Commercial & IP Session
Chaired by Dr Ramon Tozer - Davies Collison Cave
Scientists are increasingly becoming involved with commercial aspects of their research projects. While this more commercially focused role has the potential to provide new and exciting opportunities, it often brings with it a need for scientists to have a better understanding of Intellectual Property issues and the commercial world into which they enter.
The talks in this session will provide an overview on how the commercialisation of science in Australia has changed over the last 20 years, and also insight into the mechanics of progressing research and development from the laboratory to the commercial world. The talks will also provide practical advice on Intellectual Property issues commonly encountered along the road to commercialising science.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Professor Graham F. Mitchell - Australia 
Foursight Associates Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia
Changes in Commercialisation of Australian Science
Bio: Professor Graham Mitchell is a veterinary graduate and University gold medallist of the University of Sydney. At The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) he made discoveries in immunology and obtained a PhD in 1969. After post-doctoral experience in California (Stanford), England (National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill) and Switzerland (Basel Institute for Immunology) he returned to Australia (at WEHI) in 1973.
In 1990 Mitchell was appointed Director of the Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens, and in 1993 returned to biomedical research as Director of Research in the R&D Division of CSL Limited.
In 1996 Mitchell, together with Sir Gustav Nossal, Professor David Penington and Dr John Stocker, established Foursight Associates Pty Ltd. Foursight is Australia's leading advisory group in life sciences and technology.
Mitchell is recognised as one of Australia’s leading biological scientists, is an author of more that 350 publications, has received numerous awards for scientific achievements and, in 1993, was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia for services to science.
Mitchell’s current roles also extend to being an advisor on innovation to the Victorian Government. In another government role the Principals of Foursight, including Mitchell, jointly act as Chief Scientist for the Departments of Primary Industries (DPI) and Sustainability and Environment (DSE). He is a non-executive director of Antisense Therapeutics Limited, Compumedics Limited, Avipep Pty Ltd, AgVic Services Pty Ltd, Adelaide Research and Innovation Pty Ltd, the Geoffrey Gardiner Dairy Foundation and WEHI. He is also a Professorial Associate of the University of Melbourne.
In this presentation, Mitchell will discuss the significant changes that have occurred in commercialisation of Australian science over the period from the early 80’s to the current time.
The session will also include presentations from:
The speakers name provides a link to their abstract.
Dr Charles Day - Melbourne Ventures Pty Ltd: Taking polymer research to the marketplace -the challenges of initiating reactions.
Dr Richard Grant - Spruson & Ferguson: What’s New? Novelty in patent law.
Dr Grace Chan - Phillips Ormonde & Fitzpatrick: Patently obvious? Understanding the tests for inventive step.
Dr Mike Zammit & Charles Tansey - Shelston IP, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys: Who owns IP produced “on the job”?
