In 2003 the Queensland Government released Intellectual Property Principles and Guidelines to assist agencies to actively manage and commercialise their intellectual property (IP). The principles and guidelines seek to:

• promote the identification, management and dissemination (including commercialisation) of public sector IP
• increase the private sector’s access to IP generated within the Queensland Government and maximise the economic and social returns to Queenslanders.

ecoBiz aims for innovation

The Queensland Government launched ecoBiz Queensland, an industry partnership program designed to help companies adopt new resource-efficient practices that benefit business and the environment, on 4 June 2004. The three-year, $6 million program will assist industries to adopt eco-efficient innovations and technologies. Inaugural participants include Coles Myer, Volvo Truck Australia, Buderim Ginger, Toowoomba Metal Technologies, EGR, PAC Foundry and the Butter Producers’ Federation.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Sustainable Industries Executive Director Dr John Cole said by focusing on innovations in water, energy and materials consumption, ecoBiz Queensland would encourage companies to adopt new business practices to reduce costs and eliminate waste. “ecoBiz will not only promote the ‘why’, but will work with businesses to create the ‘how’ they can be sustainable,” Dr Cole said.

The program encourages companies to seek new standards of eco-efficiency to help them ‘do more with less’, improve their public image and give them a competitive market advantage. The EPA has developed a practical, easy-to-use toolbox to help companies record baseline information and conduct on-site surveys. It also provides hints and ideas to implement eco-efficient activities as part of an organisation’s action plan. Participating businesses will receive ongoing support and could be eligible for funding to assist with implementing eco-efficiency practices.

Queensland Sustainable Energy Innovation Fund

The Queensland Sustainable Energy Innovation Fund (QSEIF) accelerates the development of new energy efficient technology in Queensland and has a proven track record broadening business and export opportunities for Queensland industry. This fund provides industry with the impetus and financial support to develop and commercialise innovative technologies that reduce the use of fossil fuels. The fund promotes technologies that are either more energy efficient than current products on the market or utilise renewable energy sources.

In the five years QSEIF has been operating, the Queensland Government has committed about $4 million to fund projects such as solar thermal power generators, reservoir aeration systems, solar-powered pool chlorinators and the development of a combination ethanol-diesel fuel called ‘diesohol’.

QSEIF co-ordinator Dr Martin Gellender has overseen each of the six rounds of funding and said although developing and commercialising new technology was a long road, the fund helped many organisations take initial steps. “Although a good idea doesn’t guarantee success, the fund can help businesses along the road to commercialise new technologies that have an environmental benefit,” Dr Gellender said. “Many of the projects have achieved their goals, and some have gone on to new commercial ventures and successful introduction of the new technology.”

QSEIF funding is helping CSR Ethanol Distillery in Sarina undertake a large-scale trial of diesohol for use in local truck fleets. This blended fuel not only utilises a secure supply of locally produced fuel, it also produces less air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels. Diesohol has other significant advantages over conventional fuels such as improved lubricating qualities and higher engine efficiency.

Fighting Fruit Fly

Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries researchers at Gayndah in Queensland’s Central Burnett region are making clever use of netting to control fruit fly and other pests for a variety of fruit crops, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and enhancing production times, fruit growth and quality. The program has strong industry, local government and community support and could save Queensland’s fruit industry up to $500 million per annum.

Better Berries

Over the past 13 years Queensland’s strawberry industry has grown in value from $12 million to $85 million, becoming the largest strawberry producing state in Australia. Employment has increased 10 fold reaching 8000 during the strawberry season. The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, through its Better Berries program at Nambour, has made a major contribution to this outstanding performance, contributing about $22.8 million to the industry for an annual R&D investment of $1 million. It has developed new cultivars that are highly prized by consumers and which now constitute 25% of the market. It has developed pest, disease, nutrition and runner production management systems that are ahead of those used anywhere else in the world, including the United States, the world’s largest strawberry producer. In September 2004, over 300 international strawberry researchers and growers will converge on Coolum, Queensland for the 5th International Strawberry Symposium to learn from Queensland’s lead.

Health Software Saves $

A software program developed by Brisbane-based company QTECH will help Queensland Health better manage the use, repair and replacement of its health and medical equipment statewide, saving money which can be redirected to patient services. The Queensland-owned software, LifeCycle Plus, developed through a partnership between QTECH and the Queensland Government, has already attracted interest from other health care providers in Australia and overseas. Queensland Health also stands to earn royalties from the sale or licensing of LifeCycle Plus worldwide.

Smart insect control systems

Cooperation among grain and cotton growers on the Darling Downs combined with smart insect control systems has generated returns for industry of more than $24 million per year. Reductions in pesticide use and yield improvements are the result of the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries’ development of Area Wide Management Systems. This nationally acclaimed technology came at a cost of less than $1 million per annum.

Preventing Cervical Cancer

Professor Ian Frazer at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital has discovered that the human papilloma virus coat protein can be used as a vaccine to prevent papillomavirus infection, and hence prevent the cervical cancers that arise from these infections. He is now working in conjunction with CSL Ltd on vaccines to treat both the papillomavirus infections and the cancers. There are around 1000 cases and over 200 premature deaths every year in Australia from cervical cancer. Clinical trials of a vaccine based on Professor Frazer’s work have shown that it has the potential to prevent about 70% of cervical cancers. It is expected that the initial research investment will generate revenue in excess of $100 million per year for Australia and save up to $500 million per year in direct medical costs.

Sorghum Solutions

Queensland grain growers are reaping the financial benefits of innovative research at Warwick by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPIF), which has developed solutions for two of the biggest problems faced by the sorghum industry. Sorghum midge was the major insect pest of sorghum. Using Smart State plant breeding techniques, DPIF scientists have developed sorghum that is genetically resistant to midge so that crops rarely require spraying, saving the industry $30 million per year as well as the environment. DPIF scientists have also bred a drought-resistant sorghum with increased seed size and increased yield. Adopting these innovations will save the Queensland industry up to $68 million per year.