Academics and PhD students can learn more about getting their discoveries and inventions out and into the global market at UniQuest's upcoming research commercialisation workshops.
Researchers from all faculties are invited to apply for the two-day training event (places limited) to be held at the Novotel Twin Waters Resort on the Sunshine Coast.
The PhD student workshop will be held on April 17 and 18, and the academic staff workshop will be held on May 1 and 2. Applications for both workshops are currently being accepted online: www.uniquest.com.au/workshop.
Workshop costs are covered by UniQuest, including transport to and from the St Lucia campus. Applications close on March 21 for PhD students and on April 4 for academic researchers. More information is available on the UniQuest website: www.uniquest.com.au.
As UQ's main commercialisation company and the largest Australian technology transfer organisation, UniQuest offers workshop participants a rare opportunity to gain practical knowledge of the processes, pitfalls and potential rewards of commercialising their expertise. Informative and insightful speakers' presentations will be complemented by creative group-work sessions and pitching practice with experienced commercialisation professionals.
More than 500 UQ researchers have attended the UniQuest commercialisation workshops in the past five years. UniQuest Managing Director David Henderson said the workshops play a significant role in helping researchers achieve their academic goals and help bring innovations to widespread adoption through commercialisation.
"Since introducing these workshops, the number of disclosures to UniQuest for commercial consideration has risen to more than 75 percent. The number of patent applications we have filed on behalf of UQ researchers has also increased, while the University has retained its position as one of the top three for publishing in Australia," Mr Henderson said.
"The workshops help researchers understand how a commercial dimension can advance their research profile and objectives, and offer alternatives for attracting financial support needed to develop projects and research teams."
UQ Psychology alumnus Dr Renae Beaumont said attending the workshop for PhD students gave her the confidence to pursue a commercial outcome for her research into social skills development for children with Asperger's Syndrome.
"I pitched my ideas to Triple P International with a view to licensing the program, and came away with a job offer," Dr Beaumont said.
Dr Darren Martin, a materials scientist with the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology who attended the workshop for academic staff in 2006, acknowledged the impact the experience had on the commercial development of his thermoplastic elastomers project.
"Last year we formed a start-up company, TenasiTech Pty Ltd, to attract investment so we could develop the research further. We then won the i.lab incubator award in UQ Business School's Enterprize competition. The UniQuest workshop helped me understand what I was committing to and what the potential rewards might be, and now the project is to be reported on Daily Planet, a program on Canada's Discovery Channel," Dr Martin said.
Further enquiries: Leanne Wyvill (3365 4307, 0409 767 199).
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