$9m in ARC grants released

Some of Australia's best-known biotechs -- including Biota, Gradipore, Amrad, Proteome Systems, Nanomics, Starpharma and PanVax -- will benefit from the latest round of Australian Research Council linkage grants.

Life science projects picked up $9 million of the total $47.5 million on offer.

Linkage grants support the development of strategic research alliances with industry. Companies provide $1.64 for every $1 spent by the Commonwealth.

Prof Alan Johnson, executive director of biological sciences and biotechnology for the ARC, said the linkage scheme had been a success, particularly since the move to offer two rounds of funding per year. "Successful recipients can get going faster," he said.

Big pharma also takes part -- Novartis Animal Health and GlaxoSmithKline are industry partners this round. And industry organisation AusBiotech is also a participant in two grants looking at commercialisation strategies and comparisons between biotechnology, nanotechnology and the information technology industries.