UWS Mass Spetrometry Facility open to researchers and industry

Located at UWS's Campelltown campus, the Mass Spectrometry Facility is now available to both researchers and industry. The facility offer access to advanced mass spectrometry, utilising either direct sample analysis (infusion of samples in solution) or coupled to ultra high performance liquid chromatography (nanoflow or conventional).

The facility provides:

- Access to mass spectrometry and chromatography instrumentation;
- Development and validation of mass spectrometric methods;
- Application of these new technologies to assist with your research;
- PhD student training and advice in the use of mass spectrometry and associated data analysis;
- Sample analysis on a fee for service or collaborative basis.

Our experienced full-time operator, Dr Leila Hejazi is available to answer your technical questions, while Robert Burnside from UWS Innovation is on hand to assist with booking and pricing enquiries. For more information, please visit our website.

Tech Vouchers Re-Launched

Image: The UWS Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer forms part of the University's impressive research equipment portfolio.

UWS Innovation are enthusiastic at the opportunities presented by the New South Wales (NSW) government relaunch of the Tech Vouchers scheme. The Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Stoner announced that eligible small and medium businesses can now apply for the second round of the NSW Government’s TechVouchers, with a pool of $500,000 available.

In terms of fostering local innovation, the vouchers (worth up to $15,000) provide much needed assistance in helping businesses gain access to high tech public sector research equipment and expertise. This support comes at a critical time as many Australian companies are struggling to find access to the financial and technical resources required take their R&D programs to the next level.

UWS has an ever expanding resource base of high tech research equipment and local businesses will be able to benefit hugely from this scheme. With the significant growth that the Greater Western Sydney region is experiencing, we hope that a parallel increase in innovative capacity may also be experienced with the aid of some of our world class research equipment.

Companies or research partners interested in taking advantage of the TechVouchers scheme to support access to UWS scientific equipment can find more information at the NSW government's website

Talk to us if you are thinking of accessing Tech Vouchers for working with UWS r.burnside@uws.edu.au

Innovation is the key to turn PIGs into Swans

New services and products are seen as the key to economic development as innovations boost growth and increase a country’s competitiveness. Deutsche Bank Research has published an interesting report that highlights how Portugal, Italy and Greece (PIGs) could grow their way out of depression. The report puts a strong emphasis on innovation but also highlights the importance of universities as an enabler and incubator of change. In order to translate inventions and cutting edge research into marketable solutions, networking between universities and industry is seen as vital. However, such an innovation system is highly dependent on skilled workers. The education sector is critical in raising the qualification level of the workers in these countries since this has proved to be an obstacle for productivity growth. This provides more evidence that universities are the main driver of growth: a) through educating people and b) ensuring that university research ultimately reaches and benefits the public.

UWS Innovation is dedicated to this cause and we encourage UWS innovators and potential collaborators to contact us on 02 9685 9742 or at ip@uws.edu.au

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