1. Funding for Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Commercialisation Study

The Federal Government is providing $50,000 to the Council for Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences to undertake a study of the commercialisation of humanities, arts and social sciences research in Australia.

The study is a response to claims by the Council that the contribution of the humanities, arts and social sciences to Australian commercial activity and to Australian business is under-recognised.

The study will review the avenues pursued by researchers in the humanities, arts and social sciences to commercialise their work – including publishing, performance, licensing, and industry collaboration – and will identify specific examples of commercial impact. The Council for Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences was set up in 2003 to strengthen the role of the humanities, arts and social sciences in Australia, and the government recently announced annual funding support of $200,000 to 2007.

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2. New CEO for ARC

Professor Peter Høj, Managing Director of the Australian Wine Research Institute, has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Australian Research Council (ARC). Professor Høj will commence a five year term from 1 October 2004.

The inaugural CEO, Professor Vicki Sara is on leave until her term ends at the end of this month. Dr Stephen Walker is acting Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Research Council until Professor Høj takes up the position.

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3. U21 unis to collaborate on health care and the environment

The Universitas 21 network of research -intensive universities has agreed on health care and the environment as two key research themes for a collaborative research initiative between the member universities.

The research programs in health care will address global policy, scientific and organisational issues raised by emerging infectious diseases and potential impact and challenges of health informatics. The environmental research programs will be water policy and management, and sustainable cities.

The Universities of Melbourne, New South Wales and Queensland are the three Australian members of Universitas 21.

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4. Victorian node for NICTA

National ICT Australia (NICTA), and the University of Melbourne have entered an agreement with the Victorian Government to set up a Victorian NICTA Node.

The Node will be based at the University of Melbourne, which will make an in-kind and cash contribution of up to $20 million over five years, comprising research personnel and premises for the Node. The Node will be headed by Professor Rob Evans, Chair of Telecommunications in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Melbourne.

NICTA plans to invest over $25 million over five years, and the Victorian Government will contribute $8 million.

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5. Future Materials launched

The Australian Materials Technology Network has been re-launched as Future Materials to provide access for businesses to facilities in materials technology.

Supported by a $2.6 million grant through the Federal Government's Innovation Access Program, the Network has staff in six mainland capitals and is led by Chief Executive, William Wachsmann. It is based on similar national materials technology networks in USA, Japan and Europe.

Further information is at http://ure.org.au.

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6. Converging Technologies for Agriculture and Environment

Monday 9th to Thursday 12th August at the Duxton Hotel,
328 Flinders Street. Melbourne, Australia

The CRC for Microtechnology and Department of Primary Industries, Government of Victoria, is very excited to announce that we have been successful in obtaining a grant to conduct the "Converging Technologies for Agriculture and Environment" conference under the International Conference Support Scheme Sir Mark Oliphant Conference 2004 --International Frontiers of Science and Technology.

The Four Day program will be structured with One day of Field trip visits and the Three Day Conference as shown in the program.

One of the key features of this conference is that we have invited 20 International and Local expert speakers, selected on the basis of their innovation and current productivity in these fields. This conference style promotes in-depth discussion and cross-fertilisation of ideas.

It can be anticipated that over the next decade, innovative practical uses will emerge from these concept technologies that will significantly broaden the application of technology in agriculture and environmental management.

The conference will establish networks to develop and encourage the adoption of technologies presently in development phases for practical applications with the potential for commercialisation of some of these applications.

Conference themes and topics:

• Environmental Sensors, including wireless communication and IT networking
• Crop management
• Remote Sensing
• Precision Agriculture, horticulture and viticulture
• Land Management and Productivity systems

The Conference will address science and technology issues from fundamental research to practical uses and will propose applications to include

• Novel concepts for sensor-data processing and imaging
• Novel concepts and design guidelines for sensor-rich devices and structures
• Robust and efficient advanced data software tools and strategies for development Integrated approaches to sensor design for Agriculture and Environment

Do not miss out on an opportunity to gain an advantage in understanding these exciting technologies.

CONTACT: Richard Gill
Phone: 61 3 9505 6528
Mobile: 0417 477 244
Email: richard.g@microtechnologycrc.com
http://www.smartsensors.com.au/

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7. New Product Development Short Course

For most businesses new product development and service is critical for future growth, yet around 70% of new products and services launched fail in the market place. How much better could your organisation do in the development and delivery of new products and services if it has some systematic processes that it could apply to ensure that what you decide to do has the best chance of success in the marketplace?

If you are serious about improving your organisations new product development and commercialisation capability you should join our advanced program "New Product Development" running in Melbourne July 26th to 30th. If you can make the commitment you will be rewarded with a thorough grounding in the concepts, frameworks and processes available for successful new product development. You will also have the opportunity to apply the skills you try out during the week to a major workplace project to consolidate your learning and apply it in a direct, relevant way to a real product development opportunity in your own workplace.

A course brochure and more details are available from www.muprivate.edu.au/commercialise or you can contact Gemma Lane on 03 9810 3174 or email g.lane@muprivate.edu.au to reserve your place today.

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