An 'action agenda' for the Australian science industry -- encompassing 47,000 manufacturers, distributors, laboratory services providers and researchers -- was launched in Sydney yesterday by the minister for industry, tourism and resources, Ian Macfarlane.

The federal government endorsed the recommendations of the Science Industry Action Agenda Measure by Measure report on July 12, giving the go ahead for the eight recommendations made in the report to be implemented.

Federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane has warned the Australian biotechnology industry that it still has a lot of work to do to win over the public.

The federal government has teamed up with industry group Science Industry Australia (SIA) to create a new action agenda.

It seems fitting that a major theme from an IT life science conference held on the island of Manhattan involved dealing with integrating islands of research.

The new executive director of the Scientific Industry Association (SIA) says being based in Canberra will help the organisation to have a stronger voice.