R&D
INFO, September 11, 2003
SUMMARY
NEWS ALERTS
1.
ABS
ASSESSES KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY/SOCIETY
2. CONTINUATION OF CRC PROGRAM RECOMMENDED
3. VICTORIA REFORMS VENTURE CAPITAL LAWS
4. NSW MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL FORMED
5. CALL FOR WA ACTION ON KNOWLEDGE INFRASTRUCTURE
SHORT COURSES
6.
STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLANNING FOR TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALISATION
7. STRATEGIC MARKETING OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS AND INNOVATIONS
FURTHER EDUCATION
8. LEARN HOW TO BE AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION WITH THE SCIENTIST'S MBA
CONFERENCES
9.
NETWORKING FOR EXCELLENCE CONFERENCE
10. ATSE 2003 NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM: WATER- The Australian Dilemmma
RESEARCH FUNDING
11. RESEARCH FUNDING - Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) - Closing soon
BUSINESS SERVICES
12. ERNST & YOUNG R&D SERVICES
NEWS
ALERTS
1. ABS ASSESSES KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY/SOCIETY
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has developed a new framework for measuring a knowledge-based economy or society (KBE/S) and has released data on indicators for the framework's three core dimensions - Innovation and entrepreneurship, Human capital and Information and communications technology.
The framework is outlined in a discussion paper, Measuring a Knowledge-based Economy and Society - An Australian Framework (cat no 1375.0) which examines the concept and approaches to the measurement of a KBE/S and the proposed dimensions and indicators to be used in the framework.
The statistical indicators for the three core dimensions are presented in a web-based product, Measures of a knowledge-based economy and society (cat. no.1377.0), and indicators for two supporting dimensions, Context and Economic and social impacts, will be provided in the future. The ABS is calling for feedback on the discussion paper and on the usefulness of the web-based method of presenting statistical data. Further information is at http://www.abs.gov.au.
2. CONTINUATION OF CRC PROGRAM RECOMMENDED
An evaluation of the Cooperative Research Centres Program conducted by Howard Partners on behalf of the Department of Education, Science and Training has found that the program has been an important contributor to Australia's capacity for partnership-based research and innovation. The evaluation recommended that the CRC program should continue, but with design modifications to reflect changes in the environment for public-private sector research collaboration and the creation of new business models for the commercialisation of publicly funded research. The Minister for Science, Peter McGauran, has welcomed the evaluation report, but the Federal Government has yet to respond to its detailed recommendations. The evaluation report is at http://www.crc.gov.au/program_evaluation.htm.
3. VICTORIA REFORMS VENTURE CAPITAL LAWS
Victoria is reforming its limited partnership laws to encourage investment by the venture capital sector in Victorian enterprises. Finance and Consumer Affairs Minister, John Lenders, said that foreign investors find aspects of using a venture capital limited partnership structure appealing, but have been concerned about the extent to which their liability is protected under each State's partnership law. Under the Victorian reforms, a separate legal entity for Venture Capital Limited Partnerships (VCLP) will be created, and the safe harbour provisions will be expanded to include, among other things, an advisory role for Limited Partners. This will create an investment environment similar to that in parts of the US.
4. NSW MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL FORMED
A new NSW Ministerial Advisory Council has been formed by the NSW Minister for Science and Medical Research, Frank Sartor, to advise the government on how to improve the state's medical research effort. The Council will be chaired by the Dean of Medicine at the University of Sydney, Professor Andrew Coats.
5. CALL FOR WA ACTION ON KNOWLEDGE INFRASTRUCTURE
The Western Australian Technology & Industry Advisory Council has released a report on WA's knowledge infrastructure which has identified a number of major areas of concern including participation rates in the education system, fragmentation and lack of critical mass in the R&D system, the immature state of the state's commercialization infrastructure and availability of higher bandwidth ICT infrastructure. The report also found that the WA Government had no clear ministerial authority concerning knowledge infrastructure, and `opaqueness' concerning the makeup and functional arrangements of Cabinet sub-committees. Further there was a lack of an evident whole-of-government coordination/networking system and evidence of a `ministry silo' approach to decision making.
The report, `Creating Western Australia's Knowledge Infrastructure: Towards Global Competitiveness and High-Value Employment', was prepared with assistance from The Allen Consulting Group and put forward a suite of recommendations to address the issues, including that the WA government assign ministerial responsibility for knowledge infrastructure matters. The report is available at http://www.wa.gov.au/tiac.
SHORT
COURSES
6. STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLANNING FOR TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALISATION
Melbourne University and The Australian Institute for Institute for Commercialisation offer a five day intensive course in Strategic Business Planning for Technology Commercialisation.
*
Learn how to commercialise new technologies, products and services
* Find out how to secure finance
* Polish your business planning and strategic skills
And if you apply your skills to the completion of a technology commercialisation plan for your business, you can get an accredited award at the same time.
If your role is to commercialise technology we want to hear from you.
Dates:
Mon 29th September - Fri 3rd October 2003
Cost: $3,200 (+ GST) of $4,000 for the award course (GST does not apply)
Location: University of Melbourne, Parkville
Contact: Gemma Lane
(03) 9810 3174 or g.lane@muprivate.edu.au
http://www.muprivate.edu.au/commercialise
7. STRATEGIC MARKETING OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS AND INNOVATIONS
Sydney 20 - 21 November 2003
Based
on the successful Stanford University program, crucial issues covered during
this two day non-residential workshops 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
The program is led by Tony Seba, a 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,
email enquiries@agsm.edu.au or go
to
http://www2.agsm.edu.au/agsm/web.nsf/Content/ExecutiveEdPrograms-Marketing-SMHTPI
for the online brochure.
FURTHER
EDUCATION
8. LEARN HOW TO BE AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION WITH THE SCIENTIST'S MBA
APESMA Management Education is holding information sessions during September and October for you to learn more about Australia's most successful MBA. The sessions will be presented by the Chief Executive of the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia (APESMA), John Vines.
John holds tertiary qualifications in Civil Engineering and Economics and is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In 2002, John was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his contribution to the science and engineering professions with particular reference to his role in promoting management education among professional engineers and scientists.
APESMA Management Education one of Australia's leading management education providers for managers and corporations in the technology sector. Owned by APESMA, we offer Australia's premier MBA for technology professionals, in partnership with La Trobe University.
The APESMA MBA (Technology Management)* is known and respected in technology-based organisations in Australia and throughout the world.
For
details or to register for an information session, please visit
http://www.mba-distance-learning.com
or
contact our Client Care Centre on 1300 853 377, or inquiry@apesma-ed.com
CONFERENCES
9.
NETWORKING FOR EXCELLENCE CONFERENCE
13-14 November 2003
Canberra
The Forum for European-Australian Science & Technology cooperation (FEAST) will bring together leading researchers and policy makers from Europe and Australia to highlight and review networks and policy frameworks to support world-class research and technological development. Leading scientists will share practical experience in bilateral and multilateral collaboration making this event a unique opportunity not to be missed.
Presenters
include:
* the Hon. Peter McGauran MP, Minister for Science;
* Dr Ritva Dammert, Co-ordinator, Finnish Centres of Excellence Programmes,
Academy of Finland;
* Professor Luigi Nicolais, Regional Minister for University & Scientific
Research, Campania Region, Italy;
* Professor Jean-Marc Grognet, Scientific Affairs Director, Commissariat a L'Energie
Atomique, France;
* Professor Gerhard Huisken, Director of the Max-Planck Institute - Gravitational
Physics, Germany; and the following representatives from the European Commission;
* Mr Chris Patermann, Director of Environment; Ms Rosalie Zobel, Director of
Components & Subsystems, Applications;
* Mr Timothy Hall, Head of Unit - Strategy for Health;
* Mr Guy Van den Eede, Head of Unit - Biotechnology and GMOs;
* Mr Louis Bellemin, Head of Unit - International Division; and more...
Registration is AUD 250 on or before 17 October (Places are limited!). For further information and to register please visit http://www.feast.org/feast4.html
10. ATSE 2003 NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM: WATER - The Australian
Dilemmma
17-18 November 2003
The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) presents a major scientific meeting focussed on finding solutions to the unique problems that Australia faces in regard to WATER. The importance of the Symposium is highlighted by the recent drought but the challenge is for sustainable solutions.
The Symposium will be held at the Carlton Crest Hotel, Melbourne and will bring to Victoria some 300 delegates from industry, government, research organisations and educational institutions.
The Symposium will address major issues from the perspectives of Government, private industry and communities and will bring together Government Ministers, senior bureaucrats, researchers, international and Australian authorities in technology and policy fields as speakers and participants. the program will be invaluable to organisations and individuals in business or community activities with responsibilities for finding solutions to the dilemmas of water in Australia.
The objective of the Symposium is to gain integration of effort and identify new activities whereby all stakeholders can advance effective positive change in overall water management throughout Australia.
Renowned
International speakers include:
* Professor Kristalina Georgieva, Director, Environment Department, The World
Bank, WAshington DC, USA
* Mr Paul Gagliardo, Senior Program Director, Earth Tech Inc, California, USA
* Professor Uri Shamir, Director, Water Research Institute, Technion Israel
Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
* Mr Ash Seetal, Director Water Allocation, Department of Water Affairs and
Forestry, South Africa
For further information and registration brochures please contact PAULA WILLIAMSON at the ATSE on 03 9347 0622 or email paulaw@atse.org.au
RESEARCH
FUNDING
11. RESEARCH FUNDING - Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) - Closing soon
Do you have a good idea for innovation in rural industries but need some assistance to develop that idea? If the answer is yes, now is the time to apply for support from the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC).
RIRDC is currently inviting researchers, industry organisations and interested individuals to apply for funding support in 2004-2005. The closing date for applications is September 26, 2003.
A new streamlined program structure has been designed together with three new categories of support for research and development. The new research programs give an enhanced profile to Food Integrity & Biosecurity; Environmental & Farm Management; and Rangeland & Wildlife Systems.
RIRDC Managing Director Simon Hearn said RIRDC is a centre for new industries which we hope will develop into commercial enterprises, some that will become large-scale farm industries and others that will remain small but offer viable niche alternatives to Australian farmers.
"Rural Australia has significant additional potential and we look forward to funding an array of projects that will facilitate a more profitable, dynamic and sustainable sector."
Prospective applicants for research funding can view the RIRDC Research Priorities at http://www.rirdc.gov.au/researchpriorities or by calling 02 6272 4819 to request a free printed copy.
BUSINESS
SERVICES
12. ERNST & YOUNG R&D SERVICES
Ernst & Young Australia boasts one of the most experienced and multi-disciplined Innovation & Incentives practices in Australia. Comprising specialists with hands-on expertise in developing technology and leveraging government assistance, Ernst & Young's team is dedicated to helping clients gain maximum value from their R&D investments.
Ernst & Young has extensive experience with the R&D Tax Concession, R&D Tax Offset (cash rebate), R&D Start grants and loans, and Biotechnology Innovation Fund. We can also assist companies to access Export Market Development Grants and other State and Commonwealth grants. We help hundreds of Australian companies to access substantial R&D benefits each year.
Ernst & Young can help you to select the type of R&D assistance that best suits your company, considering your circumstances, your industry and your R&D projects. For more information on how Ernst & Young can help, please contact an office near you or visit our website at http://www.ey.com.au
Perth:
Robin Parsons (08) 9429 2251
Melbourne: Steven Batrouney (03) 8650 7571
Melbourne: Alun Needham (03) 9288 8099
Sydney: Mark Tafft (02) 8295 6987
Brisbane: Lindsay Somerville (07) 3011 3236
Adelaide: Chris Sharpley (08) 8233 1685