The Australian Government's Innovation Report

Vision CRC
International collaboration between scientists and industry is helping contact-lens
wearers maintain eye health.
The Vision Cooperative Research Centre is a great example of the sort of successful
innovation produced by the Cooperative Research Centre Programme, which
maximises the benefits of research through an enhanced process of utilisation,
commercialisation and technology transfer.
The 020PTIX contact-lens, developed through a collaboration of the Vision
Cooperative Research Centre and one of its partners, CIBA Vision, has been a
massive success in the US$4.6 billion global contact-lens market.
020PTIX contact-lens. Photo credits: Vision CRC
The lens is designed for people who usually wear contact-lenses during the day, but want the option of
occasional overnight wear. O2OPTIX transmits considerably more oxygen to the eye of the wearer than
traditional soft lenses, which helps to maintain eye health.
The sales of O2OPTIX and NIGHT & DAY contact-lenses, also developed by the same team, generated
US$10 million in royalties for the Vision Cooperative Research Centre in 2004-05. That figure is expected
to rise significantly over the life of the patents, which extend to 2014.
World Class Centres of Excellence – Biotechnology: Australian Stem Cell Centre
The Biotechnology Centre of Excellence, the Australian Stem Cell Centre (ASCC), is the flagship biotechnology
initiative of the 2001 Backing Australia’s Ability. ASCC will receive $98.55 million over nine years to 2011 through
a joint funding arrangement between the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources and the Australian
Research Council.
ASCC is undertaking cutting-edge, product-based research using four platform technologies: adult stem cell research,
human embryonic stem cell research, tissue repair, and immune system technology. It is establishing a critical
mass of leading national and international researchers and forging new partnerships with institutions and companies.
At 30 April 2006, the centre had identified 35 research projects to fund. These projects align with its scientific and
commercialisation objectives under the deed of agreement with the Australian Government.
The centre, headquartered in Melbourne, has funded research in four states. Institutions hosting research
activities include Monash University, University of Queensland, the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute,
the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and Adelaide University.
Highlights over the past year include:
• In September 2005, collaboration was announced with the CRC for Polymers to develop smart surfaces
for use in bioreactors that will provide new and improved ways of culturing and differentiating cells.
A new technology combining immune system research and stem cell know-how is also being developed
under a tripartite agreement between Monash University, the ASCC and Norwood Immunology.
• ASCC scientists published a Nature Biotechnology paper in February 2006, which detailed the discovery
of a new method of detecting abnormal embryonic stem cells before they change into cancerous cells
– a discovery which could overcome a major challenge facing this field of research.
• A new international collaboration in stem cell research between ASCC, Monash University and
University of California, San Diego was announced in April 2006. The collaboration will bring together
more than 300 leading scientists in regenerative medicine and stem cell science and will underpin major
collaborations between Victoria and California. Under the initiative, the institutions will organise scientist
exchanges, host joint workshops, develop joint grant applications, share equipment and materials, and
establish joint clinical trials and commercial developments.
• By May 2006, ASCC had awarded a total of 11 premier scholarships (up to $25 000 a year) and 14 small
postgraduate research stipends (up to $10 000 a year). It had also provided a number of travel grants
and conference awards.
More information about the ASCC can be found at: www.stemcellcentre.edu.au
Chapter 2 - Initiatives for a dynamic national innovation system 75