Industry research engagement - University of Wollongong

What is industry research engagement?

UOW discoveries, innovations and inventions have potential for huge positive impact in the real world, if they can just reach the right audience and end users.

Businesses understand real-world problems and seek to solve them, if they can connect to the right scientific and technical experts.

Closing the research-industry gap can be a win for both sides that also benefits society in general.

Industry engagement includes a broad range of university-business interactions, and can lead to productive collaborations. It involves exchange of knowledge and ideas, to enhance capabilities and technologies. Industry engagement is a valuable (although optional) part of a researcher’s role at UOW.

Sometimes industry drives research: a business may have a question or problem that UOW experts can resolve through commercial research. Sometimes research drives industry: discoveries, inventions and innovations can be commercialised as new products or services. In the process, intellectual property (IP) may be created.

How does UOW manage industry research engagement?

In a fast-moving global marketplace, finding a competitive edge means being right at the edge — at the edge of what’s possible today and what’s coming tomorrow. At the University of Wollongong, our world-class researchers are continuously redefining what’s possible, from advanced materials to future infrastructure, to bio-medical technology and beyond.

We are Innovation & Commercial Research Unit.

Your gateway to the edge.

Why engage with us?

One team all the answers

Knowing where to start with a University research collaboration can be challenging. That’s where we come in. We lead your relationship with the University, handling all contracts, intellectual property considerations, and funding options. We’re your one consistent point of contact, and if we don’t have the answer, we’ll go ahead and find it.

Simple Standard Contracts

Speed to market is critical with any innovation; you simply don’t have time for contractual back and forth. So we’ve made things easy. We issue standard contracts within three working days and typically have them executed within three weeks of our first meeting. It means you can get on with your project faster and with confidence.

Generator Lab

It’s hard to know what’s possible until you know what’s possible. That’s why we created the Generator Lab. Facilitated workshops with a minds-trust of University researchers, industry experts, and commercialisation advisers to tackle your innovation challenge. The result — clarity on what’s possible and how to make it happen.

Intellectual property made easy

We understand how important intellectual property rights are to your ability to fully leverage innovation in the market. We work to provide clean IP and ensure terms that stack up across both existing and developing innovation. It’s why more than 90% of the time, we agree to IP terms in two conversations or less.

How to engage

The Innovation & Commercial Research Unit is your gateway to the edge.

Identification of need by business
During this important discovery phase a business problem or innovation opportunity is identified. This may include new product fuctionality, testing required, process improvement, or marketing and development that needs exploring.

Awareness and engagement
Business establishes connection with industry engagement team (ICR), and discusses initial thoughts and requirements for project. Converstations outlining the process and costing model if required. ICR identify appropriate researchers and departments to engage.

Alternatively a business may have a researcher they are ready to collaborate with. The ICR team will walk both researchers and business through the process of engagement and formalities.

Connection and initial scoping
ICR initiates conversation between researcher and business facilitating a face to face meeting. Initial scoping of project and requirements established and loosely agreed upon.

	Formal engagement process to commence Business to formally structure proposal and brief for agreement with UOW, ICR and researcher. Expectations of outcomes, timelines and budgets identified.
	Project scope and proposal negotiated The ICR team will walk both researchers and business through the process of engagement and formalities, and assist in the negotiation of pricing, milestones and timing, based on the expectations of business and the capabilities of the researchers or research unit.
	Funding potential ICR assists to identify potential funding or grants which the business and researcher may be eligible for, and walks both parties through the process of applying.
	Contracts and agreements Once negotiation has been completed and both parties are happy with the terms, including intellectual property (IP) and trade marking legalities, an official contract is created by ICR and signed by both parties.

	Project commences Working towards the establshed goals the researcher begins work on what has been commissioned. This work may take place within an agreed industry location or within UOW faciities or labs.
	Project reporting and rescoping with results as required An informal reporting process is established early in the project, with weekly or fortnightly updates provided by the researcher to business to ensure key milestones are being work towards. Identication of potential problems before official milestone delivery deadline. Reiteration or re-scoping may need to take place based on results.
	Formal milestones formally approved at each point Based on contractual milestone dates, business and researcher meet at agreed times to sign off on key project points. Renegotiation may be required if researcher findings require a pivot.
	Project completion Once all milestones are met and signed off on officially the project is deemed complete. A re-engagement is possible if further work is required, and both parties are happy to continue to work together. The scoping and contracting process begins again as a continuance. On project completion the ICR unit will send an invoice for payment of services rendered.

Implementation of research

Business takes findings and implements improved business strategies, or launches new product or functionality of existing product.
Researcher may finish the project at this point, or be engaged to assist with the development or roll out of the new innovation. This may be established from the start of the project or renegotiated during or on completion of contracted work.

Develop new ideas and re-engage

In the spirit of continous improvement, and product development the business may wish to work with the same researcher or team to develop new ideas or they may wish to employ a different researcher or division to work on improving another aspect of their business.

Contact us

Innovation and Commercial Research UnitLevel 1 Mike Codd Building, Innovation Campus

02 4221 5086 icr-enquiry@uow.edu.au