UIDP’s Post

The December edition of Science Victoria is out now, looking at the intersection of science and business, and some of the ways that science and scientists are participating in the market. This month, Dr Simon Torok (Scientell Pty Ltd) shares lessons and tips from founding and growing a science-based enterprise; Dr Catriona Vi Nguyễn-Robertson (Museums Victoria, University of Melbourne) considers the future of manufacturing and whether Victoria has the skills in the pipeline to maintain the required multidisciplinary collaboration between industry and academia; Mr Wayne Wescott (Greenfleet) explores what it means to truly deliver on the promise of carbon and biodiversity offsets for the private sector; and Ms Amanika Sahu (Monash University) examines commercialisation efforts underway in chemical recycling, reclaiming petrochemical materials like plastics at the end of their product lifespans for reprocessing into a range of oils and fuels, reducing the global reliance on oil exploration and extraction to maintain vehicles and infrastructure. Finally, Mr Ben Kimber (Parliament of Victoria) revisits the balance of evidence provided to the Legislative Assembly's Economy and Infrastructure Committee on an inquiry into the workplace surveillance of employees, including the implications of rapidly-developing medical 'neurotech' that can monitor the activities of the brain, peripheral nervous system, or both. In our fast-changing era of technological development, it's a fascinating insight to how our legislators must increasingly anticipate the impacts of technologies before they have even been fully developed, mass-produced and commercialised to protect our regional culture's social, civic and economic fabric. Thanks as always to our contributors and editorial team, led by Scott Reddiex. Next year we are moving to six bimonthly editions - our next edition in February 2025 will explore the current status of and prospects for Victoria's biotech and medtech sector. We welcome your contributions, pitches, letters etc at editor@sciencevictoria.org.au (submission deadline: 17 January). Meanwhile, thanks for following our Open Science publication efforts in 2024 - wishing everyone an excellent end to the year, looking to a productive and prosperous 2025. Department of Education, Department of Industry, Science and Resources, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Natalie Hutchins MP, Ben Carroll, Steve Dimopoulos, Ed Husic MP, Tanya Plibersek #science #sciencecommunication #business #industry #oil #plastics #recycling #chemicalrecycling #greenchemistry #waste #wastemanagement #manufacturing #advancedmanufacturing #neurotech #workplacesurveillance #privacy #biodiversity #carbon #offsets #carbonoffsets #biodiversityoffsets #regulation #legislation

‘One of my favourite things about science communication is running a business. Let me explain.’ In the latest issue of The Royal Society of Victoria’s Science Victoria magazine, Simon reflects on the journey of running a science communication business. The article celebrates the legacy of our co-founder, the late Paul Holper, and highlights how his vision and dedication helped shape Scientell into what it is today. The story shares tips for running a sustainable, science-centred business, based on Scientell’s more than 350 projects in 9 years. It’s a reminder of why clear, engaging communication is essential to science and innovation. 💬 🔗 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gXu9hvKv

filling an important gap in the innovation ecosystem....

As 2024 draws to a close, we’re reflecting on a year of major milestones at Harrison SPARC. Key successes include: Successful Industry – Academia Grant Application with UNSW: Our project in the National Industry PhD Program (NIPP) aims to replace synthetic polymers in water treatment with sustainable, bio-based solutions. In a round that saw the highest number of applications to date, we’re excited to have been successful and build upon this technology and apply it to the water treatment sector.    New Partnerships: Strengthening ties with leading universities; UNSW, Curtin University – Western Australian School of Mines, University of South Australia and international innovators like Allozymes to drive sustainable solutions in energy, water treatment and mining sectors.    Industry white paper success:  Our Innovation Manager Anthony Granville PhD GAICD, in conjunction with  Andrew Gregory from FB Rice,  had their insightful white paper titled “Patents pending: Building a transparent national view of IP” published by InnovationAus.com .  The paper was officially presented to Parliament House, emphasising the need for a centralised IP patent database to expedite fast tracking of innovation across all SME’s and Universities, thereby streamlining tech transfer and expediting the commercialisation of research.     Global exposure:  Attending AusIMM 2024 and the SynBioBeta Global Synthetic Biology Conference, further expanding our network in sustainable technologies.    Looking ahead to 2025, we’re excited to build on these successes and continue innovating for a sustainable future. Let’s connect and explore how we can collaborate to turn innovative ideas into real-world impact. Reach out today to learn more https://bit.ly/4bxe7p0    #HarrisonSPARC #2024Successes #Collaboration #Innovation #NIPP2024 #UniversityCollaboration #WhitePaper #Partnerships   

On 22 July 2024, SMART participated in the Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) Symposium, which focused on decarbonisation and how disruptive technologies could help reduce carbon emissions for a sustainable future. The event featured keynote sessions, research presentations, and a panel discussion on topics like biochemical and chemical transformations, hydrogen utilisation, and artificial intelligence/modelling. SMART Governing Board Member Professor Richard Lester presented a segment titled "Research Universities and the Climate Challenge: Science and Solutions for Life in a Changing World", where he highlighted the critical role of research universities in combating climate change and the need for the rapid implementation of policies and technologies. Researchers from SMART's Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Critical Analytics for Manufacturing Personalized-Medicine (CAMP) interdisciplinary research groups showcased their innovative research work during the poster sessions. Read more about the symposium in the blog post below! #CREATEsymposium #CREATE ##SustainableFuture #DisruptiveTech #ClimateChallenge #GlobalClimateAction #SMARTResearch #SMART #MIT

Today, NL Capital Ventures proudly celebrates Dr. Frances Arnold, a trailblazer in green chemistry and bioengineering whose innovative work is paving the way for a more sustainable future. 🌿🧪✨ Dr. Arnold is renowned for her groundbreaking research in enzyme engineering, which has led to the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly chemical processes. Her contributions have significantly impacted various industries, including energy, agriculture, and manufacturing. Here’s how Dr. Frances Arnold’s work continues to drive progress in green technology: Transforming Chemical Engineering: Dr. Arnold’s development of directed evolution techniques has enabled the creation of enzymes that catalyze reactions in a more sustainable manner. This innovation reduces the need for harmful chemicals and decreases environmental impact. 🔬🌱 #EnzymeEngineering #SustainableChemistry Advancing Green Manufacturing: Her research has led to the creation of bio-based materials and processes that minimize waste and energy consumption. This shift towards greener manufacturing practices is crucial for reducing our ecological footprint. 🏭🌍 #GreenManufacturing #EcoFriendlySolutions Fostering Environmental Responsibility: Dr. Arnold’s work emphasizes the importance of environmental stewardship in science and industry. Her commitment to sustainable practices inspires future generations of scientists and engineers to prioritize the planet in their innovations. 🌏🔬 #EnvironmentalResponsibility #SustainableInnovation Promoting Interdisciplinary Collaboration: By bridging chemistry, biology, and engineering, Dr. Arnold has fostered interdisciplinary approaches to solving complex environmental challenges. Her work exemplifies the power of collaboration in advancing green technology. 🤝🔬 #InterdisciplinaryScience #InnovativeSolutions Championing Women in Science: As a leading female scientist, Dr. Arnold’s success serves as an inspiration for women pursuing careers in STEM fields. Her achievements highlight the critical role of diversity and inclusion in driving scientific progress. 👩🔬🌟 #WomenInSTEM #ScientificInnovation At NL Capital Ventures, we are inspired by Dr. Frances Arnold’s groundbreaking contributions to green technology and her unwavering dedication to a more sustainable world. Join us in celebrating her legacy as a pioneer who is making a lasting impact on our planet. 🌍💡 #GreenTechPioneers #NLcapitalventures #FrancesArnold #SustainableChemistry #Bioengineering #EnvironmentalInnovation #WomenInScience #GreenManufacturing #EcoFriendly #STEMInspiration

Did you know that some microbes can live off of just air? You don't need to feed them any sugars, or other sources of carbon. They just take things like CO2, CO, or methane out of the air, and just grow. 🤯 And make stuff. And we can programme them to make certain types of stuff. Stuff that we need and want, from raw materials for many of the chemicals that we need, fuels, to actual food and sources of protein. We don't need to dig carbon out of the ground! We just need to get this tech giant scale. This is called gas fermentation and was the focus of the 3 day BBSRC The Carbon Recycling Network conference this week. Loretta Waddon , Nigel Minton and Alan Burbidge pulled off a really great and very international conference! There were some fab academic presentations - too many pathways for my brain to take! Lots of people tackling the same problem from different angles. These guys are literally trying to save the world! but I think sometimes when you are deep in the weeds of research you can forget the grand scheme of things - focusing on engineering your specific pathway you don't take that step back and see how it fits into life! The sessions today were more industry focussed and I hope inspired some of the academics to think about taking their research out of the lab to places where we can benefit from it. I don't think anyone could fail to be inspired by the progress leaders lanzatech have made in scaling! And what better way to end a hardcore 3 day science conference than with a quick IP talk 😂 Highlight for me - catching up with Tithira Wimalasena who I haven't seen for 17 years (I don't like that I'm old enough for that even to be possible 😭). #syntheticbiology #biotechnology #innovation #founders #postdoc #phd #startups

🎉 Another note-worthy entrepreneurial milestone update! 🎉 I will be joining The Engine's Blueprint program spring cohort, partnering with Samuel Oliveira! We'll learn from founders who are working towards solving some of the world's toughest challenges and how to commercialize "tough tech." Our platform is designed to create new products using a "microbial consortium" as a starting point for building new bacterial organisms that can either add value to existing processes or replace old systems with better sustainable solutions. With our combined business, synthetic biology, and technology expertise, we aim to discover commercialization opportunities and leverage our knowledge to create new, innovative bio-based products. 🔬🧪 As we continue the customer discovery process, we would appreciate any recommendations on people, places, or industries that would benefit from potential collaboration with our platform. Our goal is to find new ways to design bio-based products that will benefit society and the environment. 🌎 Thank you, Alex Grant, for this amazing opportunity to connect with brilliant innovators across the country! 🙏 #deeptech #engineering #syntheticbiology

#Biotransformation for the #production of the future 🐛🦋 Our scientists are getting inspired by nature to develop data-driven, innovative approaches to the problems of the manufacturing industry. Within the BioFusion 4.0 project, funded by the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF), they are developing solutions based on self-organized production processes and #DigitalTwins, to name a few. Read our latest article to find out more and ask Theresa Riedelsheimer and Christopher Mühlich about our their exciting research! #SustainableProduction #BioFusion #DataDriven #GreenTech #Industry40 #Innovation #WeKnowHow #Fraunhofer 📷 ©Fraunhofer IPK/Larissa Klassen: 1, 2, | ©Fraunhofer IPK/Katharina Strohmeier: 3, 4; 5

🌱 Exciting News! 🌱 This time tomorrow I’ll be waiting in the wings to head on stage for a TechBio panel focused on advancing the bioeconomy in the U.K.! 🚀 This event is a fantastic opportunity to engage with fellow innovators, researchers, and industry leaders who are passionate about harnessing technology to drive commercially viable, sustainable solutions in biotechnology. The bioeconomy is not just a buzzword; it's a powerful movement that can transform our economy and environment by integrating biological resources and processes delivering value across many industries. I’m looking forward to a dynamic Q&A session where we can explore the current status, challenges and opportunities within this rapidly evolving field. Your insights and questions will be invaluable as we explore how we can collaboratively push the boundaries of TechBio to create a more sustainable future. Let’s make strides together towards a biobased economy! If you’re interested in the intersection of digital, engineering and biology, I invite you to join the conversation. 🌍💡 #TechBio #Bioeconomy #Sustainability #Innovation #UKBiotech #PanelDiscussion #FutureOfBiotech #TechBio24 Cambridge Consultants BioIndustry Association (BIA)