1. Labor to fund fellowships

A Labor federal government will provide $120.9 million for 200 new $140,000 mid-career fellowships in a bid to keep leading researchers in Australia. The Shadow Minister for Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, said that half of the fellowships will be available to researchers in national priority areas, while the remaining 100 will be provided for researchers at regional universities or public research agencies, who will visit other institutions. The full Labor science policy has not yet been released.

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2. Queensland ICT advisory group formed

The Queensland Government has formed an eleven-member ICT Ministerial Advisory Group to inform government policy. The Minister for State Development and Innovation, Tony McGrady, said he had initiated the group to ensure that Queensland’s ICT policies reflect the needs of the industry. The first task on the group’s agenda will be to provide industry input into the state government’s four-year ICT industry development strategy, which is scheduled for release later this year and will provide a framework for government support to develop the ICT industry.

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3. Victoria backs micro-alliance

The Victorian Government is providing $450,000 over three years to support a new alliance to encourage the development of micro, nano and biotechnologies in Victoria. The aim of the alliance is to build connections between universities and research agencies and the healthcare, textiles, defence, agriculture and food, automotive and aerospace industries.

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4. Study of science parks and clusters in Asia

Technology parks and clusters such as Silicon Valley in California and Sophia Antipolis in France are well-know examples of the synergies that can be achieved from concentrations of high technology firms and leading research centres.

More recently, countries in our region have adopted policies to facilitate the formation of critical mass in fields such as information and communications technology and biotechnology. Examples include the Science Park and Biopolis in Singapore, Hsinchu Science based Industrial Park in Taiwan. BioValley and the MultiMedia Super Corridor in Malaysia, Bangalore’s technology park and biotechnology hub in India, as well as science parks in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

These developments raise a number of questions for Australia. How successful have these parks and clusters been? What sorts of incentives are necessary to make them work? Is Australia getting left behind in the competition to attract international investment in biotechnology and ICT? What lessons can be learnt from the success of these parks and clusters?

The Allen Consulting Group has been contracted by the Department of Education, Science and Training to undertake a study addressing these questions. If you have visited or worked in any of these parks and clusters in recent years, Dr John Bell would like to hear from you. His email address is jbell@allenconsult.com.au and telephone number is (02) 6230 0185.

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5. Pharmaceuticals Partnerships Program
Call for Applications - Round 2 funding

Applications are now open for the Pharmaceuticals Partnerships Program (P3), a competitive grants program which provides funding of $150 million over five years. This program supports Australian business innovation, investment and international competitiveness.

The Pharmaceuticals Partnerships Program is one of 27 products AusIndustry delivers to more than 10,000 businesses every year - others include innovation grants, small business services, tax and duty concessions, industry support, and venture capital products.

Successful Pharmaceuticals Partnerships Program applicants will be companies that have a solid track record in, and propose to increase their level of, pharmaceutical research and development in Australia. Grants are based on thirty cents for each dollar spent on eligible research and development in Australia above a base level.

More information
You can get application forms and subscribe to `email updates' about AusIndustry's products at www.ausindustry.gov.au - or call the AusIndustry Hotline, 13 28 46, for more information.
Applications close on 24 November 2004.

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6. Graduate Diploma in Drug Evaluation & Pharmaceutical Sciences: 2005
University of Melbourne, Australia

Today’s potent drugs, combined with the complex issues of their production and use has created a growing need for evaluation of their safety and efficacy.

For such evaluation, wide ranging expertise is required in the areas of Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Legal and Ethical Considerations.

This diploma course gives a systematic overview of these areas and how they affect the very practical issues of drug evaluation and is aimed at Pharmacists, Research Nurses, Scientists, Medical Practitioners and others involved in regulatory affairs.

For more information please contact Mrs Nicola Cash Ph: +61 3 9496 3420, Fax: +61 3 9459 3510 or Email: njcash@unimelb.edu.au.

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7. Turn ideas into money making ventures:
Swinburne Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Information evening: Thursday October 7th, 6.00-7.00pm, AGSE,
Cr Wakedfield & William Streets, Hawthorn

Learn how to commercialise your research product and/or how to set up a successful new enterprise. Applications accepted now.

The Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship (AGSE), Swinburne University, covers all the skills you need to successfully commercialise an innovative product or new business venture.

Our program provides practical tools to explore potential opportunities, gain finance, and to grow and harvest your business.

Not that we are limited to start-ups. Our five-star Master of Business Administration not only offers the opportunity to acquire contemporary management knowledge and skills, it also provides you with the ability to apply that knowledge in an innovative, creative and entrepreneurial way. Come and join our November intake- classes start November 7.

To advance your business research skills consider our Doctor of Business Administration and PhD.

Applications accepted now for the March 2005 intake (classes begin 8 March) for all programs. Note the MBA has a November 2004 intake. Single subjects available. The Postgraduate Education Loans Scheme (PELS) applies to our Masters programs.

To learn more contact us on 03 9214 5241 /8512, agse@swin.edu.au or visit
http://www.swin.edu.au/agse.

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8. Bioenergy Australia 2004 : Building the Australian Bioenergy Industry

Register before 29 October to obtain the Early Bird discount registration fee!

Australia's premier bioenergy conference, Bioenergy Australia 2004, will be held at the Hilton Adelaide, South Australia from 29 - 30 November with a conference tour on 1 December.

The theme of this year’s Bioenergy Australia conference is ‘Building the Australian Bioenergy Industry’ and focuses on both the regulatory framework for bioenergy, and the response of industry to the challenge of developing bioenergy projects and businesses for power, heat, transportation fuels and other value added products.

The conference will bring together biomass feedstock producers and suppliers, waste management organisations, project developers, energy companies, equipment suppliers, investors, government agencies, research and research funding bodies, and environmental groups to address factors crucial to the development of bioenergy in Australia.

The program will have over 45 presentations, covering policies and programs, projects and project development case studies, and emerging opportunities. The conference will consider many other facets of bioenergy including anaerobic digestion, ethanol and biodiesel, heat and power and co-products. Professor Tony Bridgwater from the UK will provide the keynote address and Professor Syd Shea, Chairman of the Oil Mallee Company is lined up to be the conference dinner speaker.

The Conference will also have two extended panel discussions and forums on the:

• Framework for Bioenergy in Australia
• Advancing Bioenergy - Making Bioenergy Mainstream.

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9. Spruson&Ferguson – Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, Lawyers

Spruson&Ferguson is one of the few intellectual property firms in Australia committed to providing a fully integrated service for the protection, commercialisation and enforcement of your IP.

We provide IP solutions to help unlock your commercial potential and to enforce and protect your IP. Our comprehensive range of services includes:

• patents, trade marks, designs, domain names, copyright, plant breeders' rights, confidential information and other IP
• IP portfolio management and audits
• IP litigation and dispute resolution
• IP commercialisation services including drafting and negotiation of licenses, joint ventures and R&D collaborations.

Contacts:
Chemical: Dr John McCann
Life Sciences: Dr Andrew Blattman
Electrical: Robert Miller
Mechanical: Greg Turner
Trade Marks: Annette Freeman
IP Litigation & Dispute Resolution: Simon Williams
IP Commercialisation: Rob McInnes
Managing Principal: David Griffith

Telephone: (02) 9207 0777
Fax: (02) 9261 5486
Email: mail@sprusons.com.au
URL: www.sprusons.com.au

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