s Two new 3D printing facilities in Melbourne boost advanced manufacturing capabilities By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 12:03:00 +1000 Australia’s manufacturing sector has been given a boost with the opening of Australia’s largest additive manufacturing hub and a new world-class research facility in Melbourne. The new 3D printing additive manufacturing plant produces parts and devices for the mining, defence, bio-medical, construction, aerospace and automotive industries, in a more cost-effective way than traditional methods. Full Article
s Chinese Hotelier Fu Wah International Group establishes Australian HQ in Melbourne By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 16:31:00 +1000 The Fu Wah International Group will establish its Australian headquarters in Melbourne, bringing 20 jobs to Victoria. A high-end real-estate development and commercial property management group based in China, the company recently took ownership of the iconic Melbourne Park Hyatt Hotel and is exploring other investment opportunities in Victoria's property and hotel sector. Full Article
s Hong Kong Hotelier Hind Group chooses Australian HQ in Melbourne By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 16:16:00 +1000 Hong Kong-based independent hotel company the Hind Group is to establish its new Australian headquarters in Melbourne, creating 10 new jobs. The Hind Group is one of Hong Kong's most successful independent hotel and serviced apartment operators. It owns and manages two hotel brands, Ovolo Hotels and Naumi Hotels and also runs two food and beverage businesses, Café O in Hong Kong and Rang Mahal in Singapore. Full Article
s E-Gate the new Melbourne precinct on city’s doorstep By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 15:24:00 +1000 Underutilised rail yards on the edge of Melbourne’s city centre are set to be transformed into the newest inner-city suburb - E-Gate. The 20 hectare site is equivalent in size to five Melbourne City blocks and will be developed into a new integrated community providing residential, retail, commercial and community facilities. Full Article
s Indian enterprise IT solutions company Raybiztech sets up Australian HQ in Melbourne By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 15:26:00 +1000 Indian company Ray Business Technologies (Raybiztech) has chosen Melbourne as its Australian headquarters. The company plans to create 30 new highly skilled local Information and Communications Technology (ICT) jobs over the next two years. Headquartered in Hyderabad, India, with offices in the USA and UK, Raybiztech delivers cloud, mobility, big data and social media solutions to its enterprise clients around the world, in the sectors of finance, healthcare, manufacturing, media, leisure and utilities. Full Article
s Finmeccania – Selex ES to set up Australian Naval ICT Communications HQ in Melbourne By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 14:34:00 +1000 Global technology supplier Finmeccanica – Selex ES will establish its Australian Naval Communications headquarters in Melbourne, creating 80 manufacturing jobs by 2019. Finmeccanica - Selex ES works across the international defence, security, aerospace, naval and transport sectors. Full Article
s Games blog: PAX Australia to stay in Melbourne until 2019 By games.blog.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 10:20:00 +1000 The Victorian Government has secured the right for Melbourne to continue to host the Australian leg of the world’s largest digital games festival, the Penny Arcade Expo Australia (PAX Aus), for the next five years until 2019. Full Article
s Bio blog: Victoria to attract more world leading women in science and innovation with additional round of veski innovation fellowships By blog.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 15:07:00 +1000 An additional round of veski innovation fellowships – a prestigious Victorian program to attract outstanding global leaders in science and research to Victoria – is actively seeking applications from outstanding women in science and research. Full Article
s Victorian Government calls for EOIs for New Schools PPP By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 16:06:00 +1000 The Victorian Government has this week invited Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the delivery of 13 new schools under the $223 million New Schools Public Private Partnership (PPP) project. The PPP will see the selected consortium finance, design and construct 13 new schools and maintain them over a 25 year period. The schools will be built in two tranches, with the first tranche opening to students in 2017 and the second in 2018. The Victorian Government will retain responsibility for teaching and curriculum, with the Government stating that the structure will allow teaching staff to focus wholly on educational outcomes. Full Article
s LINPAC chooses Melbourne as the base for its Australian HQ By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 14:20:00 +1000 UK packaging company LINPAC has chosen Melbourne as its Australian headquarters. The A$22 million investment will create 72 manufacturing jobs at the new headquarters in the suburb of Truganina in Melbourne’s West, and allow the company to increase its food packaging manufacturing capacity. Operating in 37 countries around the world, LINPAC is a global leader in the production of primary fresh food packaging and food service solutions. Full Article
s Kerry Group – bakery centre for excellence to open in Melbourne’s West By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 15:39:00 +1000 Global food company, the Kerry Group, has announced that it will establish its new centre for excellence for bakery products in Melbourne, creating 118 new jobs. The A$13.7 million investment by the company in the Western Melbourne suburb of Altona (18 km from the Melbourne city centre) will be used to purchase state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment, and increase their research and development capacity. Full Article
s Japan-based pharma firm Eisai to open Australian HQ in Melbourne By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 10:38:00 +1000 Japanese-based pharmaceutical company Eisai has announced it will open its Australian headquarters in Melbourne to provide a platform to market its portfolio of epilepsy and oncology products. The company ranks in the top 25 pharmaceutical companies in the world by revenue, and employs over 10,000 people worldwide. Full Article
s German industrial automation company Balluff to expand in Australia By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 16:51:00 +1000 Balluff Leuze has invested in a custom-built automation centre in Bayswater, located 40 minutes east of Melbourne’s city centre, as part of its continued Australian expansion plans. The German company, which specialises in technically innovative products for the Automation industry has been working in Australia for 15 years and is considered a leader in sensor technology. They also build a range of safety products that are used in the Victorian manufacturing sector. Full Article
s Melbourne leads the way in unravelling the typhoid gene By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 15:22:00 +1000 Recent research lead by a Melbourne research institute has found that people who carry a particular type of gene have natural resistance against typhoid fever. The Nossal Institute of Global Health at the University of Melbourne conducted the study in collaboration with the Genome Institute of Singapore and Oxford University Clinical Research Unites in Vietnam and Nepal. The research, which is the first large-scale one of its kind, investigated the human natural gene responses to typhoid and associated infectious diseases. Full Article
s Internationally renowned Melbourne HIV scientist named Melburnian of the Year By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 10:26:00 +1000 Professor Sharon Lewin, the local co-chair of this year’s 20th International AIDS Conference, and internationally recognised HIV cure researcher, has been named Melburnian of the Year in an awards ceremony held on 15 November. Full Article
s Australia and China sign historic free trade agreement By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 13:59:00 +1000 Australia and China have signed an historic free-trade agreement (FTA) which will increase opportunities for foreign direct investment in Victoria. The deal, which is suggested to be worth A$18 billion to Australia’s economy, was announced after almost a decade of negotiations between the nations. The agreement will increase the threshold at which private companies attract scrutiny by the Foreign Investment Review Board from A$247 million to A$1 billion. This will allow corporations to more easily take advantage of the competitive and dynamic business environment that Melbourne has to offer. Full Article
s World football superstars to visit Melbourne By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 09:54:00 +1000 Melbourne will host world football superstars from Real Madrid, Manchester City and Inter Milan as part of the Australian leg of the third annual International Champions Cup in July 2015. The tournament, a friendly pre-season between the biggest teams in the world, will feature star players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Aguero, Gareth Bale, David Silva and James Rodriguez. Full Article
s RMIT University and NICTA collaborate to open a new data analytics lab in Melbourne By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 14:42:00 +1000 The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), in collaboration with NICTA (National ICT Australia) have announced the opening of a joint data analytics lab in Victoria. The lab will be based at RMIT University’s School of Computer Science & Information (CSIT) in Melbourne. NICTA is Australia’s largest ICT organisation, and its Machine Learning Research Group has been independently rated amongst the top five groups of its kind in the world. In a collaboration valued at over A$1 million, NICTA will combine its expertise with RMIT University’s CSIT, which is widely recognised as a leader in data and information management. Full Article
s Games blog: PAX Aus 2014 turns up the volume on games in Australia By games.blog.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 16:56:00 +1000 For the second year in a row, the Penny Arcade Expo Australia (PAX Aus) was held in Melbourne from 31 October 2014 to 2 November 2014. It opened to the news that Melbourne had secured the right to continue to host the event for the next five years, a huge coup for Victoria and for all Australian digital gaming fans. The announcement meant that Melbourne would host the iconic event, which attracts the world’s biggest and most influential digital games developers, publishers, and enthusiastic players, until at least 2019. Full Article
s Melbourne to host renowned science conference IPAC in 2019 By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 11:50:00 +1000 The International Particle Accelerator Conference (IPAC) will take place in May 2019, and will see approximately 1,000 delegates visit Melbourne to discuss, collaborate and present on the latest scientific achievements in particle acceleration. Melbourne’s winning bid was presented in Korea, and was a direct result of collaboration between the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) and the Australian Synchrotron, a particle acceleration research facility located in Melbourne. Full Article
s AEREON expands its operations in Melbourne By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 14:36:00 +1000 AEREON, a global leader in combustion, vapour recovery and pollution-control technologies has announced the opening of a new 1250 square metre (13,000 square feet) operations facility in Melbourne. The large facility will create flares, thermal oxidizers and gas compression units that adhere to Australian code requirements in the oil and gas industries. Local fabrication of the materials will allow AEREON to better improve their customer experience and ensure consistency and quality in their product range. Full Article
s Melbourne wins Major Cities Top 10 Human Capital and Lifestyle Award By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 15:18:00 +1000 Melbourne has been recognised as the top Major City in Human Capital and Lifestyle, according to the fDi Intelligence Global Cities of The Future 14/15 study. Cities in the study were categorised according to population and, as a Major City, Melbourne was awarded the top position in cities with populations less than 10 million. As winner of the Human Capital and Lifestyle category, Melbourne scored high results in categories such as; literacy rate, education expenditure, health, quality of life, percentage of population as labour force, number of students and numerous other indicators. Full Article
s Monash and Takeda announce research partnership By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 10:17:00 +1000 The Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Melbourne has announced a research partnership with Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical Company to develop new medicines that address significant medical needs in gastroenterology. The strategic partnership will allow scientists from Monash University and Takeda to work together to better understand the causes of these gastrointestinal diseases, and work towards developing treatments and therapies for disorders that affect millions of people worldwide. Full Article
s Melbourne set to Scoot to Singapore By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 11:42:00 +1000 The Singapore based low-cost airline, Scoot, has announced that it will launch direct flights from Melbourne to Singapore in November 2015. Scoot is a low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines that flies to a variety of locations in China and Australia. The airline was founded in 2011 and has embarked on a new strategy in providing low fares and quality customer service to travellers. Travellers will be flying with Scoot on the latest Boeing 787 Dreamliner; the world’s most advanced aircraft. Full Article
s HotelQuickly expands into Australia with a new Melbourne office By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 12:28:00 +1000 Hotel and accommodation booking app, HotelQuickly, has opened an office in Melbourne as part of its plans to expand its operations in the Australian market. The Hong-Kong headquartered company, which was launched in March 2013, has more than 600,000 users globally and offers last-minute discounted hotel and accommodation booking options for travellers. Full Article
s Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement begins By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 09:51:00 +1000 The Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA) will enter into force on 12 December 2014, opening up new investment opportunities for Victorian and Korean businesses that will enhance their relationships. KAFTA will increase export opportunities across a wide range of industries: from beef, wheat, sugar, dairy, wine, horticulture and seafood, to automotive suppliers, and the resources and energy industries. It will also open up significant opportunities for service providers. Full Article
s Global Pharma leaders Janssen collaborate with Melbourne’s Monash By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 11:27:00 +1000 Global pharmaceutical company Janssen-Cilag, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, has signed a three-year research collaboration agreement with Melbourne’s Monash University. The collaboration will focus on ground-breaking research at Monash University to develop potential new medicines to treat autoimmune diseases and disorders . Full Article
s Japan-Australia FTA paves way for renewed Japanese investment By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 12:19:00 +1000 The Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA) entered into force on 15 January 2015. Japanese interest in Victorian and nationwide investment is continuing to grow, with major fast food chains and convenience store operators looking at investing in the agriculture sector, which will in turn support expansion into the South East Asia marketplace. Full Article
s Equinix expands in Melbourne with launch of new data centre By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Mon, 02 Feb 2015 10:11:00 +1000 The global data centre and software giant, Equinix, has recently opened a new state-of-the-art data centre in Melbourne, as part of its expansion plans throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The centre, which is strategically located in Port Melbourne, about 2.5 kilometres from the Central Business District, will help to meet the growing regional demand for premium data centre services, and comes amidst strong growth in Australia and Victoria’s IT markets. Equinix has invested A$60 million in the centre, known as ME1, and early reports indicate an successful launch. Full Article
s Victorian wind farms bring power to Canberra By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Thu, 05 Feb 2015 11:50:00 +1000 Two Victorian wind farms have won 20-year deals with the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), to supply a third of Canberra's electricity needs. In a deal worth A$68 million a year each, the alternative power venture is set to increase Canberra household power bills by A$93, however with 200 megawatts of capacity, the wind farms are expected to create a 580,000-tonne reduction to the city's yearly carbon emission each year (the equivalent of removing 157,000 cars). Full Article
s Melbourne’s Metro Rail Project to transform its public transport system By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Mon, 16 Feb 2015 16:36:00 +1000 The Victorian Government has announced it will begin work on one of Australia’s largest infrastructure projects, the Melbourne Metro Rail Project. The new Melbourne Metro Rail line includes a nine-kilometre twin rail tunnel from Melbourne's south, under the CBD, through to the university and health precinct in the city's north. It will include five new and expanded underground stations. Full Article
s Melbourne makes history with world’s first 3D printed jet engine By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Thu, 26 Feb 2015 16:59:00 +1000 Melbourne’s Monash University and Amearo Engineering have captured the attention of global aviation industry giants by creating the world’s first 3-D printed jet engine. The manufacturing breakthrough will lead to cheaper, lighter and more fuel efficient jets, and will result in advances in medical technology, according to engineers and researchers. Full Article
s Moving Victoria – Australia’s number one destination for inter-state migration By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Fri, 27 Mar 2015 16:50:00 +1000 Melbourne has reinforced its great reputation as the world’s most liveable city with new statistics showing Victoria as the number one destination for Australians moving inter-state. Full Article
s Leading Victorian and US regenerative medicine institutes announce partnership By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Thu, 23 Apr 2015 15:54:00 +1000 Regenerative medicine research efforts are set to strengthen in Australia with the recent announcement between Melbourne’s Monash University and leading US biomedical institution, MDI Biological Laboratory. Full Article
s Bio blog: Dr Amanda Barnard grabs a bag of ‘firsts’ winning the Nobel Prize of nanoscience world: The Freynman Prize By blog.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2015 15:39:00 +1000 The Feynman Prize for Nanotechnology was awarded last month to Dr Amanda Barnard. Often referred to as the Nobel Prize of nanoscience, the prize’s importance is remarkable in that it recognises prodigious talent in the sector and is a reliable predictor of scientific discoveries with a very high translational impact on industry. Full Article
s Global tech company Square arrives in Melbourne By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Thu, 21 May 2015 11:35:00 +1000 The global mobile payments company, Square, will open its Australian headquarters in Melbourne, which will be its fourth global base after the United States, Canada and Japan. Full Article
s International buyers travel to Victoria to meet the winemakers By www.invest.vic.gov.au Published On :: Mon, 25 May 2015 13:50:00 +1000 More than 150 international buyers and investors from Europe, the Middle East and Asia will travel to Victoria as part of a major inbound trade mission that showcases its diverse wine industry. Meet the Winemaker, will introduce international buyers to over 100 key winemakers from 21 diverse winemaking regions around Victoria, allowing the industry to develop new export opportunities and giving the world an insight into Victoria’s unique winemaking capabilities. Full Article
s In a changing climate, information is power By www.ifpri.org Published On :: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 19:44:23 +0000 The following story by Alexa Jay was originally posted on the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) news blog. In a variable and changing climate, information may be the key to unlocking successful adaptation strategies. How can millions of farmers access climate information services that support adaptation to climate variability and change? Climate information services are a powerful tool in helping farmers adapt to the impacts of climate variability and change, to both protect against drought and extreme events and take advantage of good conditions. A new report presents lessons learned from 18 case studies across Africa and South Asia that have developed and delivered weather and climate information and related advisory services for smallholder farmers, demonstrating that scaling up these services for millions of farmers is possible today. This infographic highlights what kind of information is being provided to farmers, and how it expands the range of management options available. Full Article East Africa Southern Africa West Africa South Asia Environment and Production Technology Climate Change CCAFS Climate Change ICTs
s Taking stock of national agricultural R&D capacity in Africa South of the Sahara By www.ifpri.org Published On :: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 05:01:56 +0000 This report is a timely input into the ongoing development agenda for Africa South of the Sahara (SSA). The 2013 report on agriculture and food systems by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network released a set of post–2015 development goals, including recommendations that low- and middle-income countries increase their spending on agricultural research and development (R&D) by a minimum of 5 percent per year during 2015–2025, and that they allocate at least 1 percent of their agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) to public agricultural R&D. More recently, the Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa was adopted at the African Heads of State Summit, necessitating the development of a continent-wide implementation plan. This report, which summarizes SSA’s recent progress in developing its national agricultural R&D systems, is intended to serve as an important input into, and potential benchmark for, the implementation of the science agenda in SSA and the broader development agenda for the region. The analysis is based on comprehensive primary datasets by Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI), the most recent of which was compiled during 2012–2013. PDF file: astiafricasynthesis.pdf(1.9MB) Full Article East Africa Southern Africa Central Africa West Africa English Environment and Production Technology Policies Institutions and Markets Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI) Agricultural Science Technology and Innovation Policy ASTI Regional report Science & Technology
s Doubling down on a good investment By www.ifpri.org Published On :: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 15:19:57 +0000 As the world’s population continues to expand, ensuring that food production can meet the growing demand is an ever-mounting challenge. Climate change, soil degradation, and volatile food prices further threaten food security at a time when increasing agricultural output is paramount. In the report, Taking Stock of National Agricultural R&D Capacity in Africa South of the Sahara, produced by IFPRI’s Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators, researchers Nienke Beintema and Gert-Jan Stads summarize recent progress in the development of national agricultural research systems in Africa south of the Sahara (SSA). The report—presented at the conference celebrating 15 years of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) in Johannesburg, South Africa this week—also serves as a benchmark for monitoring the implementation of the Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa, which is being launched at the conference. More information Taking stock of national agricultural R&D capacity in Africa South of the Sahara (ASTI Regional Report) African countries south of the Sahara must double investment in agricultural R&D, report finds (IFPRI Press Release) ASTI website featuring related data visualization tools Regional spending on agricultural research and development (R&D) must double if the countries of SSA are to meet the recommended United Nations (UN) and African Union’s target of investing 1 percent of agricultural GDP in public agricultural R&D, not to mention the even more ambitious post-2015 recommendation that low- and middle-income countries ramp up spending on agricultural R&D by five percent from 2015 to 2025. The report highlights additional challenges to national agricultural research systems: Low staff retention and qualification levels: Civil service recruitment restrictions, low salaries, and inadequate funding have prevented many public agricultural research institutions from competing for, training, and retaining staff; in addition, a very large share of senior researchers are approaching retirement. Low female participation: Although female participation in agricultural R&D has increased in recent years, women have less influence on decisionmaking and policy because men continue to dominate in senior research and management positions. High funding volatility: Volatile fluctuations in agricultural R&D funding exert negative impacts on agricultural research systems by impeding strategic planning, undermining the conduct of research programs, demotivating staff, and eroding prior progress, all of which affect the quality, quantity, and efficiency of research outcomes and their ultimate impact on agricultural productivity and poverty alleviation. High donor dependency: Significant shares of government funding are generally allocated to salaries, leaving many countries dependent on donor and development bank funding to support the day-to-day costs of operating research programs and developing and maintaining R&D infrastructure; in addition to increasing funding volatility, high dependence on donor funding has the potential to skew national research priorities. African governments and research agencies are limited in their choice of options to address the many challenges they face in developing their agricultural research systems because of funding constraints. The ASTI report lists various successful policy changes already adopted in certain countries, which can offer valuable lessons for other countries. “It is critical that African countries invest more in agricultural research to ensure that they can feed their populations,” said Beintema. “Underinvestment, inadequate human resource capacity, poor research infrastructure, and a lack of coherent policies continue to constrain the quantity and quality of research outputs in many countries.” Full Article East Africa Southern Africa Central Africa West Africa Environment and Production Technology Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI) Science & Technology agricultural R&D ASTI Food Security Public investment
s IFPRI Roundtable on Next Harvest II By www.ifpri.org Published On :: Thu, 12 Feb 2015 16:31:50 +0000 Time: 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm EST (please join us at 11:45 am for a light lunch) Presenter(s): Judy Chambers, Director, Program for Biosafety Systems, IFPRI | Patricia Zambrano, Senior Research Analyst, IFPRI | Virginia Kimani, Lead Consultant, Pesticides and Agricultural Resource Centre | Sylvia Uzochukwu, Professor of Food Microbiology and Biotechnology, Biosafety Specialist, Faculty of Science, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti | Muffy Koch, Global Biosafety Specialist | Geofrey Ariaitwe, Plant Genetic Engineer, National Plant Biotechnology Center, National Agricultural Research Laboratories | Jose Falck-Zepeda, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI. Contact/RSVP: Please contact Pilar Rickert (202 862-4647; p.rickert@cgiar.org) to RSVP for the live event or for the webinar login information. Location: International Food Policy Research Institute 2033 K Street, NW, Washington, DC Fourth Floor Conference Facility IFPRI’s 2014 report “GM Technologies for Africa: A State of Affairs” identified the lack of standardized and uniformly collected biotech data as a main constraint in assessing the overall state of Africa’s agricultural biotechnology capacity and in the ability to draw policy recommendations regarding countries’ strengths and needs. IFPRI designed and implemented Next Harvest II, a John Templeton funded initiative that gathered detailed information for four of the leading biotechnology countries in Africa: Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda. The information collected has enabled the systematic evaluation of the status of African biotechnologies in these countries. A panel of participants will give an overview of the results for each country, highlighting their differences and similarities, and will discuss the capacity of the biotechnology innovation system to produce and deliver these technologies, the opportunities and challenges faced, and will give policy recommendations to address current limitations. Go-to-Meeting available for those unable to join the meeting in Washington, DC. Please contact Pilar Rickert (p.rickert@cgiar.org) for more information. PreviewAttachmentSize Roundtable Invitation 251.81 KB Full Article Kenya South Africa Nigeria Uganda Environment and Production Technology IFPRI Headquarters Program for Biosafety Systems Bioenergy
s Botswana: Agricultural R&D Indicators Factsheet By www.ifpri.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2015 17:06:36 +0000 Botswana: ASTI Agricultural R&D Indicators Factsheet Overall, the number of researchers holding PhD degrees doubled in Botswana during 2000–2011, and the number of researchers qualified to the BSc-degree level tripled. Agricultural R&D in Botswana is almost entirely funded by the government. Spending on operating and program costs increased significantly during 2005–2007, but contracted again from 2008, when government funding to many public-sector agencies was cut due to spiraling inflation. Botswana invests a relatively high share of its agricultural GDP in agricultural research. Nevertheless, such a high intensity ratio is not uncommon in countries with small populations and relatively high per capita incomes. Small countries are not able to benefit from economies of scale to the degree that larger countries can, so basic research infrastructure and staffing constitute greater shares of investment. PDF file: Botswana-Factsheet.pdf(467.4KB) Full Article Botswana English Environment and Production Technology Policies Institutions and Markets Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI) Agricultural Science Technology and Innovation Policy ASTI Country Note Science & Technology
s Democratic Republic of Congo: Agricultural R&D Indicators Factsheet By www.ifpri.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2015 17:37:33 +0000 Democratic Republic of Congo: ASTI Agricultural R&D Indicators Factsheet Despite rapid growth in recent years, DR Congo’s agricultural R&D spending remains well below the levels required to sustain its needs; in fact, spending levels as a share of AgGDP are among the lowest in Africa. Agricultural researcher numbers also grew rapidly in recent years, particularly at INERA and CRAA, although most of this growth occurred among researchers trained to the BSc or MSc levels. Accounting for just 9 percent of total researchers, women are severely underrepresented in agricultural R&D in DR Congo, especially given that the country’s agricultural labor force is predominantly female. PDF file: DRCongo-Factsheet.pdf(529.2KB) Full Article Democratic Republic of Congo English Environment and Production Technology Policies Institutions and Markets Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI) Agricultural Science Technology and Innovation Policy ASTI Country Note Science & Technology
s République démocratique du Congo: Fiche d’information sur les indicateurs de la R&D agricole By www.ifpri.org Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2015 17:39:47 +0000 République démocratique du Congo: Fiche d’information sur les indicateurs de la R&D agricole Malgré la forte croissance au cours des dernières années, les dépenses de R&D agricole de la RDC sont encore en deçà des niveaux requises pour subvenir aux besoins du pays. Le ratio dépenses/PIB agricole est parmi les plus bas en Afrique. Les effectifs de chercheurs agricoles connaissent également une croissance rapide depuis quelques années, notamment à l’INERA et au CRAA. Cette croissance est due à l’augmentation des chercheurs de niveau licence/ BSc ou master/MSc. En RDC, les femmes ne représentent que 9 % de l’effectif total des chercheurs travaillant dans la R&D agricole : elles sont donc gravement sous-représentées, d’autant plus que la main-d’oeuvre agricole du pays est caractérisée par une prédominance féminine. PDF file: DRCongo-Fr-Factsheet.pdf(553.6KB) Full Article Democratic Republic of Congo Français Environment and Production Technology Policies Institutions and Markets Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI) Agricultural Science Technology and Innovation Policy ASTI Country Note Science & Technology
s Achieving Food Security in Africa South of the Sahara Through Food Value Chains By www.ifpri.org Published On :: Mon, 18 May 2015 19:34:27 +0000 Time: 12:15 pm to 1:45 pm EDT (Please join us for lunch beginning at 11:45 am); Live webcast coming up at the scheduled time. Presenter(s): Moderator: Rajul Pandya-Lorch, IFPRI | Welcome: Astrid Jakobs de Pádua, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany | Paul Mwafongo, Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania | Speakers: Khamaldin Mutabazi, Sokoine University of Agriculture SUA in Morogoro, Tanzania | Ephraim Nkonya, IFPRI | Stefan Sieber, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research ZALF Contact/RSVP: RSVP to Simone Hill-Lee - s.hill-lee@cgiar.org, 202-862-8107. Location: International Food Policy Research Institute 2033 K Street, NW, Washington, DC Fourth Floor Conference Facility This seminar will present findings of food and nutrition security research projects in Africa south of the Sahara (SSA) funded by German federal ministries. The presentations will highlight results of the projects, share success stories of food value chains, and outline key policies required to achieve food and nutrition security through the value chain approach. Presentations Ephraim Nkonya Stefan Sieber Papers Trans-SEC Scientific Papers Trans-SEC QuickFinder Guide Stefan Sieber will present an overview of German research programs and related projects conducted in SSA. Khamaldin Mutabazi and Ephraim Nkonya will present empirical evidence of both success stories and challenges of the value chain approach in Tanzania, as well as discuss policies that enhance or pose challenges for market development in SSA. Full Article East Africa Southern Africa IFPRI Headquarters Agriculture & Rural Development Country & Regional Programs Infrastructure and Trade Poverty Poverty and Trade Program Evaluation Global Issues Hunger Markets & Trade Poverty Reduction Public Policy & Investment
s Agriculture in Africa -- Telling Facts from Myths By www.ifpri.org Published On :: Fri, 29 May 2015 20:08:25 +0000 Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT Live streaming video by Ustream Presenter(s): Keynote Speakers: Chris Barrett, Cornell University | Gero Carletto, World Bank, Living Standards Measurement Study | Luc Christiaensen, World Bank | Klaus Deininger, World Bank | Makhtar Diop, World Bank Africa Region | Shenggen Fan, IFPRI | Francisco Ferreira, World Bank | Ethel Sennhauser, World Bank | Stan Wood, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Contact/RSVP: Simone Hill-Lee, s.hill-lee@cgiar.org; 202-862-8107 Location: International Food Policy Research Institute 2033 K Street, NW, Washington, DC Fourth Floor Conference Facility • Are women in Africa doing all the farming? • Can Africa’s postharvest loss really be that high? • Is input use still dismally low? Is land still abundantly available and land rental non-existent? • Are Africa’s youth exiting agriculture en masse? More information For presentations, video and other related materials please visit the World Bank project page Come and join us at an IFPRI-World Bank conference featuring 15 revealing Ignite-style presentations. The panel discussions are based on research conducted by an international consortium of universities and international organizations led by the Chief Economist Office of the Africa Region of the World Bank, and are intended to scrutinize conventional wisdom about African agriculture. Co-hosts Shenggen Fan, Director General of IFPRI, and Makhtar Diop, Vice President of the Africa Region of the World Bank, will make opening remarks, and the expert panels will reflect on the research findings and their implications. Registration for this event is now closed. Conference will be streamed in its entirety on this page. PreviewAttachmentSize June2015EventAgendaFinal.pdf34.63 KB Full Article East Africa Southern Africa West Africa IFPRI Headquarters Agriculture & Rural Development Agriculture and Health Crop Technology Markets & Trade Poverty Reduction
s Fulbright Student Association (November 21, 2024 6:00pm) By events.umich.edu Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 06:20:56 -0500 Event Begins: Thursday, November 21, 2024 6:00pm Location: Weiser 455 Organized By: Sessions @ Michigan The Fulbright Student Association warmly invites you to our Friendsgiving Dinner! Join us for a night of great food, lively conversations, and exciting prizes. Let’s celebrate, connect, and enjoy a festive evening together! Full Article Workshop / Seminar
s PwC China Sourcing Initiative (CSI) Information Session - Hong Kong (November 14, 2024 8:30pm) By events.umich.edu Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 00:32:23 -0500 Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 8:30pm Location: Organized By: University Career Center This CSI information session will focus only on PwCHong Kong based positions.This info session will invite professionals and partners from the following service lines of PwC Hong Kong:Core AssuranceRisk AssuranceTaxConsultingThe PwC Hong Kong professionals and partners will share business insights, their career development experiences and help you prepare for interviews and future careers with their teams and PwC Hong Kong.We have many positions available across the line of services in assurance, tax, and consulting in our Hong Kong office. Positions are forfull time Associate roles with a start date in fall/late of 2025. Application Eligibility:Bachelor and Master students who graduate from universities in the United States or Canada between August 2023 and August 2025 are eligible to apply. Mandarin or Cantonese language skills as well as English are required.PwC will provide Hong Kong working visa sponsorship for selected associates. We welcome STEM major students who are interested in getting professional training and professional service experiences in Hong Kong to join our program. Please join the CSI Virtual Information Session - Hong Kong on November 14, 2024 from 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm US Eastern Time to learn more about the opportunities in PwC Hong Kong. For all current CSI openings, please visit: https://app.mokahr.com/campus-recruitment/pwc/148260#/page/CSI Full Article Careers / Jobs
s Creative Arts Orchestra (November 14, 2024 8:00pm) By events.umich.edu Published On :: Mon, 10 Jun 2024 18:16:15 -0400 Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 8:00pm Location: Earl V. Moore Building Organized By: School of Music, Theatre & Dance This is a unique, largely improvisation-based group that invites interaction with other performance fields such as dance, theatre, and music technology. Marcus Elliot, director Full Article Performance
s Couzens Hall (2024-2025) (Housing) (November 14, 2024 8:00pm) By events.umich.edu Published On :: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 06:20:36 -0500 Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 8:00pm Location: Couzens HALL Organized By: Sessions @ Michigan Full Article Conference / Symposium