Bulletin

Issue: March 2006

News

Research Hotel

The VABC, a two-storey building on two hectares of the La Trobe University 50-hectare R&D Park, comprises 5,700 square metres of floor space for state-of-the-art research laboratories, offices and meeting spaces.

It also houses a Research Hotel to provide an additional science and business incubator on the La Trobe R&D Park for the agricultural biotechnology sector.

The University already operates the successful Technology Enterprise Centre, (TEC) on the R&D Park and sees the VABC as an additional advantage in moves towards enhanced commercialisation.

The VABC consortium comprises the Department of Primary Industries, La Trobe University, the Molecular Plant Breeding Co-operative Research Centre (MPB CRC), Florigene Ltd (a division of Suntory) and Monash and RMIT universities.

The consortium is chaired by Professor Roger Parish, Head of La Trobe’s School of Life Sciences.

He said the primary objectives of the VABC are to act as a science and business incubator and support research discoveries through conversion to delivery for the agricultural biotechnology sector.

‘Co-locating various groups helps foster an environment that promotes effective interactions, networks and the incubation of spin- off companies.’

Professor Parish is one of two La Trobe University academic staff members on the VABC Management Committee. The other is Professor German Spangenberg, the Committee’s Chair.

Professor Spangenberg is also Research Director, Plant Genetics and Genomics of DPI, Research Director of the MPB CRC and Director of the DPI’s Plant Biotechnology Centre. La Trobe R&D Park Director, Ms Sue Bell, is also a committee member.

Professor Spangenberg said long-standing links between the University, the DPI Plant Biotechnology Centre and the Molecular Plant Breeding CRC means scientists from these research agencies co-supervise La Trobe University postgraduate students. Collaborative links with industry have already resulted in a number of shared patents.

He said the VABC will significantly enhance the science and technology base and innovation capability of Australia’s agricultural biotechnology sector.

‘Co-locating academic and commercial R&D groups in this way fosters an environment that promotes effective interactions, networks and the incubation of spin-off companies. La Trobe University also provides opportunities for VABC tenants to collaborate with visiting scholars and to access overseas speakers for seminars, forums and conferences,’ Professor Spangenberg said.

Ms Sue Bell said the new Centre was a watershed in the trend to combine successfully research, academic and industry requirements into facilities that satisfy high-end research needs as well as the commercial demands of industry.

As well as food crop research, the VABC provides new opportunities in the highly specialised ornamental flower market, through links with the Australian biotech company, Florigene Ltd – best known for it’s leadership in the ‘blue rose’ project.

Research Manager, Dr John Mason, said Florigene is already a successful breeder of chrysanthemums, carnations and gerberas.

‘Novelty – new lines of these plants with different colours and features – are an essential ingredient for successfully competing in a global cut-flower market estimated to be worth between $US20 to $40 billion annually,’ he said.

Dr Mason said his firm used technologies similar to those involved in food crop research.

‘Working in such close proximity to University and Department of Primary Industries’ staff creates economies of scale and synergies and opens up exciting possibilities for joint research with La Trobe scientists and postgraduate students.’

The VABC construction was managed by CRI Australia. Principal architects and consultants were S2F Pty Ltd. The builder was Hooker Cockram Projects Ltd.