development of cleaner coal technologies, support for the international Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum in Melbourne in September next year, support for CRCs involved in clean coal research, and support for new techniques to understand the geology of Victoria.
CONFERENCE
6. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF SYNTHETIC METALS
Synthetic Metals: The role and impact of nanoscience and nanotechnologies
28
June - 2 July 2004
University of Wollongong
The International Conference on the Science and Technology of Synthetic Metals is the premier biannual conference for scientists working on the latest advances in Synthetic Metals.
Synthetic Metals such as conducting polymers and carbon nanotubes are finding application in areas as diverse as artificial muscles, electronic noses, plastic solar cells, light emitting diodes, corrosion inhibition, biological and chemical sensors, electronic textiles and nerve cell communications.
Conference
Sessions will include:
* Nanotubes and Nanostructures
* Molecular Electronics
* Inherently Conductive Polymers
* Organic Magnets
* Organic Spintronics
* Advanced Coatings
* Biofunctional Materials
* Materials for Advanced Display Technologies
* Energy - Materials for Conversion and Storage
* Transport Phenomena in Single Molecules
* Devices: Electrolytes, Interconnects and Packaging
* Electronic Fibres and other Unconventional Substrates
* Organic Conductors and Superconductors
Website:
http://icsm2004.uow.edu.au/
E-mail: icsm2004@uow.edu.au
Telephone: 02 4221 5473
Facsimile: 02 4221 3114
BUSINESS
SERVICES
7. AUSTRADE'S AUSTRALIAN SUPPLIERS DATABASE
Austrade is the Federal Government's export facilitation agency, offering practical advice, market intelligence and ongoing support to Australian businesses looking to develop international markets.
Austrade's Australian Suppliers Database is a directory of Australian registered companies who are exporters or have the capability to become exporters. Overseas buyers use the Database to search for Australian suppliers and their products and services.
Every month 40,000 visitors access the Database to source quality Australian products and services in an extensive range of industries.
A listing in the Database will contribute to your company's profile on the internet and increase your chances of being found by overseas buyers.
To get your company listed in the Australian Suppliers Database simply register your company details on the Austrade website.
Your listing will include your company's contact details, a description of your products and services, a marketing message about your company, a live link to your web site and your company logo.
For
more information call Austrade on 13 28 78 or visit
http://www.austrade.gov.au/getnoticed
8. SPRUSON&FERGUSON COMMERCIALISATION SERVICES
Our intellectual property commercial transaction services have grown to keep pace with recent robust growth in the commercialisation of Australian research and technology.
Leading technology commercialisation lawyer Rob McInnes has joined Spruson&Ferguson and our associated legal firm Spruson&Ferguson Lawyers as a Principal.
He brings a wealth of experience in assisting research institutions and technology ventures to manage their IP portfolios and extract commercial returns from their R&D investment.
Rob assists clients with the structuring, negotiation and drafting of commercial agreements and advises new venture founders and institutions on investment readiness.
For
more information on our technology commercialisation and new venture services,
contact Rob by email rob.mcinnes@sprusons.com.au
or phone (02) 9207 0888.
9. ASSISTANCE FOR ENTERING THE UNITED STATES MARKET
In the past 24 months ASRIC has been actively commercialising Australian technology in the United States and is establishing an office there in January 2004.
The objective of this office will be to assist Australian businesses to enter the US market by completing some or all of the following activities:
1 US market assessment and market entry strategy development.
2 Identify, meet and develop relationships with potential customers or distributors.
3 Conduct negotiations for technology sales and licensing transactions.
4 Project manage technology transfers.
For
more information contact:
Duncan Stone, duncan@asric.com.au,
0402 987 000
Marco Gabbiani, mgabbiani@asric.com.au,
0401 589 687