The Business and Finance section manages the processes of financial accounting, reporting, business development, strategic financial planning, intellectual property management, and the commercialisation of technologies.

AIMS' funds come from both government appropriation and external sources. The latter mainly comprises industry and government-related agencies (including CRCs, management agencies, and international funding organisations).

To enhance its basic/strategic research, AIMS plans to steadily increase its receipt of external funds to supplement appropriation research funds.

The external funding estimate for the 2000/2001 financial year is $5.5 million, with $5.6 million and $5.7 million expected to be received in the respective following years.

Business and commercial services 
Financial services 

AIMS has established a Business Services section which has the following major objectives:

• Develop strategies to substantially increase AIMS' external funding and generate "new funds" to enhance the Institute's basic strategic research
• Identify and exploit major opportunities for commercialising AIMS' products and services
• Negotiate appropriate contractual arrangements for externally funded R&D projects
• Identify ways of aligning AIMS research to the needs of clients
• Develop mechanisms that can be used to monitor and review the overall performance of AIMS' business activities and protect its intellectual property
• Develop and implement business procedures and systems that facilitate the conduct of marine research and development

Contact: David Coren. 
Ph: (07) 4753 4458. 
Email: d.coren@aims.gov.au

The Section provides financial management and accountability for the Institute, and also provides specific financial and accounting support for various clients. It is responsible for the Institute's incoming and outgoing financial transactions and assists staff in costing and monitoring of projects, in preparing and analysing financial reports, in the maintenance of Institute assets, and in providing financial information to management. The section produces annual financial statements in accordance with government accounting standards and guidelines.

Staff: Terresa Abrahams, Rachel Butcher, Robert Cusumano, Brett Dinsdale, Denise Mills, Margaret Scorse

Contact: Vic Bayer. 
Ph: (07) 4753 4261. 
Email: v.bayer@aims.gov.au