Twenty-first issue of our RESEARCH MANAGEMENT BRIEFING - an electronic update of recent news items for members of the ACU Global Research Management network.

Deputy Secretary-General (Development)

Association of Commonwealth Universities

1. ACT AND VICTORIA CALL FOR EASING OF STEM CELL REGULATION IN AUSTRALIA

2. ETHIOPIAN CENTRE TO CARRY OUT 100 RESEARCH AND POPULARISATION PROJECTS

3. SOUTH AFRICA OPENS NEW SCIENCE CENTRE

4. HONG KONG UNIVERSITY UNVEILS NEW RESEARCH CENTRES

5. PAKISTAN PROMOTES SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF SCIENCE

6. ASTHMA AND AIRWAYS RESEARCH CENTRE OPENS AT SYDNEY UNIVERSITY

7. GRDC FORMS R&D AGREEMENT WITH CANADIAN FIRM

8. NZD1M FUNDING FOR NEW ZEALAND BIOINFORMATICS FIRM

9. NORTHERN IRELAND LAUNCHES NEW AGRI-FOOD RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ADVISORY PANEL

10. INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR GLASGOW UNIVERSITY SMALL BUSINESS PROJECT

11. SENEGAL PRESIDENT URGES AFRICAN SCIENCE COLLABORATION

12. AIDS TRIALS UNDERREPRESENTED IN AFRICA

13. EUROPEAN COMMISSION TAKES ON ASIAN ECONOMIES WITH NEW INDUSTRIAL POLICY

14. CASE PRESENTS OUTLINE SCIENCE STRATEGY FOR WALES

1. ACT AND VICTORIA CALL FOR EASING OF STEM CELL REGULATION IN AUSTRALIA

Jon Stanhope, ACT chief minister and acting minister for economic development, has called for an easing of Australia’s regulation of stem cell research. Stanhope's remarks follow a similar call from the Victorian government, whose innovation minister John Brumby claims that current restrictions on therapeutic cloning are damaging Australian R&D.

Brumby said that the Victorian government strongly supports therapeutic cloning while retaining current bans on reproductive cloning. "We should not be closing off promising research avenues such as therapeutic cloning."

Stanhope said the current independent reviews of Commonwealth laws governing stem cell research were crucial, and could determine whether Australian scientists are able to secure a share of global markets for new life-saving therapies.

Stanhope said that tough regulations could exacerbate brain drain from Australia. "Departures of professionals from Australia have doubled over the past decade or so," Stanhope said. "If the ACT is to compete in such a global labour marketplace we need to provide an appealing intellectual and economic environment. When it comes to some of the emerging fields of science, this might involve looking at our regulatory regimes and ensuring that we do not needlessly hinder research and commercial activity."

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Abbot does not personally support embryonic cloning, and he predicts a 'conscience vote' on the issue.

2. ETHIOPIAN CENTRE TO CARRY OUT 100 RESEARCH AND POPULARISATION PROJECTS

The Ethiopian Gondar Agricultural Research Centre has announced that it is to carry out 100 research and popularisation projects during the current fiscal year, reports The Ethiopian Herald.

According to Centre Manager Virga Alemu, the research undertaken will focus on animal science, crop seeds improvement, utilisation of natural resources, economy, ecology and sectors that support efforts to ensure food security.

The Ethiopian government and donors have allocated more than 1 million birr (USD115,288) to the projects, 65 of which are new. The focus will mainly be on marketable vegetables and fruits, popularising rice and protecting the natural incense and gum trees found in abundance locally, Virga said.

3. SOUTH AFRICA OPENS NEW SCIENCE CENTRE

Mosibudi Mangena, South African Science and Technology Minister, has officially opened a science centre in Limpopo to bolster learner interest in science subjects, reports BuaNews.

The Vawani Centre, which is part of the Zenex/Vuwani Science Resources Centre, will showcase science projects and initiatives by the University of Venda.

According to Mangena, the centre will also promote science literacy among rural communities, and aims to increase "the number of learners participating and succeeding in mathematics, science, technology and engineering".

4. HONG KONG UNIVERSITY UNVEILS NEW RESEARCH CENTRES

Hong Kong University has received approval from the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology to operate two state key laboratories, reports The People’s Daily.

The two laboratories are the first of their kind located outside mainland China. According to a press release from HKU, the emerging infectious diseases centre will conduct research on viruses such as avian flu and anti-microbial resistance. The brain and cognitive sciences centre will work towards improving human health, enhancing quality of education and communication, and discovering the neuro-physiological basis of learning and perception.

5. PAKISTAN PROMOTES SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF SCIENCE

Pakistan's Higher Education Commission has unveiled plans to bring together scientists, policymakers, industrialists and the media to promote the social and economic benefits of science and technology, reports SciDev.Net.

The new initiative will see the HEC arrange 24 symposia during the next two years on ways science can contribute to Pakistan's development in four key sectors - water, energy, the environment and health.

Rozina Tufail, a senator in Pakistan’s National Assembly, said, "Science is a vast subject and it would be impossible for us to cover it completely, so we decided to focus initially on the four subjects that are most important for Pakistan."

Anwar Nasim, chair of the National Commission on Biotechnology, welcomed the initiative. "For the first time, Pakistan has engaged policymakers and industrialists in popularising science," he said.

6. ASTHMA AND AIRWAYS RESEARCH CENTRE OPENS AT SYDNEY UNIVERSITY

The Commonwealth Government has opened a cooperative research centre for asthma and airways at Sydney University. The centre will focus on new drugs for asthma, allergies, and airway diseases, developing advanced diagnostic sciences, as well as monitoring and establishing air quality standards.

The government has committed AUD26.7 million to the centre over seven years. Academic and industry partners are expected to provide an additional AUD9.5m in cash and AUD19.2m in kind. Research support for the CRC will be provided through Monash University, the Garvin Institute of Medical Research, the University of Newcastle, the University of Sydney, the University of Western Australia, and the Woolcock Institute for Medical Research. GlaxoSmithKline, Pharmaxis, and Bird Healthcare will provide industry support.

7. GRDC FORMS R&D AGREEMENT WITH CANADIAN FIRM

The Grains Research and Development Council (GRDC) has signed an agreement with the Canadian company Philom Bios to carry out R&D for the evaluation and commercialisation of novel inoculant technologies.

Vince Logan, GRDC manager for business development, said, "As part of its research program into soil biological health, the GRDC has invested across a number of research institutions in R&D to develop a suite of new biological inoculants for cereal and canola growers."

8. NZD1M FUNDING FOR NEW ZEALAND BIOINFORMATICS FIRM

Biomatters Limited, an Auckland software development company, has secured an extra NZD1 million for future projects. Private New Zealand  investors have put in NZD200,000, with the remaining NZD800,000 coming from a Technology New Zealand grant.

The funding will be used to develop the company's iSeek technology, which has the potential to dramatically cut the time currently taken to research genetic databases.

9. NORTHERN IRELAND LAUNCHES NEW AGRI-FOOD RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ADVISORY PANEL

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) of Northern Ireland has appointed a new research and education advisory panel (REAP).

REAP will comprise a chair and ten members and will provide independent expert advice to DARD on agri-food education and research policy. The panel will meet for the first time on 11 and 12 October.

Jeff Rooker, agriculture minister, said, "The establishment of REAP represents another key milestone in the DARD reform programme. I am confident that the range of knowledge and expertise provided by the panel members will help us ensure that DARD-funded research and education programmes are better focused on the needs and aspirations of the industry and other stakeholders and I look forward to hearing their views on the challenges ahead."

Alan Lennon, chairman of the NI Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment, will chair REAP. The appointment is for a term of four years.

The remaining panel members, who will serve a term of either two or three years, include John Sherlock, retired head of the Agriculture, Environment and Food Technology Division of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and John Hooker, head of the

Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences at Manchester Metropolitan University.

10. INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR GLASGOW UNIVERSITY SMALL BUSINESS PROJECT

The University of Glasgow has won praise from a leading international economics institute for its work on building the university's links with SMEs in the West of Scotland.

The Dialogues project received a commendation award from the Chicago-based International Economic Development Council, a non-profit body dedicated to improving the work of business support agencies worldwide.

Dialogues helps SMEs tap into the knowledge and expertise available at the university and become competitive players in the global economy. It provides a range of services to business, including research expertise, access to funding sources, facilities and equipment and student placements.

11. SENEGAL PRESIDENT URGES AFRICAN SCIENCE COLLABORATION

Adboulaye Wade, president of Senegal, has called on other African nations to keep up with technology and research, reports SciDev.Net.

Wade said during an address at the second African Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology that African nations shouldn’t just be" passive consumers of new technologies", but should actively try and keep up with the rest of the world in "developing an effective research capacity". He believes that Africa can follow the examples set by Asian nations and become a home for technological research.

Yaye Kene Gamassa Dia, Senegal's minister for scientific research and the new president of the Committee of African Science and Technology Ministers, stressed the need for "a new vitality in the scientific and technological systems of African countries". She said that closer African collaboration in the fields of science and technology is needed to tackle poverty and growth on the continent.

The conference, organised by the African Union and its New Partnership for Africa’s Development, was set up to narrow the technological gap between developed and developing countries. It is being attended by science and technology ministers from 34 African states.

12. AIDS TRIALS UNDERREPRESENTED IN AFRICA

Very few HIV and AIDS trials have been conducted on the African continent over the past two decades, despite the region carrying the heaviest burden of the disease, according to a new study published in the British Medical Journal.

The study suggests that the publication of trial results continues to be driven by researchers outside Africa. Of the 77 trials identified as haven taken place in Africa between 1987 and 2003, most were funded by non-African government agencies, pharmaceutical companies and international non-government or inter-government organisations.

The study also reports that the relatively small number of trials conducted in Africa is disproportionate to the number of HIV and AIDS sufferers on the continent. This may be down to a lack of economic ability, political will, or research capacity.

13. EUROPEAN COMMISSION TAKES ON ASIAN ECONOMIES WITH NEW INDUSTRIAL POLICY

The Commission has launched a new 'integrated industrial policy' as part of attempts to compete with the emerging industrial powerhouses of Asia. The Commission aims to complement member state initiatives to create better conditions for manufacturing industries, which account for over 80 per cent of EU private sector R&D expenditure.

Günter Verheugen, the Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry, said, "Manufacturing has a vital role to play in securing Europe’s future prosperity. There is no way back to the old days of protectionism and subsidies. But we can create the right framework for industry to thrive."

Seven new cross-sectoral initiatives and seven new sector-specific initiatives or actions are on the cards. The cross-sectoral initiatives relate to competitiveness, energy and the environment, intellectual property rights, better regulation, industrial research and innovation, market access, skills, and the management of structural change.

The sector-specific initiatives are due to start in the next 12 months, and will include an intellectual property rights and counterfeiting initiative, a high-level group on competitiveness, energy and the environment, and the development of an integrated European approach to industrial research and innovation.

A new pharmaceuticals forum and a mid-term review of the Commission’s life sciences and biotechnology strategy will take place over the next two years. One initiative involves the establishment of a task force on the competitiveness of information and communication technologies and a policy dialogue on mechanical engineering.

14. CASE PRESENTS OUTLINE SCIENCE STRATEGY FOR WALES

The Campaign for Science and Engineering in the UK outlined its vision for a science strategy in Wales.

Testifying before the Economic Development Committee of the National Assembly for Wales, Hefin Jones of the executive committee and Peter  Cotgreave, director of CaSE, called for much greater coordination of science in Wales and for substantial improvements in science education and the funding of research.

They argued that Wales needs to be more flexible in exploiting its research results, and said the country should celebrate scientific achievements with the same vigour accorded to its artistic, linguistic, musical and poetic achievements.

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