Archived News for Research Sector Professionals

The Australian Federal and Victorian State Governments are jointly providing funding of $3.5 million to further develop plastic solar cells currently being produced in Victoria.

Minister for Energy and Resources Michael O’Brien and his Commonwealth counterpart Martin Ferguson announced the new round of funding for the Organic Solar Cells Project from the Victorian Government Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the Australian Solar Institute (ASI) at the Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne.

Scientists from the University of Melbourne, CSIRO and Monash University produced the flexible, plastic solar cells, printed with a light sensitive ink to convert sunlight into energy. The new grant will allow the development of new materials and devices for the printing process, enabling production of inexpensive, mass produced solar panels.

NSW Committee appointed to develop Health and Medical Research Strategy

The NSW Government has appointed a Health and Medical Research Strategic Review Committee to develop a 10-year plan for medical research in the state.

Report examines innovation strengths and weaknesses

The second annual report on innovation in Australia has shown that our performance in the area of research and skills has been above OECD average and our performance in entrepreneurship is one of the best in the world.

Chief Defence Scientist to quit position

The Chief Defence Scientist of the Department of Defence, and the head of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), Professor Robert Clark, will be leaving the position in October at the completion of his three-year tenure.

Tequila plant to help reduce emissions

Large scale farms of the agave plant used to make the drink tequila could be established in Australia's arid inland as a solution to transport fuel problems, a University of Sydney academic has found.

R&D Tax Credit to help small to medium firms

An independent economic analysis of the Federal Government’s Research and Development Tax Credit has verified that the scheme is set to assist small and medium sized firms grow their businesses.

Opinion: Our future in space

By Dr Steven Tsitas and Professor Andrew Dempster of the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research at UNSW.

$66.5 million for solar research

The Federal Government has announced a $66.5 million grant under the Education Investment Fund (EIF) to fund ‘world-leading’ research that will assist in the construction of one of the largest solar power plants in the world.

Researcher receives leading NSW cancer research award

Achieving significant advances in the study of cancer cells and their ability to reproduce has seen University of Sydney researcher, Professor Roger Reddel awarded the Outstanding Cancer Researcher of the Year at the Cancer Institute NSW Premier's Awards for Outstanding Cancer Research.

New Centre for Nanomedicine launched

A new nanomedicine centre at the University of New South Wales, the first of its kind in Australia, will research new treatments for difficult-to-treat diseases including aggressive childhood cancer and lung cancer.

The Australian Centre for Nanomedicine (ACN), was launched by Australia’s Chief Scientist, Professor Ian Chubb. The centre brings together medical and clinical researchers with specialists in nanotechnology, engineering and chemistry to create new treatments for disease.

Professor Chubb said work like the ACN's was central to the purpose of Australia's universities.

"The purpose of universities is to use our talents to make the world a better place," Professor Chubb said.

"Nanomedicine will enable better delivery of drugs and vital therapies to individuals who would not prosper without that treatment."

The ACN, in partnership with the Children’s Cancer Institute Australia (CCIA) and UNSW’s Lowy Cancer Research Centre, is targeting neuroblastoma among its initial projects. Neuroblastoma is a difficult-to-treat cancer – the most common tumour in children under five years of age and one which has one of the lowest survival rates – 40 to 50 per cent.

University of Queensland to install Australia's most powerful MRI

The University of Queensland (UQ) has entered into a landmark agreement with technology specialist Siemens, to install a powerful MRI system that is more than twice as strong as any other MRI system currently available in the Southern Hemisphere.

Victoria boosts funding for Medical Research Commercialisation Fund

The Victorian Government is providing funding of $1.6 million to support the operation of the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund over the next four years.

New BOM wind profiler opens

A vertical wind profiler, which replaces upper air wind observations using weather balloons, has been installed as part of a new, purpose-built meteorological office at Ceduna on South Australia’s west coast.

$6.2 million for greener, lighter cars

The Federal Government has announced $6.2 million in grants through the Green Car Innovation Fund for the production of lighter cars that will reduce carbon emissions. The grants have been awarded to component manufacturers CFusion, Toyoda Gosei Australia, Composite Materials Engineering and Hirotec.

Funding for Institute for a Broadband-Enabled Society

The Victorian Minister for Technology, Gordon Rich-Phillips has announced that the State Government will provide $3 million as part of a $21 million investment in the University of Melbourne’s Institute for a Broadband-Enabled Society (IBES).

Researchers explore graphene for energy storage systems

Researchers at Monash University are investigating the use of a material called graphene, which could form the basis of the next generation of ultrafast energy storage systems.

Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources launched

The Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER) has been officially opened at the University of Newcastle.

Research links global warming with droughts and floods

Research into how variations in atmospheric and ocean variations contribute significantly to droughts and floods such as those recently experienced across south-east Australia and Queensland has been presented at a workshop hosted by the South Eastern Australian Climate Initiative (SEACI), a three-year, $9 million research program investigating the causes and impacts of climate variability and change throughout south-eastern Australia.

CSIRO to research climate influences

CSIRO has awarded a five-year research fellowship to Dr Wenju Cai to head up a new research team to conduct work into better understanding the impact of climate change on Australia, with particular focus on the extremes of flooding and droughts around the country.

NSW invests $30 million in cancer research

The New South Wales Minister for Health and Minister for Medical Research, Jillian Skinner, has announced an investment of more than $30 million in cancer research projects across seven major NSW research centres.