Hugh Durrant Whyte, the (newish) NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer announced a $2.5m “bio-foundry” at Macquarie U last week. It will research, synthetic biology technology in the agricultural, healthcare, biofuels and chemicals sectors.  That was followed by a $5m state government commitment for a fund to commercialise physical science devices and services. And yesterday he announced $1.5m for a recycling plan involving government, industry and researchers.

The sums might not match those in his previous job as UK defence scientist, or when he ran National ICT Australia, (aka NICTA) but you work with what you’ve got.