November 11, 2020

UOW Vice-Chancellor appointed to government’s expert panel

Business and university leaders to advise on fast-tracking the commercialisation of university research

University of Wollongong Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings CBE says he is honoured to be appointed to an expert panel to advise the government on commercialising university research.

Announced by the Federal Minister for Education Dan Tehan today (Wednesday 11 November), the $5.8 million scoping project is part of our Government’s plan to invest in ideas and innovation that help power Australia’s economic recovery from COVID-19.

The project complements the additional $1 billion for university research and $157 million for research infrastructure announced in the 2020 budget. 

The panel is made up of business and university leaders and will advise the government on how to improve the commercialisation of university research and turn ideas into jobs, opportunities and innovation.

Professor Wellings welcomed the opportunity to provide advice to the government on how best to accelerate university research translation.

“I’m honoured to be chosen for the role and look forward to sharing the benefits of UOW’s longstanding and close relationships with industry through this panel,” Professor Wellings said.

“The University of Wollongong has an exceptional track record of working with industry to find innovative solutions to the challenges they face, creating new jobs and new industries, along with improving the productivity of existing industries.

“These industry partnerships include not only industry-funded research and the successful commercialisation of UOW research, but also support for entrepreneurs and start-up businesses, and a successful program to bring small- and medium-sized enterprises together with researchers to drive innovation and find new commercial opportunities.

”In our own region, transition and jobs growth over recent years has been assisted by university research in economically and socially relevant fields, such as intelligent materials, super-conductors, future building design and construction and health service delivery and policy.”

Recent success stories include commercialising MOSkin, the world’s most advanced and cost-effective medical radiation sensor technology, which was developed at UOW’s Centre for Medical Radiation Physics. Electrogenics, the company granted the exclusive global license and commercialisation rights for MOSkin, was recently named 2020 Australian Technology Company of the Year. 

The newly launched Nowra Agri-business Innovation Hub at the UOW’s Shoalhaven campus is another exemplar of industry engagement. The Hub is connecting the regional agri-business sector with the latest technologies and research, and will ensure that local students, businesses and entrepreneurs can access the expertise, equipment and innovation that will help them succeed.