Seeing It Through

MOLECULAR hub ... the Queensland Bioscience Precinct Photo: Graham Meltzer

The successful commercialisation of groundbreaking research continues to distinguish the University and cement its place in the top 10 percent of universities worldwide for technology transfer.

Since 2000, more than $250 million has been raised by UQ’s commercialisation companies and their start-up companies to transform UQ technologies into products and services. Further development funds have been committed by UQ’s commercial partners so worldwide sales of products using UQ technologies now exceed $3.5 billion per year, making a difference to the lives of millions of people around the world.

UQ’s investment in building commercialisation capability and infrastructure has created a distinct point of difference for the University. Approximately 20 percent of all people employed to commercialise research by Australian universities are working at one of UQ’s three companies: UniQuest, JK Tech and IMBCom, and commercialisation revenues for the University exceed $90 million per year.

UQ’s best known and most successful example of commercialisation is the Gardasil® HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer. This discovery was first patented by UniQuest in 1991 and now, licensed to Merck, is having a significant impact on women’s health. Since 2006, more than 10 million Gardasil® vaccinations have been administered in 80 countries worldwide, attracting sales of more than US$1.5 billion.

Commercialisation is occurring in every discipline at UQ, with examples including the Triple P Positive Parenting Program from the Social and Behavioural Sciences field, which is now delivered in 20 countries, to superconducting magnet technology used in many large MRI machines.

The University’s commercialisation companies have an enviable record in establishing start-up companies and raising investment to commercialise UQ inventions.

More than 50 start-ups have been established in the past 10 years, and some of the more mature companies have floated on the ASX. QRxPharma was Australia’s largest biotech float when it listed in mid 2007, and was followed by the listing of ImpediMed.

In addition to formal technology transfer through licenses and start-ups, the University encourages researchers to engage with industry and government to transfer expertise and skills via consulting and research contracts.

UQ researchers have undertaken more than 3000 consulting and research contracts with Australian industry, and are increasingly being sought internationally. For example, UQ researchers from the Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science are currently working with Japan’s Hokkaido Electric Power Company researching the development of fertilizer based on fly ash (a by-product from coalfired power plants), for land rehabilitation (see story on page 38).

UniQuest, the University’s main commercialisation company with 80 staff dedicated to supporting the transfer of intellectual property and expertise from UQ, generated $78 million in revenues in 2007.

Highlights include:

• two major licences/research contracts negotiated for UQ technology with the potential to rival Gardasil® in returns for the University;

• UniQuest start-up ImpediMed floated on the ASX, and is presently one of the few listed life sciences companies to hold its value;

• QRxPharma created history as the largest Australian biotech float on the ASX;

• UniQuest and its start-ups raised more than $100 million in investment and grants in 2007; 

• the number of invention disclosures and patents increased by one-third since 2006; and

• 700 consulting and research projects taking UQ expertise to industry and government.

IMBcom, formed in 2000, is the University’s commercialisation company dedicated to the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the first of UQ’s flagship bio-institutes. It has now created 11 companies with investments of more than $50 million.

Highlights from the last year include:

• reaching a milestone $16 million in commercial research and development agreements delivered into IMB laboratories;

• executing a significant licence deal with the world’s largest life sciences technology corporation;

• achieving its 220th participant in IMBcom’s renowned Bio-Business Education program; and

• filing four new patents bringing the total number of patent “families” under management to 16.

JKTech, the commercialisation company for the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre, has projects with many large mining companies including BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Anglo Platinum, Somincor, and Hindustan Zinc, and commercialises UQ mineral processing innovations in 30 countries.

Highlights of 2007 included:

• partnering with the ALS laboratory group to form a new joint venture company, ALS Mineralogy Pty Ltd, able to offer an enhanced range of mineralogical analysis and diagnostic solutions to the global mining industry;

• winning the Business Innovation category of the Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Investment Awards 2007, and being named a finalist in the Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards in the Service Category;

• ranking in the 2007 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards; and

• funding several PhD projects at the JKMRC.

Story author: Leanne Wyvill

ImpediMed, a medical device company established by UniQuest to market bioimpedance technology developed at the University, received Food and Drug Administration clearance in the US for its primary product, Imp XCA, to be used in the clinical assessment of secondary lymphoedema in the arm, a device which has already helped thousands of cancer patients in Australia during the past seven years.

UniQuest established Aussie Colours in June 2007 to act as the commercialisation vehicle for drought resistant plant varieties developed by UQ’s Centre for Native Floriculture. Three initial varieties were released under the “Outback Princess®” brand in Queensland in September 2007. The successful launch resulted in forward orders for the Queensland market of more than 40,000 plants. Photo: courtesy UniQuest

Latch-On®, a literacy and technology program for young adults with an intellectual disability and licensed in Queensland by UniQuest to the Endeavour Foundation, is based on years of research within UQ’s Fred and Eleanor Schonell Special Education Research Centre. It has assisted more than 50 students to further develop their skills for learning and living. Two additional teachers were trained this year to deliver the program. Photo: courtesy Endeavour Foundation Latch-On®

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