The Minister for Communications, IT and the Arts, Senator Richard Alston, has launched the commonwealth government's 'Smart Moves' outreach program, designed to promote research, innovation and entrepreneurship in science, engineering and technology.

A consortium of technology heavyweights and life sciences bodies has put the finishing touches on the group's agenda designed to make sending research data between organisations easier. [ + ]

Australian biotechnology company Ambri Ltd has appointed two executives to encourage new backing for the company's biological weapons detection contracts. [ + ]

Genetic Technologies (ASX: GTG) is expecting to finish the year in the black despite posting an interim profit loss yesterday. [ + ]

Half-year results for drug developer Progen Industries show the company enjoyed healthy revenue gains from its contract manufacturing arm while R&D spend rose slightly. [ + ]

An accelerated research program helped Aussie export Axon Instruments (ASX:AXN) drive sales up 25 per cent last year, but also contributed to a significant profit slump. [ + ]

Australia's first publicly-listed pure genomics research company, Bionomics Ltd, has interested a second northern hemisphere partner in its portfolio of patented genes. [ + ]

Bioengineering group Eiffel Technologies (ASX: EIF) has posted a more than three per cent fall in after-tax profits to $777,000 for the second half of last year. [ + ]

Two important reports highlighting the key role of photonics to Australia's economic future have been launched by the Minister for Communications, IT and the Arts, Senator Richard Alston.

The SIA's National Council met in Melbourne on 21 February to decide on the association's goals for 2002. The SIA workplan for 2002 has been developed around the theme of 'inform, involve, influence'.

Small particle technology company Sirtex Medical is seeking European approval for its liver cancer treatment, following last week's announcement it had been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. [ + ]

Adelaide biotechnology company BresaGen (ASX: BGN) has joined a Canadian imaging technology consortium to help fast-track its therapeutic stem cell delivery program. [ + ]

Mr Kevin Andrews, the Federal Minister for Ageing, has denied reports cabinet has reached a decision to ban embryonic stem cell research.

Bioinformatics, biotech and nanotechnology companies seeking venture capital funding may have to look elsewhere, according to speakers at the Silicon Alley Breakfast Club (SABC) meeting held in New York last week (March 7). [ + ]

Stanford University scientists have come up with a screen saver that uses thousands of idle computers to assist with simulations of protein folding. [ + ]