The Australian Innovation Community

New Zealand, Finland, Ireland and Australia are the most efficient producers of top universities, according to a University World News analysis of the latest THE-QS ranking of the world’s top 500 universities.

Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, today announced Australian Government funding of $1 million over the next three years to support international research engagement for the humanities and social sciences.

Outstanding researchers from Australia and around the world will be attracted to work in Australian universities under a new Australian Laureate Fellowships scheme, announced today by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr.

Australian medical researcher Ian Frazer has won a major international prize in Italy.

Research, development and innovation (RD&I;) is set to be boosted in Spain as the country’s ministry for science and innovation announced its national RD&I; plan for the 2008-2011 period. The plan will award over €47 billion to RD&I; projects over four years, double that of the preceding four-year period.

Australia will play a role in the biggest ever international effort to unlock the genetic secrets of cancer.

Nicole Kuepper, a 23 year old solar cell scientist, has been voted Australia’s favourite scientist in the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes People’s Choice Award.

SUCCESS (Searching Unprecedented Cooperations on Energy and Climate to Ensure Sustainability) and GAST (Green and Safe Road Transportation) are the names of two EU-funded pilot projects that are intended to pave the way for the European Institute of Technology (EIT). Both newly-launched initiatives are coordinated by the Institute of Technology Karlsruhe (KIT), Germany.

A manned aeroplane capable of flying day and night on solar energy alone may sound like science fiction, but partners in the Solar Impulse project hope that it will soon become tomorrow’s reality. The Swiss-led project was presented at a seminar ‘Towards a more sustainable aviation’ at the European Parliament on 9 April, where it received the official backing of the European Commission.

Speaking to a business leaders’ event in Melbourne today, Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research said that Australian Research Council (ARC) fellowships will be progressively opened to greater international competition, including the new Future Fellowships scheme.