Archived News for Research Sector Professionals

The Victorian Government has officially opened the new Peter cook Centre for Carbon and Capture Storage (CCS) Research at the University of Melbourne.

The centre will host 30 scientists and engineers undertaking crucial work on CCS technologies.

The centre received a $6 million sponsorship from Rio Tinto to create a research platform that will be integrated with the Co-Operative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies (CO2CRC), operator of the existing Otway Project.

Adelaide leads opiate addition breakthrough

The team of international researchers has proven that addiction to opiates, such as morphine and heroin, can be blocked, while at the same time increasing pain relief.

Indigenous health research centre construction starts

Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs and the Northern Territory Minister for Health Kon Vatskalis have turned the first sod in the construction of the new Indigenous health research centre in the territory.

NCGRT urges action on groundwater depletion

The director of National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training (NCGRT) has urged Australia to take a leading role in tackling the emerging global crisis in groundwater management.

Sydney University acquires GSD super resolution microscope

The University of Sydney has acquired the first ground state depletion (GSD) super-resolution microscope in the Southern Hemisphere, which will enable researchers to see materials at a cellular level and open the way for improvements in the diagnosis of diseases including cancer.

University of Melbourne examines new water attitudes

The University of Melbourne has released a review that investigates new methods of water conservation and the need to transform policies and attitudes surrounding the vital resource.

Warming to alter Pacific rain band

South Pacific countries will experience more severe and extreme weather events as a consequence of increasing greenhouse gas emissions, according to a research paper published in the journal Nature.

Cut emissions to save billions says report

Move to mitigate to reduce carbon emissions can significantly improve the health of the country’s population and could save billions of dollars and thousands of lives each year, a new report has found.

Universities win PV grants

The Universities of New South Wales and Queensland have secured two major photovoltaic (PV) research grants under the Federal Government’s Solar Flagships program.

Discussion paper on Patents Act inquiry released

The Productivity Commission has released a discussion paper on its current inquiry into the compulsory licensing provisions of the Patents Act 1990.

ANU opens new research centre

The Australian National University (ANU) has opened the final stage of The John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR).

Breakthrough in quantum computing

Scientists have taken a quantum leap forward towards future computing after discovering that ‘background interference’ in quantum-level measurements, may be the very thing they need to unlock the potential of quantum computing.

Flinders Uni to launch Tonsley Park centre

Flinders University has announced it will establish a teaching and research centre at South Australia’s new advanced manufacturing hub in Adelaide’s Tonsley Park.

Consultation on R&D Tax Incentive quarterly credits inititiative

The Federal Government has released a public consultation paper to enable small and medium sized companies and other stakeholders to contribute to the design of the R&D Tax Incentive quarterly credits initiative.

The new R&D quarterly credits initiative will provide more timely access to tax incentives for small and medium sized businesses undertaking eligible research and development.

R&D quarterly credits will be an opt-in element of the Government's R&D Tax Incentive, which will further improve company cash flow and enhance incentives to invest in R&D activities.

Quarterly credits will be available to small and medium sized companies eligible for the R&D refundable tax offset.

Rather than waiting until an income tax return is assessed by the ATO, companies can choose to obtain the benefit of the offset on a quarterly basis during an income year.

Providing benefits to smaller companies sooner will be a better way to help them invest in their own future success, and in doing so, the Government is also investing in Australia's long-term economic future.

The R&D Tax Incentive is part of the Government's ambitious innovation agenda to create more business opportunities, growth and jobs for the future. It will help make our businesses more innovative and, across the nation, will assist to increase Australia's productivity and competitiveness.

Quarterly credits will be accessible for each quarter commencing on or after 1 January 2014.

The Government encourages comment and feedback on the paper as part of the consultation process to help ensure that the design of quarterly credits works for business.

The consultation paper can be found at www.treasury.gov.au. Consultation on the paper will close on 31 August 2012.

New centres to focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health

Three new Centres of Research Excellence have been funded under latest round of the NHMRC Centres of Research program to focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues. The new centres are:

New Chief Executive of CSIRO Information Sciences

Dr David Williams, former Chief Executive of the United Kingdom Space Agency and Chairman of the European Space Agency, has been appointed as CSIRO Group Executive, Information Sciences.

New membership of NHMRC announced

The Federal Minister for Health, Tanya Plibersek, has announced new appointments to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) including the new chair Justice Annabelle Bennett AO.

New supercomputer to build WA's capacity

A new $4 million terascale research supercomputer, funded under the Australian Government's Super Science Initiative, has been launched at The University of Western Australia.

Named Fornax, Latin for 'furnace', after a southern hemisphere constellation known as a birthplace for stars, the computer is the second of three supercomputers commissioned as part of the $80 million Pawsey Centre project, which is a participant in Australia and New Zealand's successful bid to co-host the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope.

NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence funded

Funding totalling $42.3 million has been allocated to 17 research centres in the latest round of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centres of Research Excellence program. The program provides up to $2.5 million over five years to support teams of researchers to pursue collaborative research and develop capacity in clinical, population health and health services.