1. Thin electoral pickings for research and innovation

Innovation and research in Australia have reaped relatively small benefits from the election campaign, with the Coalition's few electoral promises in this area clearly targeted at shoring up support in marginal seats or winning green votes.

Environmental research will be the major beneficiary, with $100 million over four years to be provided for a new Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities (CERF) program. This will include $40 million for a Marine And Tropical Sciences Research Facility focusing on reefs and rainforests to be located at a new Tropical Sciences Precinct at James Cook University.

The remaining $60 million of the CERF program will be allocated nationally on a competitive tender basis to support environmental research that does not qualify for assistance under other Government programs. This program will place emphasis on `public good', collaborative and multi-disciplined research of the sort that now is less likely to be funded under the new guidelines for the Cooperative Research Centres program.

James Cook University will also receive $25 million for a veterinary science facility ($12 million to establish and $13 million for new places).

The University of Western Sydney was another beneficiary of the struggle for marginal seats, winning a promise of $25 million for infrastructure projects, including $2 million to assist with the purchase of an electron microscope adapted for agricultural and food systems research.

In the area of innovation, the Coalition committed $2.5 million to the Queensland-based Australian Institute of Commercialisation to conduct a national pilot of its TechFast program in 2004/5. TechFast, which is already being trialled in Queensland, aims to assist small businesses by locating appropriate technology developed within Australian universities and research centres and to assist with its transfer.

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2. New Commercial Ready Cooperative Innovation Program

A new $25 million Industry Cooperative Innovation Program is to be established with funding from the Commercial Ready program. The new program will support cooperative projects between firms to develop and use new technologies which have the potential to boost the performance of key sectors. Priority will be given to projects meeting strategic industry needs identified through an Action Agenda. Projects will need to demonstrate outcomes which will enhance the competitiveness of industry broadly as well as benefit the participating firms. Firms will be required to contribute to the cost of individual projects.

The Commercial Ready program, which will replace R&D Start, the Biotechnology Innovation Fund (BIF) and elements of the Innovation Access Program, came into effect this month.

More information and inquiry and application forms for the Commercial Ready program are at http://www.ausindustry.gov.au/

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3. Call for Energy RD&D Policy

Engineer's Australia's National Committee on Fuels and Energy has released a discussion paper setting out issues in developing a national energy research, development and demonstration (RD&D) policy.

The Committee maintains that only when such a policy is in place can industry and research, development and demonstration (RD&D) providers identify and address true long-term innovation priorities.

As an interim measure to guide RD&D investment, the Committee identified twenty-four broad research priority areas, expressed in terms of their ability to contribute to major international research, solve issues unique to Australia and provide opportunities for the development of new industries.

The Committee expressed concern that while it supports the government's recent National Energy Policy, there was no reference in it to the need to develop a strategy to address Australia’s future long-term energy supply and demand.

"Without a longer-term strategy, governments, industry and RD&D providers will be forced to prioritise investment in response to short-term market signals."

It also warned about the energy industry's lack of ability to support RD&D, and the fact that parts of the industry were reducing or withdrawing altogether from investment in RD&D. The paper noted that that the major concentration of RD&D effort targets the coal and gas supply industries, and that the only groups investing in energy RD&D in areas other than coal and gas supply are CSIRO, university departments and a few commercial enterprises.

The paper can be downloaded at http://www.ieaust.org.au/policy/publications.html

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4. 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 www.atse.org.au

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5. 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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6. Technology Commercialisation Programs

Melbourne University Private and the Australian Institute of Commercialisation (AIC) are pleased to advise the following programs for 2004/05

Negotiating Technology Deals - Join Phil Mendes on Wednesday October 27th in Melbourne for the highly popular delivery of this one day program outlining the common traps and pitfalls in negotiating a technology deal. Registrations close October 22nd

Technology Value Estimation November 24th Brisbane - work through all the steps you need to understand the value of your technology, how that value can be shared between the manufacturer and the other links in the value chain and the commercial risks and time to payback. Registrations close November 12th

Advanced programs: Strategic Business Planning for Commercialisation will be offered again in Melbourne February 21st to 25th 2005. New Product Development - thex second advanced program will be offered again in Melbourne August 1st to 5th 2005.

Brochures for all programs are available from www.muprivate.edu.au/commercialise or contact Gemma lane (03 9810 3174 g.lane@muprivate.edu.au to reserve places

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7. ResLab Venture Capital and Project Finance Seminar for the Renewable Energy Industry

Tuesday 30th November 2004 at Murdoch University.

This one day workshop is designed as an introduction to the what, who, how and when of funding options available for renewable energy projects and technologies.

The workshop will be presented by Richard Beresford of Clearer Sky Pty Ltd, who has been involved in financing of many start-up technology and project companies, both as an investor and as investee.

The workshop is ideal for people who are interested in seeking external funding to commercialise technological developments as well as developers of renewable energy projects and includes case studies of companies who have been successful in obtaining finance for their companies and projects, and views from the investor side.

The morning session of the workshop (9-12am) will cover funding sources, what investors look for and how to deal with the investor. The afternoon (1-4pm) will offer case studies from:

• Richard / Thomas Rudas, Organic Resource Technologies
• Matthew Rosser, Blair Fox Generation
• Rob Grant, Pacific Hydro
• Adam MacDonald, Renewable Power Ventures
• followed by a panel discussion and Q&A session with the above speakers plus Trevor Lee, Director of Australian Ethical.

This one day seminar costs $132 (incl. GST) which includes lunch and refreshments. Registrations can be made by contacting Susan.Taylor@rise.murdoch.edu.au or telephone (08) 9360 6375.

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8. Ernst & Young R&D Services

Commercial Ready, the new R&D grant program is now open for applications. If you would like to discuss the option of seeking Commercial Ready assistance for your company please contact our experts below. Ernst & Young has extensive experience with R&D grants, the R&D Tax Concession, R&D Tax Offset (cash rebate), 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 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 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

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