Government news
- Agencies' external earnings targets removed
- Australian Academy of Science calls for new approach to research facilities
- Chief Scientist's Office creates new position
- Commercialisation survey results released
- Stem cell debate resumes
- Venture capital tax breaks announced
Agencies' external earnings targets removed
13 September - External earnings targets, currently applying to scientific organisations such as CSIRO, are to be removed. The removal is in response to a report by Australia's Chief Scientist, Dr Robin Batterham, "Review of the External Earnings Targets Policy Applying to CSIRO, ANSTO and AIMS". Dr Batterham's report studied the policy, which has been in place for more than a decade, and concluded that despite science agencies achieving external earnings around the target levels, the policy is inflexible and has unduly constrained the agencies from pursuing their business relationships. Removing the targets will allow greater flexibility in the research and commercial decisions made by the three agencies. In addition, new performance measures will focus more upon the social, economic and environmental impact of research.
[Source: Ministerial Announcement]
Australian Academy of Science calls for new approach to research facilities
12 September - The Australian Academy of Science has released a discussion paper, calling for a new policy approach to evaluating national access to major research facilities overseas, in addition to the investment in local facilities. The paper, Providing the machinery of Science: Defining a whole-of-government strategy for securing access to critical research facilities, argues for an appropriate mix of access to leading-edge facilities overseas and the maintenance of excellent domestic facilities. The paper also calls for improved coordination of access to and investment in facilities, and for a definition of what makes a critical research facility.
[Source: R&D News]
Chief Scientist's Office creates new position
12 September - Australia's Chief Scientist's Office has created a new position: Head of the Office of the Chief Scientist. The position has been filled by CSIRO researcher Dr Vijoleta Braach-Maksvytis, currently Co-Director of CSIRO nanotechnology and Chair of the CSIRO Science Forum. In these positions, Dr Braach-Maksvytis has been responsible for CSIRO's strategic investments in emerging scientists. In her new position, Dr Braach-Maksvytis will assist the Chief Scientist, Dr Robin Batterham, in advising the Federal Government on the relevance of science, technology and innovation to national goals, in addition to promoting the value of science to the public.
[Source: R&D News; Ministerial Announcement]
Commercialisation survey results released
20 September - Australia's first National Survey of Research Commercialisation has been completed. The survey, undertaken by the Australian Research Council, the NHMRC and CSIRO, obtained data on the commercialisation in research from 34 universities, 15 medical research institutes and 21 CSIRO research divisions for the year 2000. Results indicate that:
- 47 start-up companies were created in 2000 across a range of industries;
- 91% of these companies were based in Australia;
- Universities held equity in almost 80% of their start-up companies;
- 417 licensing arrangements were established in 2000; and
- At least 250 new start-up companies could be created by 2004.
According to Federal Ministers Dr Brendan Nelson, Senator Kay Patterson and Peter McGauran, this data will enable appropriate target setting and performance evaluation, and will influence future commercialisation strategies of publicly funded research organisations in Australia.
[Source: Ministerial Media Release]
Stem cell debate resumes
17 September - Australia's Federal parliament is again discussing the forthcoming conscience vote on embryonic stem cell research, after voting two weeks ago to ban reproductive human cloning. In the interim, opponents of the legislation (which is to allow limited research on embryos) have drafted numerous amendments. However, there are indications the Bill should pass through the Lower House, with a second reading threshold vote showing majority support for the legislation as it now stands.
[Source: ABC News Online]
Venture capital tax breaks announced
18 September - The Australian Financial Review reports that the Federal Government is to honour an election commitment to business, providing new venture capital tax breaks for foreign investment. Under the new proposals, approved by Cabinet on 16 September, some US and other foreign tax-exempt pension funds will be able to invest in Australian VC projects free of Australian tax. The measure could provide over $1bn of venture capital to Australia over the next five years. Legislation to give effect to the proposals is yet to be drafted, but is expected to have a retrospective start date of 1 July 2002.
[Source: Australian Financial Review - Laura Tingle]
