Science and Technology Australia wants to supercharge research commercialisation

In a speech today STA president Mark Hutchinson will call for unspecified start-up capital so it can create, “the first generation of bench to boardroom scientists,” to build on outcomes from the government’s new $1.6bn research commercialisation fund.

What he proposes is identifying “hundreds of scientists and researchers … with the aptitude and passion to become commercialisation stars.”

“We know we can equip a diverse and talented cohort of experts … and we can give them skills and support to create new businesses based on brilliant science.”

Professor Hutchinson points to STA’s Superstars of STEM as an example of how it could be done. This programme, “equips brilliant, diverse women with advanced communication skills and opportunities” to promote careers for women in STEM.