America Invents Act gains tentative support

Researchers and inventors with an aim to file their patent in the US should keep an an eye on developments associated with the recently passed America Invents Act. Signed into law in 2011, the act switches the US patent system from a “first to invent” to a “first inventor to file” system, and this brings the US market into better harmony with the patent laws of other countries, most of which, like Australia, operate on the “first-to-file” system.

An interesting read is a report submitted to Congress by the United States Patent Office (USPTO) supporting the prior user rights defense in light of the first-inventor-to-file system. Under the new Act, prior user rights are granted to those who use an invention as part of a manufacturing or other commercial activity more than one year before an invention is first publicly disclosed or applied. This provision was added to counter concerns that the move to a first-inventor-to-file system eliminated the ability for prior users to defend themselves if they had been using an invention prior to it being officially filed as a patent. This resulted in claims that prior user rights stifled innovation.

Overall, the USPTO appears to be in support of the new legislation, and will defer further opinion until 2015 when the effect may be better assessed.

UWS inventors with any questions regarding intellectual property should contact UWS Innovation on 02 9685 9742 or at r.burnside@uws.edu.au

UWS Innovation's partners rewarded at awards ceremony

Image: Barry Westlake, Entrepreneur in Residence, ATP-Innovations

The UWS Partnership Awards recognise partnerships between the University, external organisations and individuals. UWS Innovation is proud to announce that awards were handed out to three particularly outstanding collaborators of ours at a ceremony held in December 2011.
Thermo Fisher Scientific – for collaboration in the field of separation science. In 2011, an agreement was executed between UWS and ThermoFisher Scientific, which formalised a long-term research collaboration with UWS and will facilitate taking our most promising inventions to market.

ATP Innovations – for their ongoing support of the UWS commercialisation push and of our students through an open and dynamic engagement between the two organisations, fostering technology advancement and commercialisation opportunities.

Enterprise Connect – UWS Innovation’s engagement with the Federal Government’s Enterprise Connect allows us to better understand the needs of industry in order to ensure that UWS research and expertise ultimately reaches and benefits the public. Enterprise Connect has provided us access to a network of contacts and opportunities.

We look forward to working with all our partners throughout the year and believe that 2012 will be even more successful than the last. If you are interested in partnering with UWS through licensing opportunities or other commercial or research collaborations, please contact Rob Burnside on ip@uws.edu.au.

UWS Inventor Mug launch

Image: Prof Andrew Cheetham and PhD student Marina Belkina

Image: (left to right) Prof Andrew Beattie, Dr Ming Wu, Assoc Prof Robert Spooner-Hart and Adj Assoc Prof Minh Nguyen

Image: Prof Andrew Beattie receiving his inventor mug from Dr Fiona Cameron.

As a way of recognising and rewarding the university’s valued inventors, UWS Innovation had the great pleasure of launching the UWS Inventor Reward Mug as part of an end of year social function held on Wednesday, 14 December 2011 at the historic Female Orphan School.

Many of the rewards from patenting take quite some time to be realised, either in the form of granted patents and/or hopefully the commercialisation of the IP. Our inventors were delighted to receive this tangible recognition for all the hard work already done in achieving a provisional patent filing and also as a constant reminder of the exciting journey yet to be taken in realising the invention’s potential.

The event provided a great opportunity for like-minded colleagues to come together, share experiences and celebrate each other’s successes. Dr Fiona Cameron (Associate Director, UWS Innovation) highlighted the successes of a number of UWS inventions and also provided insight into a those on the horizon with potentially worldwide impact. A motivational presentation by Andrew Stead from ATP-Innovations revealed what is possible when university researchers are able to successfully commercialise their inventions as part of a spin-out company.

This has been UWS Innovation’s most successful year ever for the commercialisation of the university’s inventions, and we believe that 2012 will provide even more exciting opportunities.

For more information on UWS innovations and licensing opportunities please contact us on 02 9685 9742 or at r.burnside@uws.edu.au

UWS Technology Licensed in Asia

Image: The official opening of M-Metal Singapore

Image: Fielders CEO, Keith Middleton with Matt Lloyde and the first run of Re-Lok containing RF55 in Singapore.

Image: Patented Re-Lok invention

Through UWS Innovation, the university has granted Fielders Australia and M-Metal Singapore the rights to manufacture and distribute its proprietary Re-lok technology in South East Asia. This landmark agreement is the first time a UWS invention has been successfully commercialised into the region. UWS and the Greater Western Sydney community will benefit from the rapidly growing Asian market and will generate an enhanced reputation as an innovation provider.

Invented at the UWS School of Engineering, Re-lok is designed to increase the strength of steel formwork profiles used in the construction of high-rise buildings. The technology comprises patented corner embossments within the steel formwork profile to ensure a greater shear capacity and results in a stronger mechanical interlock with the concrete slab. Moreover, it possesses dovetail lapping ribs which resist lateral deflection to enhance the profile’s spanning capacity and strength in positive bending and end shear.

Moving into the international market, the product was launched this month at the official opening of M-Metal Singapore. The event attracted over 250 guests and representatives from Singapore’s leading building and construction companies and included leading government officials.

For more information on UWS innovations, please contact us on 02 9685 9742 or at r.burnside@uws.edu.au

2011 UWS SIMS Workshop

Image: Attendees at the 2011 UWS SIMS Workshop

The UWS SIMS (Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry) Workshop was hosted at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment on 2 November 2011. The workshop brought together researchers and industry representatives interested in the highly specialised analytical capabilities offered by the UWS SIMS. The UWS Solar Research Facility at Hawkesbury houses the only SIMS instrument of its kind on the east coast of Australia.

Case studies were presented by current users of the instrument and included Prof Raman Singh from Monash University, Dr Jisheng Han from Griffith University and Dr Gerry Triani and Dr Peter Evans from the Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation (ANSTO). All presentations gave the audience insight into practical applications of the instrument and demonstrated its sensitivity in elemental and isotopic surface analysis.

The workshop was well received by all in attendance, with vibrant discussions and networking opportunities. Attendees from Monash, ANU, UNSW, National Measurements Institute, Bluescope Steel, Silanna and Bluglass found the day stimulating and relevant to their research goals. A tour of the SIMS facility was given by the operator Dr David Nelson after the workshop, with many people indicating their desire to utilise the cutting edge equipment’s capabilities.

Used in semiconductor R&D, materials and nuclear sciences as well as environmental applications, the instrument is available to both researchers and industry. For more information, please refer to our website or contact us on 02 9685 9742 or at r.burnside@uws.edu.au

National Characterisation Roadshow arrives at UWS

Image: Audience members David Cookson from the Australian Synchrotron and Prof Janice Aldrich Wright from UWS in discussion at the National Characterisation Roadshow held at the Medical School Campbelltown.





The University of Western Sydney hosted the National Characterisation Roadshow 2011 on 27 October 2011 at Campbelltown Campus. Four characterisation facilities explained what they can do to support your research:

• Australian Synchrotron
• National Deuteration Facility
• Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility (AMMRF)
• National Imaging Facility

For more details please see the attached copy of the program or visit http://www.characterisation.org.au/roadshow-2011.html

Access to UWS Flagship scientific equipment including the Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer can be organised through UWS Innovation at ip@uws.edu.au

Oran Park Development

Image: Corinne Turner from UWS Innovation & Consulting chats with Matthew Beggs, Development Director at Oran Park Town in front of OPT plans.

UWS is partnering with Landcom and Greenfields Development Company to explore the opportunities for health and communications integration in the newly developing Oran Park Town (OPT) in South West Sydney.
Oran Park, previously well known as the ‘Raceway’, is now a growth area providing future housing for a new community of families and the elderly. Oran Park Town will become the cornerstone of education, business, service and entertainment in the south west of Sydney.

For more information, please contact Corinne Turner on 02 9685 9837 or at c.turner@uws.edu.au