Navigating the complex waters of international patent systems is a key focus of Queensland University of Technology's new partnership with world-leading researcher Richard Jefferson and his open-access research institute, Cambia.
Cambia is an independent, international non-profit research organisation founded nearly two decades ago by distinguished molecular biologist Dr Jefferson, who was named by Scientific American as one of the world's most influential technologists.
QUT Professor Brian Fitzgerald, a world leader in open-access law and intellectual property, said QUT was excited to be working with Cambia.
"Dr Jefferson is one of the most cited scientists in the world and has pioneered new approaches to patent transparency, governance and licensing, including founding the Biological Open Source movement, BiOS," Professor Fitzgerald said.
"We will work with Dr Jefferson and Professor Tom Cochrane, QUT Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Technology, Information and Learning Support), on developing further features for Cambia's Patent Lens, including extending it for the emerging patent systems of Asia - particularly China.
"Patent Lens is a free, worldwide, open-access patent information resource developed and run by Cambia that allows the public to explore, understand, use and improve the patent system.
"It is now the preferred patent search tool for public agencies worldwide, including the United Nations and the US National Institutes of Health."
The Patent Lens and the new Cambia and QUT collaboration will feature in keynote presentations by Professors Fitzgerald and Jefferson at the major international Open Access and Research Conference 2008 in Brisbane this week.
Dr Jefferson said science and technology-based innovation can be effective dealing with the grand challenges of the day only if it was transparent and inclusive.
"The patent system is opaque, complicated and expensive. We want to make it clear and accessible to everyone who needs to solve problems," Dr Jefferson said.
"The challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, global health and food production need bold new paradigms for cooperation that are based on clarity, evidence and trust.
"I'm delighted to work with QUT which has shown leadership as the first Australian University to mandate open access for its scholarly works, and to collaborate with Professor Fitzgerald's groundbreaking OAK Law project."
QUT Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation) Professor Arun Sharma said Dr Jefferson and Cambia would provide an exciting new dimension to QUT's research portfolio.
"The partnership will complement QUT's existing strengths in the area of open-access innovation and information technology," he said.
"QUT will host IT infrastructure that will open world patent systems to Web 2.0 technology and community participation."
Terry Cutler, chairman of the recent Innovation System Review said the partnership was "good news for Australian innovation" and would create a platform for public and private players to make better, more informed decisions.
"This new relationship between QUT and Cambia will further consolidate a globally significant hub of thought and practice leadership in Australia around intellectual property and knowledge access," Mr Cutler said.
"It will help us spend public money wisely and efficiently on innovation that benefits the public. And it will increase business confidence to build upon and invest in new science and technology."
The Open Access and Research Conference 2008 is being held September 24 and 25 at the Stamford Plaza Hotel in Brisbane.
Richard Jefferson r.jefferson@cambia.org 0419 499 753
Media contact: Niki Widdowson, QUT media, 07 3138 1841 or n.widdowson@qut.edu.au.
