Articles
Singapore feature: money talks
The next time you start to worry about the drain of Australian scientific talent leaving town for better opportunities overseas, it might pay to remember the words of the director of Singapore's Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, Chris Tan. Tan shrugs off such worries to opine that in Singapore's case, "Ideally, we'd be a 15-year revolving door." [ + ]
Singapore feature: money or nothing: Australia versus Singapore Inc.
The comparison of the Australian and Singaporean biotech sectors highlights a fundamental principle of this highly volatile business: biotech needs lots of cash, but money burns pretty fast without good brains to spend it. [ + ]
Interview: Big picture stuff
It seems appropriate that the global CEO of a company engaged in the visualisation business is inclined to look at the big picture. Apart from being larger-than-life in person, Silicon Graphics (SGI) chief Bob Bishop is one of those outspoken, opinionated CEOs journalists love - one who is prepared to talk outside the finite square of profits and bottom lines to offer a world view. [ + ]
Investment feature: patently obvious
To most, patents are the life blood of innovation and discovery for the biotech sector, while to others they are a scourge. But as lawyers and industry experts warn, careless handling of the finer points of intellectual property can be catastrophic to both commercial and academic organisations. [ + ]
Investment feature: can we manage?
While many people are speculating as to whether Australia may become the next major hub for international biotech, questions are being asked of our local entrepreneurs and whether they have what it takes to turn IP into gold. [ + ]
Investment feature: public image Ltd
Much is made of Australia's scientific intellectual capital and the opportunities that it offers. But according to one of the world's largest accounting groups, it is a dangerous myth that states successful companies will automatically flow from the nation's renowned research achievements. [ + ]
Investment feature: the world's a stage
Drugs, vaccines, diagnostics and devices are the hotspots of the global biomedical market that Australia's biotech researchers are scrambling to fill with products. [ + ]
Interview: DeVore takes the reins at stem cell centre
A few months ago, Dianna DeVore was an associate director of patents at Irish pharmaceutical company Elan in San Francisco. Now she's the chief operating officer of the National Centre for Stem Cells, Australia's first biotechnology Centre of Excellence. [ + ]
Location, location, location: where should you build your biobusiness?
The most important concept for Australian biotechnology companies to grasp when building a nest, according to industry and property development experts, is proximity. [ + ]
Bioinformatics a proving ground for IBM: Jasinski
New techniques for generating large amounts of biology-related data have given IT vendors new momentum in penetrating this traditionally low-tech segment of scientific research, a key IBM researcher told attendees at AusBiotech 2002 in Melbourne last week. [ + ]
Contract research organisations: labs for hire
As Australia's burgeoning young biotech hopefuls push toward clinical trials of their fledgling products, contract research organisations (CROs) are hoping for a rush of new business. [ + ]
Forensic science feature: from the textbooks to the courts
While forensic scientists used to use blood typing and other methods to identify crime suspects, DNA identification and profiling is now the method of choice. Since its first use in an Australian court in 1989, the technology has moved from the controversial to the mainstream, although controversy still rages around the issue of creating databases of DNA profiles for criminal identification. [ + ]
Big pharma's big commitment
In two years' time, a Federal government program credited with encouraging the injection of vital funds into Australian research and development will draw to a close. [ + ]
IP strategies for the future
When Dr Graeme Woodrow joined Biotech Australia as a bench scientist in 1983, a colleague told him: 'It would be a scandal for anyone to make a profit from a malaria vaccine." [ + ]
Western Sydney feature: when the west becomes the centre
When it comes to growing a biotech industry, it seems every state needs a geographic focal point. Victoria has the Parkville and Monash clusters, South Australia has the Thebarton hub and in Queensland the biotech industry is centred around Brisbane and the Gold Coast. In NSW, the population's inland sprawl has resulted in a spotlight being turned on Western Sydney. [ + ]