The Australian Government's Innovation Report

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o a laser power measurement facility up to 100 watts to support laser safety and industrial laser applications; and o a new standard for heat flux to support fire safety testing. Plans for 2006-07 include developing improved standards for mains electricity power quality, developing new chemical reference methods for industrial and environmental measurements, developing new reference materials for illicit drugs and banned sports drug detection. More information about NMI and its programmes and activities can be found at: www.measurement.gov.au Finding signature DNA There are many DNA measurements where as few as 50 molecules of a signature DNA sequence – unique to a particular disease or trait – must be detected in a ‘soup’ of many millions of DNA sequences. At such low concen trations of the signature DNA, the preparation of standards using traditional methods leads to significant errors. To overcome these limitations, the National Measurement Institute, biotechnology company BTF Pty Ltd, and Macquarie University, have developed a novel approach to production of DNA reference materials. A single molecule of the signature DNA sequence is stitched into the genome of bacteria such as E. coli. Using a technique developed by BTF Pty Ltd, a defined number of these modified bacteria are counted and dispensed into a small droplet of special matrix solution. The droplet is quickly freeze-dried into a small sphere called a Bioball. When required, the BioBall is simply dissolved in the measurement solution to provide a standard with a very precise number of molecules of the signature DNA. Freeze-dried modified E. coli or Bioball. Photo credits: NMI Strengthening university and independent research sector R&D National Competitive Grants Programme The Australian Research Council (ARC) has established a range of competitive funding schemes for the support of research and research training under the framework of the National Competitive Grants Programme (NCGP). Through these schemes, the ARC aims to: • encourage the conduct of high-quality research across a wide range of disciplines, particularly in areas of national research priority; • facilitate the development and strengthening of collaborative linkages within Australia’s innovation system and with innovation systems internationally; • provide high-quality research training and career opportunities for Australia’s best and most promising researchers; and • enable the acquisition and facilitation of access to world-class equipment and facilities. The NCGP’s schemes support research in all major disciplines except clinical medicine and dentistry (these fields are supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)). The majority of funding under the NCGP is allocated on the basis of a competitive peer review process. Discovery Projects support excellent fundamental research undertaken by individual researchers or research teams. There were 3742 proposals for funding commencing in 2006 of which 917 (24.5%) were successful. Chapter 2 - Initiatives for a dynamic national innovation system 39
The successful proposals represent a funding commitment of $95.2 million in 2006 and $273.6 million over the five years to 2010. In total, in 2006 about 2914 new and ongoing research projects were supported under Discovery Projects. Linkage Projects support collaborative research projects between higher education researchers and industry and other partner organisations. Across the two selection rounds (announced in November 2005 and July 2006) for funding commencing in 2006, the ARC supported 400 new collaborative research projects and awards worth $114.2 million over the five years to 2010. This funding commitment will attract $175.2 million in matching contributions in cash and in-kind from partner organisations. A total of 764 partner organisations from around Australia will contribute to research under the new projects and awards that commenced in 2006. Linkage Projects foster opportunities for postgraduate researchers to pursue internationally competitive research in collaboration with industry and other partner organisations. In 2006, the ARC awarded 304 Australian Postgraduate Awards (Industry), including 56 targeted to research in the field of information and communications technology. This brought the number of new awards to 1930 over the five years 2002 to 2006. To establish collaborations at a more senior level, 30 Australian Postdoctoral Fellowships (Industry) were awarded in 2006. Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities supports the collaborative development of large-scale research infrastructure by universities and other research organisations. In the 2006 new funding round, the ARC received 168 proposals of which 83 were approved for funding. The funding commitment to these projects is $37.3 million – cash and in-kind contributions are also provided by partner organisations. In 2006, a total of 31 universities and 57 other organisations were involved in the 83 proposals funded under the scheme. Federation Fellowships were announced on 11 May 2006 by the Minister for Education, Science and Training. Twenty-five new fellowships were awarded, five to expatriate Australians who will leave international organisations to return home, and two to foreign nationals who will bring their experience and talent to Australia. Four current fellowship holders received their second fellowship. Research Centres supported by the ARC in 2006 include three co-funded national Centres of Excellence (the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, the Australian Stem Cell Centre and National ICT Australia), 26 ARC Centres of Excellence and ARC Centres (including 15 established in 2003 and 11 established in 2005) and nine Special Research Centres. Centres funded by the ARC (excluding the co-funded Centres of Excellence) produced over 1500 journal articles and 57 patents during the year. Students enrolled within the centres included 328 honours students, 114 Masters students and 1191 PhD students. Linkage International comprises three components – Awards, Fellowships and Internationally Coordinated Initiatives (collaborations with overseas funding agencies to fund collaborative awards). In 2005-06, the ARC signed a bilateral agreement with the United Kingdom Economic and Social Research Council. Under the agreement, the ARC will contribute to joint funding of collaborative research projects in the social sciences and related fields. Funding for areas of national research priority is provided through all of the NCGP’s schemes. In 2005-06, the ARC and the NHMRC conducted selection rounds for two new joint funding initiatives – Thinking Systems and Ageing Well, Ageing Productively. On 24 July 2006, the Minister for Education, Science and Training and the Minister for Health and Ageing jointly announced the outcomes of Thinking Systems. Funding of $10 million over five years will support three new projects that will bring together research in neuroscience, artificial intelligence, robotics and computer science. The outcomes of the Ageing Well, Ageing Productively initiative were jointly announced by the Minister for Education, Science and Training and the Minister for Ageing on 5 July 2006. The $10 million initiative (which is administered by the NHMRC) will fund six projects over five years, covering areas including personal, lifestyle and social factors in healthy ageing, and influences on brain ageing. More information about the ARC and its programmes and activities can be found at: www.arc.gov.au 40 Backing Australia’s Ability
Page 1 and 2: 2006 07 The Australian Government
Page 3 and 4: ISBN: 0 642 77 675x ISBN: 0 642 77
Page 5 and 6: Enhancing industrial R&D 44 R&D Tax
Page 7 and 8: PRIORITY 3 - FRONTIER TECHNOLOGIES
Page 9 and 10: 8 Backing Australia’s Ability
Page 11 and 12: FRDC GDP GERD GGAP GOVERD GRDC HECS
Page 13 and 14: 12 Backing Australia’s Ability
Page 15 and 16: The year also saw significant outco
Page 17 and 18: The Australian Innovation Scorecard
Page 19 and 20: Table 1: Australian Government supp
Page 21 and 22: The Australian Government’s inves
Page 23 and 24: Sustaining funding for government r
Page 25 and 26: • Key to Australasian liverwort a
Page 27 and 28: Australian Institute of Marine Scie
Page 29 and 30: Coral gives new insight into changi
Page 31 and 32: • As part of the joint Careers in
Page 33 and 34: Developing meaningful, long-term co
Page 35 and 36: Defence Science and Technology Orga
Page 37 and 38: In 2005-06, Geoscience Australia st
Page 39: The majority of research-related pu
Page 43 and 44: In addition to the continued large
Page 45 and 46: Enhancing industrial R&D R&D Tax Co
Page 47 and 48: • improving the management of nat
Page 49 and 50: Food Innovation Grants Programme As
Page 51 and 52: Most facilities provide training pr
Page 53 and 54: Total funding for the ISL programme
Page 55 and 56: Improving research quality and acce
Page 57 and 58: PART 2 - Accelerating the commercia
Page 59 and 60: Pooled Development Funds The Pooled
Page 61 and 62: In 2005-06, $12.83 million was inve
Page 63 and 64: Table 9: Sectoral distribution of C
Page 65 and 66: Building on ICT strengths Advanced
Page 67 and 68: Other achievements included: • ge
Page 69 and 70: Seafood Services Australia Ltd An I
Page 71 and 72: Interest in ITOL and e-business rem
Page 73 and 74: • provision of a business develop
Page 75 and 76: Building links to facilitate commer
Page 77 and 78: Taking a closer look at stem cells
Page 79 and 80: Biotechnology Australia Public Awar
Page 81 and 82: • commercialisation seminars for
Page 83 and 84: Advancing SET skills Audit of Scien
Page 85 and 86: National Youth Science Forum The Na
Page 87 and 88: Mathematics and informatics In 2005
Page 89 and 90: Higher Education Loan Programme The
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Fostering entrepreneurship and awar
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Skilled Immigration Migration conti
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ANSTO’s Dr Tony Taylor with the m
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The millimetre wave radar stope mon
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Sustainable use of Australia’s bi
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New techniques assist exploration c
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Pushing the heater bank used to run
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The diagnostic tool uses a unique a
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The researchers anticipate that the
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Advanced materials Quick dry merino
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Promoting an innovation culture and
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Dairy for Tomorrow launch in Tasman
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David Griffin (left) and Andreas Sc
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Scientists are searching for an eff
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Clearinghouse-type websites are cur
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120 Backing Australia’s Ability
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The scorecard provides an overview
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Notes: 1. Australia’s ranking is
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FIGURE 1: Percentage change in the
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FIGURE 2: Australia’s innovation
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Compared to the 2004 scorecard Aust
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FIGURE 6: Number of scientific and
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FIGURE 9: Percentage of the workfor
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Knowledge Diffusion Investment in I
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FIGURE 16: Investment in new equipm
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Percentage of Turnover Attributed t
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Conclusions The Australian Innovati
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Commonwealth State and Territory Ad
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• promoting and marketing industr
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Australian Bureau of Statistics The
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Informing the future House of Repre
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152 Backing Australia’s Ability
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Appendix 1: Major flows of funding
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Appendix 3: Overview of Australia
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Appendix 4: Backing Australia’s A
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Appendix 5: Overview of R&D in regi
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Appendix 7: National Research Prior
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CRC for Spatial Information http://
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Desert Knowledge CRC http://www.des
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ARC Centre of Excellence in Vision
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170 Backing Australia’s Ability B
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The Australian Government's Innovation Report

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