Applications close on Friday 24 October 2008 for Australian Government grants ranging from $3000 to $40,000 to assist you to stage a National Science Week event in 2009. Next year's Science Week will be staged from August 15-23.

The Australian Government is hosting Biotechnology for Industry workshops to highlight the competitive benefits that biotechnology can bring to business. The workshops are themed to match industry strengths in each location - Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane.

Free coaching sessions for the Australian Government's Export Market Development Grants scheme are being staged throughout Australia through to November. The scheme reimburses up to 50 per cent of expenses incurred on eligible export promotion activities above a $15,000 threshold.

Researchers at the peak of their careers from Australia and internationally will be able to apply for 15 annual fellowships each, worth about $3 million over five years to work with and mentor up to four postdoctoral and postgraduate reasearchers. The Australian Laureate Fellowships scheme is anticipated to open mid-October.

AusBiotech 2008 will include a Business Matching Program to give delegates the opportunity to update their company profile in the biopartnering system and make half-hour appointments at the event with other delegates and company representatives. The BioIndustry Exhibition will have more than 140 booths showcasing the latest from the global biotechnology industry.

The Indigenous Recruitment and Training Summit in Brisbane in November will explore strategies and programs being implemented across the country for engagement, recruitment and retention of the indigenous workforce at all levels of skill and management.

Nanotechnology: a Catalyst for Australian Manufacturing? The Australian Institute of Physics' Physics in Industry Day, in Sydney in November, is offering $1750 for posters with a strong nanotechnology theme and/or strong industry application. Researchers' posters will be exhibited at the Industry Day. The day will allow researchers to showcase their research to a targetted business audience.

The Australian Government is hosting free briefings in Adelaide, Melbourne, Hobart and Sydney on the Japanese Market for Australian Food Exports. Australian producers and exporters in fresh food, processed food and pet food can learn of new opportunities and growth areas in the Japanese market and understand new regulations and quality requirements.

Next year's Asia Pacific Symposium on Entrepreneurship and Innovation - New Thinking and Practice, will involve academia, industry and policy makers in bringing together theory and practice on entrepreneurship and innovation. Emphasis will be on international dimensions within the Asia Pacific region. The symposium will be in Sydney from 1-3 April 2009.

The Re-Tooling for Climate Change program will help small and medium-sized Australian manufacturers reduce their environmental footprint, through projects that improve the energy and/or water efficiency of their production processes. The program provides grants of between $10,000 and $500,000, up to a maximum of one third of the cost of each project. Round 1 of the program is now open to applications. The closing date is Monday 20 October 2008.

AusIndustry customer story

Under the Pre-Seed Fund program, the Australian Government is providing $72.7 million in venture capital, through four licensed pre-seed fund managers. The four managers are profiled here. They are Allen & Buckeridge, GBS Venture Partners, SciVentures Investments and Starfish Ventures.