University Secretary's Department Statutes and Regulation

1. ‘The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute’ (‘the Institute’) is hereby established as an academic grouping within the University for the purposes of interdisciplinary research in the broad fields of biotechnology and biomedicine.
2. For the purpose of this regulation ‘the Bio21 Project’ includes-
   1. research undertaken by the University in the areas of biotechnology and associated fields alone or in collaboration with other participants in Bio21 Australia Ltd, other universities, research institutes and organisations;
   2. activities undertaken by the Institute; and,
   3. while the University remains a member of Bio21 Australia Ltd, activities undertaken by Bio21 Australia Ltd and its participants.
3. For the purpose of this regulation ‘the premises and facilities of the Institute’ means the David Penington building and associated facilities in the Western Precinct’.
4. Within the University, relevant deans and heads of departments have shared responsibilities with the director of the Institute (‘the director’) to facilitate achievement by the Institute of its mission and strategic objectives.

1. conduct research, research training and related administrative activities in the discipline areas of chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology and other relevant areas of molecular science and engineering with a view to enhancing synergies between these and other disciplines and providing a core of enabling molecular technologies and expertise within the Bio21 Project;
2. stimulate knowledge innovation and the development of career opportunities through communication, industry engagement and the promotion of the frontiers of science and technology in the community;
3. develop strategic alliances between disciplinary groups with a view to co-ordinating and facilitating interdisciplinary research programs in the areas of biotechnology with a health focus;
4. access the Bio21 Project’s research and training infrastructure for the wider research community based within the University’s campuses and affiliated institutes, particularly for research groups engaged in health related biotechnology activities;
5. develop a business incubator and associated research transfer facility within the Institute, designed to facilitate industry engagement and the commercialisation of the University’s biotechnology research, and contribute to the overall incubation and platform technology infrastructure available to the Bio21 Project; and
6. make arrangements with participants in Bio21 Australia Ltd, and/or with other organisations to facilitate the development of the University’s biotechnology research and the disciplinary convergence considered necessary for achieving international competitiveness in biotechnology.

1. facilitate inter-disciplinary academic collaboration within the University to further the objectives of the University and the Bio21 Project;
2. facilitate collaboration between University disciplinary groups and affiliated medical research institutes to further the objectives of the Bio21 Project;
3. manage the annual budget of the Institute, excluding those sums reserved for capital projects or related developments;
4. make recommendations to the vice-chancellor or nominee regarding the allocation of space resources available to the Institute;
5. facilitate collaboration between researchers and industry and the commercialisation of research;
6. manage the contractual arrangements and obligations of non-University tenants of the Institute and require that the activities of all tenants are compliant with the University’s risk management policies and obligations;
7. exercise the powers of a head of department in relation to staff employed solely by the Institute;
8. co-manage, with the relevant dean and head of department, staff employed jointly by the Institute and a University department; and
9. facilitate planning within the Institute and transact the business of the Institute in accordance with that planning.

The Management Advisory Committee comprises -

1. the director (chair);
2. the deputy director;
3. the chief operating officer (or equivalent) of the Institute, where such position exists in addition to those in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b);
4. the heads of two participating departments nominated by the dean of the faculty of Science following consultation with the dean of the faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and other relevant deans;
5. a representative from each of the Institute’s core interdisciplinary research theme areas, nominated by the director; and
6. a representative of non-University tenants of the Institute nominated by the director.

1. The dean of the faculty of Science must, on the recommendation of the director, establish a Scientific Council of the Institute. The membership of the Scientific Council is to include an external chair, the director, at least two members external to the University with appropriate commercial expertise and internationally recognised scientific experience in disciplines of relevance to the Institute, and at least two senior University researchers from disciplines of relevance to the Institute. The function of the Scientific Council is to advise the director and the Management Advisory Committee on strategies for strengthening the international scientific standing of the Institute and its constituent research teams and for advancing the commercialisation of research undertaken within the Institute.
2. The Scientific Council regulates its own proceedings.
3. The Scientific Council meets as and when required, but not less than once a year.