Archived News for Research Sector Professionals
A co-operative team from RMIT University and the Australian National University (ANU) have developed a method that will allow mechanical pressure into electricity.
Dr Simon Ruffell from the ANU Research School of Physics and Engineering and Dr Madhu Bhaskaran and Dr Sharath Sriram from RMIT University have used nanotechnology to convert mechanical pressure into electricity.
The breakthrough was made by combining piezoelectrics, materials capable of turning pressure into electricity, with thin film technology, the basis of microchip manufacturing.
New Pork CRC underway on July 1st
Ensuring Australian pork is a high integrity meat that is welfare optimal, environmentally responsible, safe and nutritious is the focus of the new CRC for High Integrity Australian Pork.
New water R&D group launched
A new collaborative group is bringing together key players within the Australian water community who undertake the role of research and development knowledge brokers, with an aim of sharing information on R&D and promoting knowledge and adoption of research outcomes to the industry.
FASTS becomes Science & Technology Australia
The Federation of Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS), the peak body that brings together nearly 60 member groups in the science and technology sector, has been rebadged to become Science & Technology Australia.
Solar thermal research hub launched
Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson and Member for Newcastle, Sharon Grierson officially opened the CSIRO Solar Tower which will focus on solar tower research, development and commercialisation in the Hunter Region.
R&D Tax Credit to be introduced on July 1st
The Federal Government has announced crossbench support for the new R&D Tax Credit with a new start date of 1 July 2011. The new $1.8 billion R&D Tax Credit will replace the R&D Tax Concession.
Bionics Institute launched
Australia’s first bionics institute will be a leader in neurobionic research, with the aim of developing devices for conditions such as epilepsy.
Space research projects funded
Three new collaborative research projects have been allocated funding totalling $6.1 million under Round 4 of the Australian Space Research Program (ASRP.
Germans and NICTA sign IT security agreement
NICTA (National ICT Australia) and German IT security specialist secunet (Security Networks AG) signed a research agreement to develop high-security IT products for the defence and government sectors.
Funding announced for Defence protection equipment research
The Federal Government has announced it will contribute more than $9 million toward research for the protection of soldiers of the Australian Defence Force.
Rural Research & Development Corporations funding to continue
The Federal Government will continue its matching contributions to rural research and development corporations, following the release of a review on Research and Development Corporations (RDCs) by the Productivity Commission.
Melbourne Uni life sciences computation facility criticised
A report by the Victorian Auditor-General has criticised the University of Melbourne for failing to establish that its investment in a $100 million life sciences computing facility represents the most effective use of a $50 million state government grant.
Synthetic fuel facility launched in WA
Australia’s first synthetic fuels facility, the $5 million Synfuel and Catalysis Research Facility (Syncat), has been launched in Perth. The facility is a public private partnership housed at the Australian Resources Research Centre in Western Australia's Technology Park.
New director for Antarctic Tasmania Science and Research Unit
Professor Denzil Miller, Professorial Fellow at University of Wollongong in Ocean Governance and Honorary Research Professor at the University of Tasmania in Antarctic Conservation, has been appointed as Director, Antarctic Tasmania, Science and Research.
WA invests additional $8 million in health and medical research
The Western Australian Government has announced an additional $8million in funding over three years for health and medical research in Western Australia.
Particle physics centre opens
The Centre of Excellence for Particle Physics (CoEPP) has opened at Melbourne University with the objective of helping to answer primary questions about the origin of the universe.
New IIF fund managers announced
The Federal Government's Innovation Investment Fund has invested $60 million in three innovation fund managers — Carnegie Venture Capital Pty Ltd, the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund and Southern Cross Venture Partners Pty Ltd.
CSIRO develops flood management model
CSIRO has reported the completion of powerful modelling techniques to aim to better understand the full impact of flooding that occurs when dams collapse.
WA carbon capture and storage assessment funded
The Collie South West Hub capture and storage (CCS) trial project in Western Australia is to receive up to $104 million in matching Federal and State funding for the completion of a detailed storage viability study.
WA Government contributes to supercomputing centre
The Western Australian Government is providing $15.8million over four years to iVEC’s Pawsey Supercomputing Centre, headquartered at Technology Park, Bentley.
Victorian Fellowships announced
The Victorian Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business Louise Asher has announced the winners of the 2011 Victorian Endowment for Science, Knowledge and Innovation (VESKI) Fellowships at a ceremony in Melbourne.