| SUMMARY OF THIS R&D INFO, 12 September 2002 NEWS
ALERTS SCIENCE
& TECHNOLOGY GRANTS SCHOLARSHIPS
AND FELLOWSHIPS EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES BUSINESS
SERVICES CONFERENCE ___________________ 1. COMMITTEE CONSIDERS NATIONAL RESEARCH PRIORITIES Nominations
for national research priorities have now closed and are being considered
by the National Priorities Expert Committee, chaired by Dr Jim Peacock,
President of the Australian Academy of Science and Chief of CSIRO Plant
Industry. 2. HIGHER EDUCATION REVIEW SUBMISSIONS DUE IN Submissions in response to the seven discussion papers of the Higher Education Review close tomorrow. Over 400 submissions have so far been received, including from the South Australian and Victorian Governments, and a joint submission from the Commonwealth-funded research agencies, CSIRO, ANSTO, AIMS, DSTO and Geoscience Australia. A series of 49 meetings have been held around the country, and a two-day Ministerial forum to be held early next month will wind up the consultation process. Information about the Review and how to make submissions is at http://www.dest.gov.au/crossroads. 3. NEW APPOINTMENT TO CHIEF SCIENTIST’S OFFICE CSIRO researcher, Dr Vijoleta Braach-Maksvytis, has been appointed to a newly-created position as Head of the Office of the Chief Scientist. Dr Braach-Maksvytis is currently Co-Director of CSIRO Nanotechnology and Chair of the CSIRO Science Forum, with responsibility for CSIRO’s strategic investments in emerging sciences. She will assist the Chief Scientist, Dr Robin Batterham, in advising the Federal Government on the contributions of science, technology and innovation to national goals. 4. ACADEMY CALLS FOR NEW APPROACH TO RESEARCH FACILITIES The Australian Academy of Science has released a discussion paper calling for a new approach by policy-makers to the evaluation of national access to major overseas research facilities and investment in local facilities. The paper, `Providing the Machinery of Science: Defining a whole-of-government strategy for securing access to critical research facilities’, advocates the recognition that an appropriate mix of access to leading-edge research facilities and possessing the best domestic facilities to underpin this international access were key policy issues. It called for improved coordination of access to and investment in research facilities, and for a definition of the critical research facilities - either overseas or locally - that were necessary to Australia reaching its research objectives. The paper is available from http://www.science.org.au. 5. AUSTRALIAN PRESENCE AT EU SIXTH FRAMEWORK CONFERENCE The Department
of Education, Science and Training (DEST) and the Forum for European Australian
Science & Technology (FEAST) are planning to take a stand and to organise
a workshop on EU/Australia collaboration at the forthcoming conference
of the European Commission to mark the launch of the EU's Sixth Framework
Program for research. 6. LABOR WORKS UP MANUFACTURING POLICY Senator George Campbell, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Manufacturing Industry, has released a discussion paper for the Australian Labor Party focusing on policy issues to support the growth of the Australian manufacturing industry. The paper highlights the importance of the manufacturing industry to economic growth and the contribution made by the manufacturing sector to private investment in research and development. It calls for policies to promote investment in R&D and in plant and machinery, to increase venture capital investment in manufacturing, to assist in the formation of clusters and to linkages between tertiary institutions and technology parks. proposes the formation of a National Development Authority, an Office or Ministry of Manufacturing and a Manufacturing Council along the lines of Victoria's MICC or Queensland's Manufacturing Leaders Group. For further information, contact Senator Campbell's office on Tel: (02) 9251 4833 __________________________________
An initiative of the Government's Innovation Statement Backing Australia's Ability The Innovation Access Program (IAP) International Science and Technology aims to promote innovation and competitiveness by increasing Australian access to global research and technologies and facilitate their uptake by Australian researchers and firms, particularly small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The IAP International S&T offers assistance through a Competitive Grants element for international research and development cooperation and related activities. It provides support for Australian researchers who are undertaking strategically focused, leading-edge, collaborative research projects, alliances and workshops with international partners. It also offers support of up to $50,000 per conference for between 2 and 5 major international conferences per year that can contribute to the goals of the IAP International S&T. The Competitive Grants element includes the European Union Framework Fund. Grants for the IAP International S&T are made on a competitive basis against specific criteria. Applications are considered in assessment rounds. Applications for the next assessment round opens on 1 October 2002 and will close on 18 October 2002. Further information and guidelines are available from the DEST website http://www.dest.gov.au/science/iap/; by contacting the International S&T Policy and Programs Section by email: ist@dest.gov.au or by phoning (02) 6240 5176 or (02) 6240 9387. _______________________________________ 8. GENERAL
CALL FOR POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS, Land & Water Australia Land & Water Australia provides national leadership in generating knowledge, informing debate and inspiring innovation and action in sustainable natural resource management. The Corporation offers four Postgraduate Scholarships, to commence from 3 February 2003. Application forms are available at: http://www.lwa.gov.au/funding.asp?section=95. The Corporation's scholarships include a stipend of $23,000 pa (tax free) plus $5,000 pa for project operating expenses. Other expenses are the responsibility of the University or the candidate. Awards will be made available for up to three years for Doctoral candidates, or two years for Masters candidates. Applications
may address any of the priorities under the Corporation's 2001?2006 strategic
plan: These research
areas are integrated through four themes: Please direct any inquiries to ph: (02) 62636003 and chris.louis@lwa.gov.au. Eight copies of the application should be lodged by cob 25 October 2002 addressed to: Mrs Chris Louis, Land & Water Australia, GPO Box 2182, CANBERRA ACT 2601.
Land & Water Australia provides national leadership in generating knowledge, informing debate and inspiring innovation and action in sustainable natural resource management. The Corporation offers four Travelling Fellowships and four Visiting Fellowships, to commence from 3 February 2003. Application forms are available at: http://www.lwa.gov.au/funding.asp?section=96. Travelling Fellowships aim to help both aspiring and prominent researchers to travel and study overseas for up to one year. Visiting Fellowships aim to facilitate the visits to Australia of acknowledged research leaders for sufficient periods to ensure the transfer of knowledge, skills and techniques. Such Fellows need to be nominated by an Australian researcher, resource manager or policy developer who will provide a key contact whilst in Australia. Applications
for fellowships may address any of the priorities under the Corporation's
2001?2006 strategic plan: Please direct any inquiries to ph: (02) 62636003 and chris.louis@lwa.gov.au. Eight copies of the application should be lodged by cob 25 October 2002 addressed to: Mrs Chris Louis, Land & Water Australia, GPO Box 2182, CANBERRA ACT 2601.
10. PROJECT MANAGERS - Australian Institute for Commercialisation To carry out its work programs, the AIC is seeking to secure the services of experienced and professional people to manage and deliver various projects. A range of skills will be required, drawn from such areas as knowledge management/dissemination (web-based), educational design and management, promotion and marketing, member services and networks, and commercialisation and research activities. It is expected that applicants should possess formal qualifications and related experience in one of these areas. A position description for these roles can be found on AIC website http://www.ausicom.com As well as full-time positions, secondments, part-time positions and contracting proposals will also be considered. Applications should be marked "Confidential Project Manager", and addressed to: Australian
Institute for Commercialisation by COB Friday 27 September.
The Cooperative
Research Centre for Sensor Signal and Information Processing (CSSIP) is
an unincorporated joint venture of nine core partners from industry, DSTO
and universities and has major market sector emphases in defence, mining
instrumentation and medical imaging. CSSIP is Australia's leading R&D and education organisation in sensor signal and information processing, with strong links to comparable overseas organisations and an annual budget, in cash and in-kind, of around $A10M. The Centre's headquarters are at Technology Park, Mawson Lakes SA. The CEO is responsible to the CSSIP Governing Board for the performance and strategic direction of the Centre. In commercial matters the CEO, as Managing Director, is responsible to the SPIRE Innovations Board. The CEO also serves as a Director on CSSIP's two spin-off company boards. Key areas of responsibility are in, strategic leadership, research leadership, commercial operations, people management, financial management, client relations and business development. You will need a relevant degree in science or engineering and, highly desirably, postgraduate qualifications in a related discipline or management. You will have extensive experience at senior manager or CEO level in a technology-commercialisation or applied research environment. A three-year contract will be offered, with salary sacrifice and packaging options. Depending on qualifications, an academic title with a University may be offered. Selection documentation should be requested from Mrs Sue Wendland +61 8 8302 3729, to whom written applications should be addressed at CSSIP, SPRI Building Mawson Lakes Blvd, Mawson Lakes SA 5095 or email sue.wendland@cssip.edu.au. Applications close 4 October 2002. 12. CASE MANAGERS
- The Triton Foundation Positions Available 2 x Case Managers (1 x Qld, 1 x Vic) You will work
with inventors to develop their strategic options including referring
them to programs designed to assist with the successful commercialisation
of their ideas, within the Charter and means of the Foundation. 1 x Case Manager (Melbourne) You will work
with Foundation case managers and inventors to identify and prepare the
"stories" behind the inventors and their inventions. Please contact
Mrs Stav Edwards stav@tritonfoundation.org.au
for Application Packs. Please identify the position of interest in your
email. 13. ERNST & YOUNG R&D SERVICES Small R&D companies in loss should be careful not to miss out on receiving a cash rebate through the new R&D Tax Offset. Companies that have an annual turnover up to $5 million and spend up to $1 million on R&D a year may qualify. The cash rebate will return 37.5 cents in the dollar for companies entitled to a 125% deduction under the Tax Concession. To find out more about this Offset, R&D Tax Concession, EMDG or other R&D assistance please contact Ernst & Young. 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's nationwide network and extensive experience makes it one of the leading providers of R&D services in Australia. For more information on how Ernst & Young can help, please contact an office near you. Perth: Robin Parsons (08) 9429 2251 Adelaide: Terry Zander (08) 8233 7106 Melbourne: Alun Needham (03) 9288 8099 Sydney: Craig Fowler (02) 9248 5308 Brisbane: Lindsay Somerville (07) 3011 3236 _______________________ 14. FINANCING
PRE-SEED, SEED AND EARLY-STAGE VENTURES A host of changes have been ushered including the Commonwealth Government's policy towards innovation including, the Innovation Investment Fund, Backing Australia's Ability and the Pre-Seed Fund. As s consequence, we now have a much more lively and seasoned finance sector involved in financing innovation than we had five years ago, making it an ideal time for you to find investors. How can you make the most of this current environment? This conference has been designed to help show how you can capitalise on the opportunities available, offering the funding solutions needed to advance your venture and make your resulting company attractive to investors. As always, the program has been carefully constructed to address the most pertinent issues of concern to you, including: how to commercialise ventures, determining when and if an venture is 'investor ready', implementing the best pathway of funding, projecting the value of early-stage ventures for investment purposes, how to succeed with investors, negotiating fair deals, alternatives to VC money, establishing the best tax, accounting and governance structures for the venture and more. This conference promises to be an outstanding three days of professional development opportunities. It is up to you to make the most of it. For more information, please contact Tracy Hart on (02) 9923 5081 or email at thart@iir.com.au. |