R&D INFO, May 8, 2003


SUMMARY
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NEWS ALERTS


1. NATIONAL INNOVATION COUNCIL ESTABLISHED
2. NEW COMMERCIALISATION PROGRAM FOR VICTORIA
3. DESERT KNOWLEDGE AUSTRALIA UNDER WAY
4. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BIOSCIENCE PRECINCT EXPANDED
5. WA LAUNCHES IP POLICY

AWARDS

6. NSW BioFirst AWARDS: ROUND 3 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

TRAINING COURSES

7. ENHANCE YOUR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS IN COMMERCIALISATION, PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
8. MASTER OF BIOTECHNOLOGY & BUSINESS
9. STRATEGIC MARKETING OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS AND INNOVATIONS

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

10. DIRECTOR - Science, Technology, Environment and Resources Group, Department of the Parliamentary Library

EVENTS

11. THE 2003 WARREN CENTRE INNOVATION LECTURE

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NEWS ALERTS
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1. NATIONAL INNOVATION COUNCIL ESTABLISHED

The Federal Government has established a National Innovation Council which will act as an ambassadorial group to raise awareness of the benefits of local innovation. The Council, to be chaired by David Miles, will replace the National Innovation Awareness Council. It will be charged with the responsibility of developing strategic links with key groups and individuals across Australia to promote innovation. Mr Miles is also Chair of the Industry Research and Development Council and Chair of Uniseed Pty Ltd.

2. NEW COMMERCIALISATION PROGRAM FOR VICTORIA

The Victorian budget has provided funding of $25 million over four years for a new commercialisation program called VicStart, which will replace the current Technology Commercialisation Program. The VicStart program will focus on strengthening the technology transfer links between public sector research and the commercial sector; building business skills needed for commercialisation; and facilitating access to finance.

3. DESERT KNOWLEDGE AUSTRALIA UNDER WAY

The Northern Territory Government is proceeding with the development of Desert Knowledge Australia, allocating $2.2 million for headworks at the Desert Knowledge Precinct at the Arid Zone Farm area in Alice Springs. The Government has also introduced legislation to establish a statutory corporation to be known as Desert Knowledge Australia - an umbrella body to facilitate and promote the development of numerous initiatives for social and economic growth in desert Australia. The new Desert Knowledge CRC will be located at the Desert Knowledge Precinct. Future initiatives for the Precinct include a Graduate School in Desert Knowledge, an International Desert Innovation Centre and a cultural centre.

4. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BIOSCIENCE PRECINCT EXPANDED

The South Australian Government is to contribute almost $6 million to the expansion of South Australia's Bioscience Precinct in West Thebarton, where purpose-built commercial research and manufacturing facilities will be located. The government funding will cover the purchase of 4.8 hectares at West Thebarton Road which will be added to the current 2.2 hectare site, as well as road infrastructure and site development. The SA Government has set as its target the creation of 50 new bioscience companies and 2,500 jobs by 2010.

5. WA LAUNCHES IP POLICY

The Western Australian Government has launched an intellectual property policy with the aim of encouraging innovation in the public sector by enabling government employees, including those at universities and research centers, to receive monetary payments from revenues generated from successfully commercialized IP. The new policy will also enable greater access for industry to commercial opportunities that may arise from IP and innovations developed by or for Government. The new policy can be accessed at http://www.doir.wa.gov.au/ip

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AWARDS
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6. NSW BioFirst AWARDS: ROUND 3 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

New South Wales Government, Australia

The New South Wales Government's BioFirst Awards Program is a major initiative arising from the whole-of-Government biotechnology strategy BioFirst, launched by the NSW Premier, The Hon Bob Carr MP, in August 2001.

A NSW BioFirst Award will top up a package being created by a publicly funded research institution in NSW to attract a biotechnology research worker to NSW. An Award is a one-line grant of $100,000 a year for three years. Up to five new Awards will be offered in this round. Institutions will be permitted to use the BioFirst Award funding flexibly.

Two BioFirst Awards funding rounds have been conducted, and six Awards have been given. The NSW Government is again looking to attract to New South Wales outstanding individuals with exceptional, internationally renowned research careers in disciplines relevant to biotechnology in areas such as health, agriculture, environment, and bioinformatics.

Individual research workers who are interested in applying for a NSW BioFirst Award should contact appropriate NSW institutions to discuss opportunities to work in NSW. Research workers already resident in New South Wales are not eligible. One joint application completed by the researcher and the institution should be submitted to the BioFirst Awards Committee.

Closing Date for applications: 27 June 2003.

Further information and the format of the application may be obtained from the following NSW Government department websites:
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au
http://www.biofirst.nsw.gov.au

Enquires about the BioFirst Awards may be addressed to:
Ms Rowena Tucker
Principal Policy Analyst for Biotechnology
Research & Development Policy Branch
NSW Department of Health
73 Miller Street
North Sydney NSW 2059 Australia
Tel: +61 2 9391 9208 Fax: +61 2 9391 9232
Email: rtuck@doh.health.nsw.gov.au

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TRAINING COURSES
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7. ENHANCE YOUR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS IN COMMERCIALISATION, PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Mid-year enrolments are now being accepted for:

* Master of Project Management

* Master of Science and Technology Commercialisation

* Graduate Diploma in Business Enterprise

* PhD Programs in Commercialisation, Project Management and Entrepreneurship

The Education Centre for Innovation and Commercialisation at The University of Adelaide has a strong faculty with the ability to integrate theory and real-world application. Each course (subject) entails a brief attendance period of usually 3 days with directed readings, internet sessions and group work-based assignments.

Attendance sessions may be available from both Sydney and Adelaide.
Subjects are also available on an individual basis:

* Marketing Technological Innovation: May - June

* Managing Product Design and Development: May - June

* Managing Risk: July - Nov

* Financing Commercialisation: July - Sept

* Legal Issues of the Commercialisation Process: July - Sept

* New Enterprise Financial Management: July - Sept

* Technology Management and Transfer: June - July

Information Evenings:

Adelaide Tuesday May 20th - Contact Shane Cheek (08) 8303 5183 / shane.cheek@adelaide.edu.au
Sydney Thursday May 22nd - Contact Keith Bashford (02) 9209 4130 / keith.bashford@adelaide.edu.au

For more information please contact Shane Cheek or visit our website at http://www.stc.adelaide.edu.au.


8. MASTER OF BIOTECHNOLOGY & BUSINESS

An initiative of RMIT Life Sciences/RMIT Business/Industry

Information Session
Tuesday 3 June, 2003, 5.30 pm -7.30 pm
Storey Hall, Seminar Room 1
342 Swanston St, Melbourne

The MBB is a unique program linking advanced scientific skills with business expertise relevant to biotechnology management and the commercialisation of research product. A high level of industry participation is a cornerstone of this program making it continuously responsive to changes in the biotechnology industry. RMIT and key industry organisations have designed a cross-disciplinary environment for scientists and other professionals working in biotechnology or related organizations which provides:

* advanced scientific knowledge and skills in biotechnology;

* a strategic perspective of science in a business environment;

* current and relevant business knowledge and practices applicable in the biotechnology industry.

General management units from the RMIT MBA are supplemented with biotechnology-specific management units. Biotechnology streams are offered in gene technology, bioinformatics & computing, protein technologies, biopharmaceuticals, bioprocessing and agricultural and environmental biotechnology

At the information evening you will learn about the program, meet course presenters and learn about application procedures for July entry

For further information contact: Assoc. Prof. Gina Nicoletti
Tel: 03 9925 7143 or 9925 2133 Email: gina.nicoletti@rmit.edu.au
Website: http://www.rmit.edu.au/biotechnology


9. STRATEGIC MARKETING OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS AND INNOVATIONS

Sydney - 29 - 30 May 2003

Based on the successful Stanford University program, crucial issues covered by this program include:

* Identifying and targeting profitable growth opportunities

* Customer analysis and market segmentation

* Sales and distribution channels

* Establishing profitable partnerships

* Pricing, positioning and re-positioning for success

* Branding and winning promotion programs

* Profitable international expansion

* The technology adoption lifecycle

Program Director
Tony Seba, Silicon Valley CEO and Lecturer at Stanford University and Kellogg Graduate School of Management

Tony brings 20 years of operating experience in fast growth high technology companies. He's currently President of Seba Group, a high technology strategy consulting and accelerator in San Francisco, CA. Prior to this, Tony has worked in business development and strategic planning at Cisco Systems and RSA Security. He has been responsible for the architecture, development, and marketing of more than two dozen products including Java security, electronic payment technology, sales force automation, computer-aided software engineering and e-commerce infrastructure.

Tony has been featured in Business Week, Investors Business Daily, Forbes, Fast Company, Success and other media and holds entrepreneurship awards such as BridgeGate's Top 20 Difference Makers.

To enrol on this program, please telephone Client Services on + 612 9931 9333 or email enquiries@agsm.edu.au.


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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
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10. DIRECTOR - Science, Technology, Environment and Resources Group

Department of the Parliamentary Library, Canberra

Parliamentary Executive Level 2

Package between $81,506 and $104,655 pa

Salary range: $72,418 - $84,844

(The vacancy may be filled on either an ongoing or non-ongoing basis.)

Who are we looking for?

A director with excellent leadership qualities to manage an information and research team of mixed professional backgrounds providing personalised information and analytical services to Senators and Members of the Australian Parliament. Applicants should have advanced tertiary qualifications in a relevant science discipline and a breadth of science understanding to provide leadership to a team of mixed science specialists. An understanding of the parliamentary and political environment and sensitivity to the requirements of parliamentarians, together with highly developed analytical skills and the ability to conduct information retrieval and or research of a high calibre are also required.

Contact: Dr J R Verrier, Head, Information and Research Services
(02) 6277 2470

Conditions of Service?

You will be covered by the Parliamentary Service Act 1999 and DPL's Certified Agreement (see website). DPL supports workplace diversity and offers an excellent working environment with free parking, staff cafeteria and access to tennis courts, squash courts, gym and other recreational facilities.

How to apply?

Applications should quote reference number 2002/18 and must address the selection criteria provided as part of the selection documentation, which can be obtained by calling (02) 6277 8872 (24 hour answering machine) or through the DPL web site at: http://www.aph.gov.au/library/corp/recruit/index.htm

Applications should be addressed to DPL's service providers:
dprs.recruitment@aph.gov.au or

The Recruitment Officer
Department of the Parliamentary Reporting Staff
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Applications close: 23 May 2003

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EVENTS
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11. THE 2003 WARREN CENTRE INNOVATION LECTURE

The Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering's 2003 Innovation Lecture, will be presented by Evan Thornley, Chairman, LookSmart.

"The Money or The Box: Lessons from LookSmart"
Evan Thornley will present a provocative speech that questions established orthodoxies and suggests new directions in light of both practical experience and related research.

Issues include:

* What have we learned from LookSmart's experience ? What drove successful innovation, what didn't?

* What generalised lessons can be learned from LookSmart's and other Australian startup's experiences? What are the key success factors? What impact market size, venture capital sources, people and location issues?

* What might these lessons imply for public policy? Commercialisation and innovation policies? Knowledge Nation and ICT policies? Exports, unemployment and wider economic policy?

In short, should we focus on "the money" (customers and exports) or "the box" (the technologies and related IP) ?

More Info? http://www.warren.usyd.edu.au/bulletin/NO32/2003invoverview.htm

Start time: 6.00pm for 6.30pm

Melbourne - Tuesday 3 June 2003
Venue: Australia Room, Novotel Melbourne on Collins
270 Collins Street Melbourne

Sydney - Wednesday 4 June 2003
Venue: The Ballroom, The Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
199 George Street, Sydney

To Register contact:
Caryn Morgan, Events Manager
Tel: 02 9351 7202/ Fax: 02 9351 2012
Email: carynm@eng.usyd.edu.au