ANUTECH diversity brings in dollarsANUTECH, the University's commercial arm, is the most diverse university company in Australia, and owes its success in a large part to its broad portfolio. Annual turnover for each of the past four years has exceeded $40 million. Profits from ANUTECH's operations flow back to the ANU, and are used for various purposes. Over the past four years, ANUTECH has brought $40 million in research funds to the ANU to fund commercially promising research. As well as supporting research, ANUTECH's profits are used to fund scholarships and sponsor other University outreach activities, including the Drill Hall Gallery, the ANU Public Lecture Series, the ANU Debating Society, visiting scholars, commemorative events and academic seminars and conferences. ANUTECH's Technology Marketing Division manages 94 active ANU patents and has 23 technology licences in place. Staff advise academics on intellectual property issues, negotiate contractual agreements and find commercial partners to develop research results from the ANU campus. The Division also directs significant funds into the ANU to fund research and development. Australian Scientific Instruments (ASI), another division of ANUTECH, manufactures high-precision scientific instruments, many of them originating from fundamental ANU research. ASI was ACT Exporter of the Year in 1995, with exports of $10.4 million. ASI's flagship is the SHRIMP, a secondary ion mass spectrometer originally conceived in the Research School of Earth Sciences (RSES) by Professor William Compston. Last year, RSES received more than $600,000 in profits from sale of SHRIMPs, plus funds for further instrument development. ANUTECH Development International manages large development assistance projects in the Asia Pacific region, on behalf of agencies such as AusAID, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. The group undertakes consultancies worldwide and runs short courses in Australia and overseas, many together with ANU academic staff. More than 75 international students, from all over Asia but mostly Japan and Korea, study English at ANUTECH's Education Centre. Many stay on to study at the ANU. PCtech provides computer and software sales and service to higher education institutions. Established before any other Apple computer reseller in the ACT, PCtech operates out of two shop fronts, at ANUTECH Court and the University of Canberra. ANUTECH's book distribution division Bibliotech is a valuable resource for the ANU, disseminating University publications internationally, with over 1600 titles in its catalogue. Staff provide advice on publishing, marketing and promoting books and journals. Marietta McGregor | |