Development of a Model for a National Award Scheme for Excellence in Biotechnology IP Development (2006)

Howard Partners was successful in a tender to develop a Model for a National Award Scheme for Excellence in IP Management, Commercialisation and Knowledge Transfer.

The Australian Biotechnology Advisory Council (ABAC) has identified Australia’s poor performance in commercialising publicly funded research as an important issue affecting biotechnology in Australia. Management of intellectual property (IP) within universities and medical research institutes (MRIs) has been identified as a particular area of concern.

As part of its central role in providing expert advice to the Government on biotechnology issues, ABAC is interested in developing an Award Scheme that recognises, rewards and provides funding for excellence in research commercialisation and Quality IP management. It is also expected that the Award Scheme will encourage and facilitate better performance in IP management in universities and MRIs (excluding CRCs and government research organisations such as CSIRO and ANSTO). It is envisaged that the scope of the Award will extend beyond bio-medical applications to the application of biotechnology, as an enabling technology, in a broad range of industrial contexts.