General |
Biotechnical |
Information Technology |
COMET Program |
Biotechnical |
Farmers' Seed Controversy |
Seed-Stage Funding for Biotechnology Companies |
Government Awareness and Support of Biotechnology |
Standard Regulating Genetically-Modified Food |
Education: Introduction of Doctor of Biotechnology |
Leading Edge |
Strawberry testing patent |
Signature Financial Group Inc |
Commercialising Emerging Technologies (COMET) is a program focused on innovation and its commercialisation, being introduced by the Federal Government. The program commenced on 17 November 1999. COMET has been designed to increase the commercialisation of innovative products, processes and services by providing individuals, early-stage growth firms and spin-off companies with a tailored package of support to improve their potential for successful commercialisation. Help for successful applicants will include supporting paths to commercialisation such as:
The tailored support package will increase the client's potential for commercialisation by supporting activities in the areas of management skills, business planning, market research, intellectual property strategy, working prototype and proven technology. If you would like further information or an Information Kit (including an application form) contact:
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The AusIndustry Hotline: 132 846 The AusIndustry Regional Office in your Capital City; or Fax your details to (02) 6213 7482; or Email us at comet@ausindustry.gov.au |
The "terminator" technology (see US Patent 5 723 765 issued 3rd March 1998 to Oliver et al.), is causing a great deal of controversy. The process produces seeds which will survive only one growing season, thus farmers will not be able to save the seeds from their first crop, clean them up and use them for the second season. The invention is highly ingenious. It involves - (a) a first promoter which switches ON a plant-lethal gene, but only does so very late in the development of a seed, linked to the lethal gene. (b) a blocking sequence of DNA between the promoter and the lethal gene which stops the promoter switch from turning ON the lethal gene. (c) a second promoter which switches on a gene which produces an enzyme which will excise the blocking sequence and thereby cause the lethal promoter to turn ON the plant lethal gene, this second promoter being linked to the excising gene. (d) a gene repressor which produces a protein which binds to the second promoter switch holding it in the OFF position. The repressor can be acted on by an external stimulus, for example the drug tetracycline, to release it from the hold of the second promoter, thus turning on the excising gene, which excises the blocking sequence, enabling the first promoter to switch ON the plant-lethal gene when the seed has formed from the first crop. Readers should remain calm - the gene is not lethal to animals or plants. However the US government is under fire because the co-assignee is the US Dept of Agriculture. For further details go to:-
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Seed-Stage Funding for Biotechnology Companies BioVentures Australia is a joint venture between Start-Up Australia and U.S. based research Corporation Technologies committed to providing seed-stage funding for Australian biotechnology companies. The main impetus for BioVentures is to further develop Australian technologies in Australia and ultimately maximise their value in the international market place. Additionally, BioVentures Australia will supply project management, commercial development experience, patent strategy, legal support and international networking. |
Government Awareness and Support of Biotechnology The Australian Government is to provide $17.6m finance over two years to establish an office of biotechnology in the industry portfolio and a statutory officer of the Gene Technology Regulator within the health portfolio. The NSW Innovation Council have released a report on biotechnology (NSW innovation council 1998). The committee for Melbourne has commissioned a study of Melbourne's biotechnology capabilities (Boston Consulting Group 1998). The Queensland Government has announced almost $200m funding for biotechnology and establishment of a biotechnology advisory council (Moore 1998; Australian R&D Review 1999). This funding will include the establishment of the proposed Institute for Molecular Bioscience to be situated at the University of Queensland. The Department of Industry Science and Resources with the Australian Biotechnology Association have finalised a directory of some 200 organisations involved in Biotechnology in Australia. |
Standard Regulating Genetically-Modified Food The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Council (ANZFSC) upon recommendation from the Australian New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) has introduced a standard (Standard A18) to the Food Standards Code which came into effect on the 13 May 1999. Applications to sell food produced using gene technology must be made to ANZFA with approval being determined by ANZFSC. For guidelines refer to the information paper Guidelines for the Safety Assessment of foods to be included in Standard A18 - Food produced using Gene Technology. Labelling is mandatory where foods contain new and altered genetic material and which are not substantially equivalent to their conventional counterparts in a characteristic or property of the food, particularly with respect to nutritional quality, composition, allergenicity, or end use. The label must indicate the biological origin and nature of the characteristic or property modified. The standard permits the making of negative claims where foods are not, or do not contain, genetically modified material, providing such claims are neither misleading nor deceptive. (For further information please visit the ANZFA website at:- |
Education: Introduction of Doctor of Biotechnology The biotechnology industry worldwide continues to grow as industry seeks to take advantage of the explosion of knowledge in the biological sciences, and as governments tackle key problems in the environment and medicine. The industry is seen typically as producing high value added products, many of which arise from the results of basic research in molecular and cell biology. The research profile of the University of Queensland in the area of biotechnology is already strong, and will be further enhanced with the construction of the Institute of Molecular Biosciences (IMB). The professional Doctorate of Biotechnology will provide scientists with the managerial expertise to take the biotechnology industry into an exciting future, as well as combining formal scientific research skills with managerial studies. Contact Details:- |
Faculty of Biological and Chemical Sciences The University of Queensland, Brisbane Queensland, 4072. AUSTRALIA Phone +61 7 3365 1888 Fax +61 7 3365 1613 Email bacs.enquiries@mailbox.uq.edu.au www http://www.uq.edu.au/biosci/ |
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Colin Salmond of Queensland had a strawberry farm whose profitability and survival depended upon a high percentage of fresh plants growing and fruiting each season. The vigour of the nursery plants was crucial and the viability of the farm depended on the selection of sound stock. Prior to the invention the nurseries placed the responsibilty for plant failure with the growers, the invention was able to demonstrate that the nursery processes were a contributing factor. A method of assessing the vigour of the plant tissue was devised and offered to the industry. Precise and reliable data enabled business operators to forecast results.
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Signature Financial Group- Business process patents allowed In July 1998, the US Court of Appeals (Federal circuit), decided in State St Bank & Trust Co v Signature Financial Group Inc that a data processing scheme for conducting a mutual fund investment structure was patentable. US Patent 5 193 056 entitled DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR HUB AND SPOKE FINANCIAL SERVICES issued. The enlargement of the USA patent system to include business methods aroused US interest. The software industry is likely to benefit most because business schemes usually utilise computer operation. While our Australian Patent Office is not bound to conform with US practice, inventors should feel encouraged to lodge cover here in anticipation of eventual conformity while their application is pending - for example, database methods for selling second-hand goods if novel, may prove suitable.
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