A funding boost of almost $4.2 million for the State's biotechnology sector has been announced by the Western Australian government.
A funding boost of almost $4.2 million for the State's biotechnology sector has been announced by the Western Australian government.
Below are announcements from the government and UWA:
Western Australia's high school students are set to be the direct beneficiaries of a new $4.17million funding package for the State's biotechnology sector, with the opportunity to attend one of the world's biggest gatherings of scientific minds.
Premier Alan Carpenter said the multi-million dollar funding boost would further strengthen the State's rapidly growing biotechnology industry and continue its rise in the international arena.
"The State Government is committed to ensuring WA continues to excel in the development of the national and international biotechnology industry," Mr Carpenter said.
"The $4.17million will provide support for the sustainable future of the State's industry, including the development of existing and emerging biotechnology infrastructure and precincts, building skills in our school-aged scientists and facilitating investment opportunities overseas and locally."
The Premier said the funding would build upon the Western Australian Biotechnology Industry Development Strategy that was released last year.
"The State Government has announced more than $80million in support for critical infrastructure for WA's local biotechnology sector that will help to attract international and national companies to invest in the State," he said.
"We have committed $9.95million to establish a clinical trials facility and $50million towards two new biomedical research facilities at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and the planned Fiona Stanley Hospital.
"In addition, a further $4.5million has been allocated through the Centres of Excellence program for a new Centre for Food and Genomic Medicine and $21million has been invested towards the Western Australian Marine Science Institution.
"WA is already becoming a medical research hub and this funding will further cement the State's capabilities in the international community and go a long way to shape a sustainable future for the biotechnology industry."
Mr Carpenter said a major initiative that would help address the current skills shortage in the future was the sanofi-aventis International BioGENEius Challenge of Western Australia.
"The challenge will take the State's high school students from the classroom to the laboratory, giving them the opportunity to work alongside experienced scientists to complete a biotechnology project," he said.
"Each year, two winning WA students will attend the biggest biotechnology conference in the world, BIO, in the United States of America, and compete with international students.
"WA will be the only participant from outside North America. The State's involvement was secured by Industry and Enterprise Minister Francis Logan during his visit to
BIO '07 earlier this year."
Mr Logan accompanied five WA teachers to BIO 2007 in Boston as part of an education program on the BioGENEius Challenge.
"It is a tremendous competition and I am positive WA students will benefit from participating," Mr Logan said.
"WA's biotechnology sector is a strategically important industry to the State and one of four pillars being earmarked by the Carpenter Government to diversify the economy beyond the current resources boom."
One of the teachers who accompanied Mr Logan to Boston, Shenton College's Warwick Mathews, said the BioGENEius competition would be an amazing experience for students and their future career.
Three of Mr Mathews' students - Bindhu Holavanahalli, Yvonne Kong and
Vinayak Hutchinson - have already begun work on their project on the health-promoting qualities of table grapes with their mentor, Dr Aneta Ivanova, from the Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology at The University of Western Australia.
"These students are exceptionally bright and talented and this challenge will provide them with the opportunity to learn from experienced scientists," Mr Mathews said.
"There is no opportunity at school for students to learn with the latest high-tech scientific equipment, but this challenge will provide Bindhu, Yvonne and Vinayak with the opportunity to use a super computer that is worth more than $500,000.
"The idea of heading to the USA is also an attractive prospect for them."
Below is the full announcement from UWA:
The University of Western Australia has welcomed the Western Australian Government's decision to inject a further $4.17 million into the State's burgeoning biotechnology sector.
Premier Alan Carpenter, making the announcement today at the UWA-based ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, said the funding would assist the development of existing and emerging biotechnology infrastructure and precincts, support school age scientists and facilitate investment opportunities overseas and locally.
UWA Acting Vice-Chancellor Margaret Seares said the funding, which builds on the WA Biotechnology Strategy released last year and provides for a total investment pool of more than $82 million, gave local scientists the chance to make Western Australia an international force in the biotechnology field.
"UWA - as a university committed to achieving international excellence - is intimately involved with the push to make Western Australia a vibrant biotechnology hub," Professor Seares said.
"The State Government's strategy will fund two new biomedical and health research facilities at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and the planned Fiona Stanley Hospital, a new Centre for Food and Genomic Medicine, research and development in crop biotechnology and animal/pest diagnostics as well as funding UWA's Nobel Laureates Barry Marshall and Robin Warren to act as roving ambassadors for biotechnology in WA."
The University has also welcomed the State Government's commitment to secure a place for Western Australian science students at the renowned biotechnology competition - the sanofi-aventis International BioGENEius Challenge.
Three students from Shenton College, which has a special relationship with the University through the Learning Links program, are currently working with the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology at UWA on an exciting new study to further explore the health benefits of table grapes.
The students will work closely with scientific mentor Dr Aneta Ivanova to complete their project for entry next year at BIO 2008.
