1. Consultation on new Commercial Ready Program

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources has released a discussion paper about the Federal Government's new Commercial Ready Program, announced in the recent Backing Australia's Ability-Building Our Future through Science and Innovation package. The Commercial Ready Program will replace the existing R&D Start program, the Biotechnology Innovation Fund (BIF) and elements of the Innovation Access Program (IAccP), and will provide around $200 million per annum to competitive industry applications from 2004-05 until 2010-11.

Public consultations are being held around Australia, and comments on the development of the Commercial Ready program are due by close of business 18 June 2004. Further information is at http://www.ausindustry.gov.au/

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2. Australia-New Zealand Biotech Alliance signed

The Premiers of Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia Premier, Victoria, and Western Australia, together with the Federal Industry Minister Ian MacFarlane and New Zealand Science Minister Peter Hodgson have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to form the Australia-New Zealand Biotech Alliance.

The aims of the alliance are to co-ordinate Australia and New Zealand's marketing of biotechnology capabilities; foster collaboration on potential research projects; minimise infrastructure duplication; and develop policy and strategies to communicate new developments in biotechnology to the broader community.

The alliance was signed when the Ministers met in San Francisco as leaders of delegations to Bio2004, the world's largest biotechnology industry conference and exhibition.

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3. Funding for IT incubators

Incubators currently funded in the BITS Incubator Program will be able to apply for continued funding totalling $36 million over four years provided in last month's budget.

The funding was allocated in response to an evaluation of the BITS Incubator Program and the Intelligent Island Incubator Program, conducted by the Allen Consulting Group, which found that both programs have "performed well in the circumstances", taking into account the impact of the `tech wreck'. The report found that while the incubators had generated `impressive' incomes, were uniquely positioned to support start-up businesses, and had produced hundreds of start-up ICT managers with experience in starting and growing a business, they would need a further period of government support.

"Without a further period of assistance, however, it is probable that most of the Incubators will not be viable, and a number of promising Incubatees currently receiving assistance will fail. This will result in a write off of most of the Australian Government's investment in the BITS and Intelligent Island Incubator Programs."

The report recommended that BITS and Intelligent Island Incubators Programs should be funded on a competitive basis for at least an additional four years to give the better performing incubators the opportunity to demonstrate success.

The evaluation report is at
http://www.dcita.gov.au/Article/0,,0_1-2_11-3_143-4_119021,00.html

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4. Victoria releases STI Priorities Framework

The Victorian Office of Science and Technology has released a Priorities Framework for Investment in Victorian Science, Technology and Innovation to coincide with its latest STI funding application round (see item 9 below).

The Framework document outlines the role that science, technology and innovation play in economic growth and development, and the government's role in facilitating innovation. It summarises reviews of the outcomes of previous STI investments and of national and international public sector science and technology programs, and sets out priorities for investment under the third round of the STI program.

A set of opportunities in which Victorian industry and research organizations have significant capabilities is listed. The Framework document can be accessed at
http://www.innovation.vic.gov.au

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5. New supercomputer for South Australia

South Australian researchers will have access to a new $4.5 million supercomputer, known as Aquila, which has been purchased by a consortium involving the SA Partnership for Advanced Computing (SAPAC), SGI (also known as Silicon Graphics), Intel and the South Australian Consortium for IT&T (SACITT). The South Australian Government provided a grant of $1.035 million towards the purchase. The SGI Altix multiprocessor supercomputer features 160 processors joined together with high-speed networking to provide a peak operating speed of 830 gigaflops.

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6. CSIRO's Water Flagship launched

CSIRO's Water for a Healthy Country National Research Flagship has been officially launched, under the leadership of Colin Creighton, formerly the Executive Director of the National Land and Water Resources Audit.

The Flagship will combine the resources of CSIRO, other research agencies including various universities and Cooperative Research Centres, government, industries and local communities.

Mr Creighton said that the program will draw on four vast outdoor `laboratories'. These are:

• the people, communities, landscapes and resources of Melbourne, Sydney and their surrounding areas;
• the coastal and inland region of Queensland that affects the Great Barrier Reef;
• the urban and rural landscapes of Perth and southwest Western Australia; and
• the Murray-Murrumbidgee foodbowl.

More information is at http://www.cmis.csiro.au/healthycountry/

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7. Go8 sets up European centre

The Group of Eight (Go8) universities has established an Australia Centre Europe which will commence operations from an office in Berlin on 1 July 2004. Chair of the Go8, Professor Ian Chubb, said that the move was a recognition of the importance to Australian universities of developing and consolidating links with universities, governments and businesses in Europe.

"International engagement is a critical element in building Australia's research strength and facilitating the exchange of staff and students," he said.

The Australia Centre Europe will be based in offices in the Australian Embassy in Berlin. The Group of Eight has commenced a search for a Director and it is expected that the Centre will be formally launched with a number of events in Berlin in September or October this year

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8. AusIndustry Biotechnology Innovation Fund - Round 6 Funding

The Biotechnology Innovation Fund (BIF) aims to increase the rate of commercialisation of Australian biotechnology ventures by reducing the cost of demonstrating 'proof of concept' for new biotech initiatives. Grants of up to $250,000 are available to eligible firms on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

AusIndustry provides Australian Government assistance to support Australian business innovation, investment and international competitiveness. AusIndustry delivers nearly $2 billion to more than 10,000 customers throughout Australia every year.

Applications are now being sought for Round 6 funding. Applications close on 15 July 2004.

For more information visit http://www.ausindustry.com.au or call the AusIndustry Hotline on 13 28 46.

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9. Victorian Government - Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Infrastructure Grants Program

The competitive Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Infrastructure Grants Program is one of the premier innovation programs under the Victorian Government's STI Initiative. Minister for Innovation, John Brumby, has called for project applications in a new $60 million infrastructure funding round (Round Three) under this STI Initiative.

Grants will support the acquisition and development of new private and public sector infrastructure in Victoria in priority industry sectors and strategic technologies. Applications are invited from technology-based companies, universities, research institutes, Co-operative Research Centres, Research and Development Corporations and government agencies.

Proposals will be considered by an independent panel against evaluation criteria published in the guidelines and ranked against other proposals. Information sessions on the program will be conducted - see website for details and times.

Guidelines and application forms are available at http://www.innovation.vic.gov.au or contact 03 9651 8073 for further information.

Preliminary Applications close 3:30pm, 30 July 2004

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10. Land & Water Australia: call for natural resource management research proposals

Land & Water Australia seeks highly-innovative R&D addressing critical issues and emerging opportunities to achieve sustainable management of Australia's natural resources.

We explicitly seek high-risk 'blue sky', fundamental research offering potentially higher returns. High risk refers to less certainty in achieving outputs and outcomes.

Proposals can also cover:
* Drawing out the most innovative ideas from the R&D community;
* Lateral and out-of-the-box concepts; and
* Testing proof-of-concept ideas and feasibility studies.

Our other 15 applied R&D programs cover biophysical, economic and social dimensions of natural resource management with a strong focus on improving current practices.

Total funds available are $1.5 million, with projects eligible to commence from 1 July 2005. Applicants must be permanent residents or citizens of Australia.

Please download full details and application forms at
http://www.lwa.gov.au/funding.asp?section=222

For further information, contact Gill Whiting at gill.whiting@lwa.gov.au or (02) 6263 6001;
or Dr Nick Schofield at nick.schofield@lwa.gov.au or (02) 6263 6004.

Seven hard copies and one electronic copy (WORD) should be lodged by cob 9 July 2004 to: Gill Whiting, Land & Water Australia, GPO Box 2182, Canberra ACT 2601.

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11. Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) 2004 National Symposium

"Living Longer, Living Better - Improving longevity and quality of life through science, technology and engineering"

Australians are living longer thanks to spectacular progress in health science, technology and engineering. But the nation now confronts a huge challenge in how we combat increasing chronic ill-health and respond to the needs of an ageing society for better quality of life, health, happiness and useful activity.

The 2004 ATSE National Symposium throws the spotlight on the next wave of advances designed to address the needs of the ageing society. Leading researchers from Australia and round the world will discuss, amongst other fascinating things, the latest approaches to early detection and prevention of disease, novel diets and electronic body parts.

"Living longer, living better" is being held in Adelaide, South Australia on 15 & 16 November, 2004. For more information, please contact Paula Williamson at the ATSE Office on (03) 9347 0622, or visit our website at http://www.atse.org.au

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