Expansion Technology Corporate

On Wednesday 21 October, Commercialisation Australia (formerly known as the Commonwealth Commercialisation Institute) was announced to provide a radical new approach to commercialising promising Australian research and ideas. Commercialisation Australia will receive $196.1 million over the next 4 years, with ongoing funding of $82 million a year thereafter.

Commercialisation Australia will give successful applicants access to:

• specialist advice and services to build the skills, knowledge and linkages necessary to successfully commercialise their ideas. This includes funding of up to $50,000 to engage specialist services and, where it is deemed appropriate, up to $200,000 over two years to assist in the recruitment of experienced CEOs and executives;
• funding of up to $250,000 for proof of concept activities; and
• funding of up to $2 million for early stage commercialisation activities.

Successful applicants will be assigned a Case Manager for the duration of their involvement with Commercialisation Australia. The Case Manager will partner with the successful applicant, assessing its needs and monitoring their progress.

The Case Manager will be responsible for linking the successful applicant with a group of volunteer mentors – people with ‘hands-on’ experience in the various aspects of the commercialisation process.

Registration of Interest for Case Manager and Volunteer Mentor positions

Persons interested in being considered for the Case Manager or Volunteer Mentor positions are encouraged to register their interest with the Commercialisation Australia Team. Persons who register will receive information on the public recruitment process for Case Managers and for listing of Volunteer Mentors once these processes are underway

NSW will join the national industrial relations system from next year, cutting red tape for more than 200,000 of the State’s mall businesses and charities.

Following negotiations with the Commonwealth, the NSW Government has agreed to participate in the national IR system, Fair Work Australia.

The decision means that, from January 2010, the Commonwealth’s Fair Work Act will cover every employer and employee in the private sector in NSW. About half a million workers in the private sector in NSW will come under the umbrella of the national IR system from next year.

The decision includes the following arrangements:

• Seven members of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission will be appointed to Fair Work Australia;
• Fair Work Australia will be located in the Hunter and the Illawarra as well as Sydney; and
• The Fair Work Ombudsman and the NSW Office of Industrial Relations will work together for a period of 3½ years to ensure that employers and employees know their rights and responsibilities in the national system.

The NSW Government will introduce an urgent Bill into Parliament for the referral of industrial relations powers to the Commonwealth.