Westmead company receives a $100,000 grant

A Westmead company, Ablantenn Pty Ltd, is one of 10 companies to receive grant from the NSW Government to help innovative life science companies develop promising new medical technologies. The company, which received a $100,000 grant, has invented a new surgical tool to treat irregular heart rhythm. The tool is a manoeuvrable catheter that emits microwave radiation to clear scar tissue in the heart that causes irregular heartbeats. Ablantenn will use the grant to refine and test a patented prototype that will eventually be targeted for United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. EnGeneIC Pty Ltd, at North Ryde received a $100,000 grant to help it develop nanocell technology to fight cancer.

UWS and Indian IT firm join forces

A leading Indian IT company, Polaris Software, has entered into a partnership with the University of Western Sydney that will contribute to local capacity building and help address the issue of IT skill shortages in Australia. Minister for Western Sydney, Barbara Perry, said the partnership would provide significant skills training for UWS students and serve as a model for other organisations facing challenges posed by skill shortages. The NSW Government’s Department of State and Regional Development facilitated the partnership.

Budget jeweller has debts of $20 million plus

The Australian-based, privately owned, budget jeweller, Kleins, which has 200 outlets across the country, including Western Sydney, New Zealand and South Africa, has collapsed with debts of more than $20 million. The company, which will continue to trade until administrators, Ferrier Hodgson, look for a buyer for the business, had a turnover to about $40 million.

Manufacturing Week opens on May 12

The Innovation Technology Showcase is the premier event of Western Sydney Manufacturing Week 2008. The showcase will be held at the Novotel Sydney Olympic Park, from 2.00pm, on Monday, May 12 .More information and registration visit www.smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au/westernsydney

Tenders called for CBD free shuttle bus service

The likelihood of council’s long-awaited, free shuttle bus around the CBD is getting closer – council aims to introduce it in September – with the calling for tenders to run the service for an initial three-year period. The service will operate around the city centre, from early morning to early evening, Monday to Saturday. Council will own the buses the successful tenderer will use. Tenders close on May 27.