Australian Innovation System Report 2012 Compendium of Program Updates

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT

Rare Disease Strategy (Public Health)

The WA Department of Health has committed to the development of a Rare Disease Strategy, which has the objective of improving health and disability service planning for people living with rare disease (est. 140,000 Western Australians, 40,000 of which are children) by encouraging innovation and translation of new genomics knowledge, informatics and technology that improve treatment, management, and efficiency of healthcare delivery.

Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information

Landgate is an essential participant in the Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information (CRCSI) and has a commitment to the program four years. The CRCSI is a joint venture of government, academic and private sector organisations using spatial technologies to solve complex problems of national significance.

The CRCSI consists of four major program areas covering a spectrum of spatial information. Landgate undertakes an active role in the CRCSI with its Chief Executive Officer holding a Board Committee member position on the Research Investment Committee as well as a board member position on program 3 – Spatial Infrastructure and the Research Investment Committee. A key position of the Program Leader is also held by a senior member of Landgate staff and a number of Landgate research projects have been funded through the CRCSI.

The benefits to Landgate and the State Government include:

• 
  Intellectual Property access for commercialisation and internal business improvement.
  
• 
  Networking across the technical and business spectrum.
  
• 
  Funding for R&D and business improvement.
  
• 
  Access to experts in markets and technologies.
  
• 
  R&D teams tailoring projects to business needs.
  
• 
  Early awareness of emerging technologies.
  
• 
  A brokerage service for public-private partnerships.
  
• 
  Facilitated access to innovation, seed funding and venture capital.
  

Website for further information:

www.crcsi.com.au

Fitzroy Communities Housing

The Department of Housing have collaborated with The University of Western Australia on a linkage project to build a total of three houses in the Kimberley Region (Fitzroy Communities) using the Rammed Earth construction methodology.

The rammed earth construction proposal will also incorporate some innovative features by using other compatible materials with the rammed earth to achieve the required Building Code of Australia (BCA) energy efficiency 6 star rating.

The Department is assisting the university by providing the technical expertise required in relation to the technical specifications and Building Code of Australia (BCA) compliance.

Construction of the three houses will incorporate the opportunity for employment and training (as Apprentices) for the local Indigenous youth.

Website for further information:

www.housing.wa.gov.au

Contact: David Carpenter, Manager, Country Construction & Special Projects on

[phone].

Collie Hub Project

The Collie Hub Project is examining onshore carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the south west of Western Australia. CCS will reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from industry by capturing the CO₂ at source. It will then be transported by pipeline for injection into a geological formation deep underground, where it will remain indefinitely. Preliminary studies have identified the Lesueur formation, south of Perth, as the most likely location for CO₂ storage.

In response to the worldwide challenge to reduce the climatic impact of anthropogenic CO₂, Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) is the lead agency in an innovative nation leading geo-sequestration project.

The project is currently in its preparation phase. Pre-competitive data from 100 kilometres of 2D seismic recording has been obtained and analysed. The project will now require a three kilometre deep exploratory well to be drilled early in 2012. A new 3D seismic program will be undertaken, followed by further exploratory wells, if the geological data from the exploration well supports the seismic data.

This project is a unique collaboration between State Government and industry partners – Alcoa of Australia, BHP Billiton Worsley Alumina, Griffin Energy, Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers, Verve Energy and Wesfarmers Premier Coal.

The Collie Hub is also working closely with its research partner, the Western Australia Energy Research Alliance (WAERA), which is a collaboration between the University of Western Australia, Curtin University and the CSIRO.

The Collie Hub is actively promoting community engagement through the establishment of the Lesueur Community Consultative Committee (LCCC) to act as a conduit to the wider community.

In June 2011 the project received $52 million in Federal Government funding from the CCS Flagship Program. The Flagship Program could provide a further $278 million in support for the Collie Hub.

Website for further information:

http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/colliehub

Email: [e-mail]

Western Australian Innovator of the Year Awards 2011

The Western Australian Innovator of the Year Awards Program was established in 2007 to support, promote and acknowledge the success of Western Australian innovators and entrepreneurs. The Program is administered by the Western Australian Department of Commerce.

In addition, corporate sponsorships from Mitsubishi Corporation, Woodside, iinet, AusIndustry and many other organisations offers the Awards program as a strong example of the collaborative working relationship between innovative industries and government.

The objectives of the Awards Program are to:

• 
  raise awareness of innovation as a driver of economic and technological change;
  
• 
  maximise the commercialisation of ideas by building links between industry and research;
  
• 
  generate employment; and expand the export potential of the State;
  
• 
  work collaboratively with industry, government and academia to foster an environment of innovation and assist in its promotion;
  
• 
  showcase Western Australia’s innovative capacity; and
  
• 
  to assist in funding projects specific to the development and commercialisation of innovation in Western Australia.
  

In 2011, three rounds of judging produced an overall Awards winner and one winner each from the Start-Up (pre-revenue) and Growth (post-revenue) categories. Two encouragement awards were also presented in the areas of Oil and Gas, and Superfast Broadband Applications. Prize packages of cash and tailored in-kind support have allowed more than 100 innovators to take their ideas through the commercialisation process since the Awards program began.

The 2012 Awards Program will be officially launched in April, with winners announced at a luncheon in November this year.

Website for further information:

http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/scienceinnovation/Innovator/index.htm