The University of Melbourne and Monash University are collaborating to launch M2 Venture Catalyst, a $80 million project that plans to commercialise their biomedical research. This venture is expected to work with hospitals, medical research institutes and commercial organisations to support new companies, increase investment and exports, create jobs in the sector and enable the fast-tracking of the development of new medicines to market. Previously commercialisation of such research has often been going offshore.

Gillian Armstrong?s recent documentary about the boy from Kiama, Australia, who became one of Hollywood?s finest costume designers was based on Orry-Kelly?s memoir Women I?ve Undressed which discloses his story. Noting in his introduction that ??Hollywood dislikes naked truths?? Orry-Kelly told many. He won 3 Academy Awards for his costume designs and dressed many famous actresses including Marilyn Monroe, Bette Davis, Ingrid Bergman and Jane Fonda. His many film credits include Casablanca, Some Like it Hot, Auntie Mame and An American in Paris-now on Broadway.

Pawmetrics is developing a site to allow you to be more in control of your pet's health. Their team is passionate about animals, their health and care and want to disrupt the vet and animal care industry. By giving you gain first hand knowledge about your pet, they're planning to change the way you interact with your veterinarian. www.pawmetrics.co.uk

Pledge 1 percent is dedicated to making the community a key stakeholder in every business. It encourages individuals and companies to pledge 1% of equity, product, and employee time for their communities based on the premise that companies and employees today want to have a positive impact on the world. The Pledge 1 percent website enables visitors to pledge equity, employee time and/or product directly on the site. Atlassian co-founder Scott Farquahar wants every start-up business to commit to giving employee time, equity and funds to charity. He and a program backed by salesforce.com have signed up more than 600 businesses in the past 18 months. The easiest time to pledge is when companies are startups and their value is unknown. IdeaSpies has committed. www.Pledge1percent.org

Hireup is an online platform that is changing the way Australians with disability find, hire and manage their own support workers, along with recent changes in legislation. Previously people with disability had to accept support work on someone else?s terms. The new approach encourages investment in technology and the community. The Hireup platform is designed to be secure, easy to use and flexible, benefitting both people who need services and those who provide them. It matches people with a disability and support workers not just on qualification but on shared interests. www.hireup.com.au

This tamagotchi-style water bottle with a pet on a screen is expected to be hugely popular with children, just as tamagotchi were when my daughter was growing up. It should also be very popular with parents who want to encourage their children to drink water rather than soft drinks. Kids first chose a pet for this smart bottle, and set goals according to their age and size. Their pet grows as they hit their drinking target. They can even take their pet on virtual adventures in the Gululu Universe with a companion app and connect their pets by waving them at eachother. The bottles will come with wireless charging stations, and parents can keep tabs of hydration levels and view drinking patterns over time. www.mygululu.com