Impressive Commercial Results for the First Half of the Year

Despite the recent economic climate, the University continues to expand its already impressive portfolio of contract research and consulting projects, managed by Adelaide Research & Innovation. Research income from this category has reached $15m June YTD, $1m up on budget targets and approaching $2m ahead of the same time last year. The Health Sciences and ECMS Faculties continue to dominate overall share of the income, but there has been growth from areas such as Agriculture Food & Wine, Earth & Environment, International Business and Social Sciences.

Our No. 1 resource - good people

Successfully increasing research icnome and community engagement through contract research activities has been identified as a key strategy for achieving the University's overall research targets. To support these endeavours, Adelaide Research & Innovation has recently expanded the Commercial Development team with several new staff members. With more resources, Adelaide Research & Innovation is better positioned to provide not only professional and reliable contract management but also to proactively assist researchers to engage with government and industry partners.

Celebrating 25 Years of Commercialisation

2009 marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of Adelaide Research & Innovation, the University's commercial development company. ARI have marked this anniversary with the launch of a new publication 'Connecting Today's Research to Tomorrow's Innovation' - a guide to research expertise at the University. The magazine promotes University research facilities and services across a range of key industry sectors, as well as the modes of engagement open to industry partners, and the University's successful track record in applied research. Available electronically and in print, the magazine is being used to nationally and internationally, as a profile of our research capability, and to encourage external partners to engage with the University through ARI.

New technologies take a step forward

Several new technologies ar enow a step closer to market after successfully winning from Adelaide Research & Innovaiton's Commercial Accelerator Scheme. Under the Scheme, researchers can receive significant funding to establish commercial proof-of-concept or reach a development milestone necessary to attract a commercial partner. Introduced in August 2007, the Scheme has now funded five projects, with two more pending finalisation. The projects funded range from video technology, to anti-infective agents and an international program to establish a bio data-bank addressing pregnancy disease diagnostics. The Scheme has also supported development of a wound dressing that improves healing, controls bleeding and prevents excess scar tissue from forming after sinus surgery and negotiations are now in progress with a potential partner to commercialise this technology.

'Industry-Linked Funding' Information Session for Researchers

Researchers will have the opportunity to attend an information session designed to encourage and assist them to target industry-linked funding programs, as a source of project funding. The information session, which will be held on Friday 21 August, is a combined effort between the Research Branch and Adelaide Research & Innovation on behalf of the DVC&VP(R). As part of the presentation, Prof Michael Rumsewicz and Associate Professor Claire Roberts will offer their thoughts and experience on successful engagement with industry, and the commercial development team will promote the availability of funding schemes such as ARC Linkage, NHMRC Development, ARI's Commercial Accelerator Scheme and the Trans Tasman Commercialisation Fund.

'Research Tuesday'
Free Public Seminar Series