Singapore: The Australian Synchrotron will use Bluechiip Limited's technology for protein crystallography tracking and automation. The Australian Synchrotron, one of the world's leading science and research facilities, provides researchers with access to cutting edge x-ray and infra-red techniques with a wide range of applications in fundamental science and industrial research. The project will be enabled via a $50,000 grant under the Victorian State Government's STIUP Voucher Program.

Australian Synchrotron staff will integrate bluechiip tags onto mounting pins used in the fields of protein and chemical crystallography. The aim of the research is to demonstrate the wireless tracking of a mounting pin's identification and temperature history. It is expected that utilization of this technology will allow both rapid mounting and automated tracking of samples which in turn will increase the efficiency of crystal screening and data collection.

Mr Brett Schwarz, managing director, Bluechiip Limited, said that opportunities exist to create a world-first tracking solution specific for macromolecular crystallography. "Importantly, this shows that our technology is truly a platform technology, with multiple market applications," he said.

Dr Alan Riboldi-Tunnicliffe from the MX beamlines at the Australian Synchrotron, said that, "Introduction of the Bluechiip tracking technology would lead to vastly improved research processes allowing a much higher degree of automation and therefore better outcomes for our researchers."