Explore

Learn about innovation pathways and consider end-user needs

Activities

Melbourne BioInnovation Student Initiative

https://www.mbsi.org.au/
The Melbourne BioInnovation Student Initiative is a group of students with backgrounds in science, engineering and medicine, who share an interest in technology and its applications in medicine and the biological sciences.

UniMelb StartUp Pitch Competition

https://fbe.unimelb.edu.au/bcom/career/expertise/startup#Competition%20Prizes
The UniMelb StartUp Pitch Competition aims to activate an entrepreneurial mindset within the University’s student community. It provides students with a unique opportunity to learn to develop and test a startup idea. Team up with budding entrepreneurs from across the University and learn from experts and mentors from the startup world. There will also be prizes up for grabs!

Expert help

Funding

Climate Research Accelerator (CRX) projects

https://www.unimelb.edu.au/climate/expertise/crx-projects
The CRX funding is designed to support established projects that can demonstrate a high likelihood of making an immediate impact on the climate problem. This third round of CRX will fund up to 4 projects that already have some level of establishment (this is not a seed funding round). Eligibility 3.1 Individuals who hold a salaried appointment at the University of Melbourne for the duration of the funding period are eligible to apply. 3.2 Team members may include researchers, honorary appointments, and students external to the University of Melbourne.

Research Professional

https://www.researchprofessional.com/sso/login?service=https://www.researchprofessional.com/0/
The funding opportunities database in *Research Professional has been chosen over and over again by leading universities for its coverage, accuracy, relevance and reliability. We cover all scholarly disciplines: from medicine to the humanities; from the largest research council to the smallest private charity; from big multi-centre collaborative grants to small travel grants and consultancy.

On line resources

Researcher Development Unit

https://gateway.research.unimelb.edu.au/researcherdevelopment#programs
Explore a wide range of programs led by the Researcher Development Program (RDU) available across all career stages, from Graduate Research through to Early-to-Mid Career through to Senior Research.

RIC Inventor Guide

https://gateway.research.unimelb.edu.au/innovation-outputs-and-impact/innovation-and-enterprise/knowledge-and-technology-transfer/assets/SG_UoM_InventorsGuide_v10.pdf
The RIC Innovators guide is a Guide to assist Innovators navigate the journey from research to product. University of Melbourne login required

Program

IAP

https://innovationaccelerationprogram.com.au
The Innovation Acceleration Program (IAP) is a 4 month program designed to link compelling problems and unmet needs from the healthcare sector with world-class research and commercialisation expertise at the University of Melbourne.

InnovatEd Bootcamp

https://www.unimelb.edu.au/mec/melbourne-innovated
The InnovatEd Bootcamp is delivered for free for Melbourne University staff, students and recently graduated Alumni. It’s a chance to roll up your sleeves and learn fundamental entrepreneurial skills and frameworks. In 2.5 intensive days, you can grow a project right from identifying problems or pain points at the University to developing, testing, and shaping your ideas into commercially viable solutions.

Innovation Practice Program - For Industry

https://ipp.eng.unimelb.edu.au/for-industry
Through the Innovation Practice Program, organisations partner with Masters students from Engineering, Biomedicine, Architecture, Business and IT. You'll select a mentor from your organisation to work with a dedicated student team. Under their leadership, the team will develop innovative solutions to a real-life challenge facing your organisation.

MDHS Impact Integrators

https://gateway.research.unimelb.edu.au/innovation-outputs-and-impact/research-impact-and-engagement/impact-integrators
This freely available Impact Integrators course contains online learning materials and a series of self-paced short films that will guide you through the necessary steps toward an impactful research career. Whether it's stakeholder mapping, or including impact in a grant proposal, there is no better time to consider research impact than at the very start! The Impact Integrators course has been developed by UK impact specialist Saskia Walcott and will be recruiting a new cohort of participants to begin the course in early May 2024. Please note that the number of workshop participants is currently restricted to a maximum cohort capacity of only 30 people. What's in the course? The Impact Integrators training consists of TWO self-paced online courses that will increase your understanding of the potential impact of research and introduce you to how you can think about and approach research planning to create the foundations for future impact: Course one: Integrating Impact into Your Everyday – learn to create a research plan with impact as a central theme, not a bolt-on addition. Course two: Integrating Impact into Your Funding Proposal – learn to write a funding proposal where you embed impact from the start. UoM log on is required to access page.

NorVicFoods Industry applications

https://fvas.unimelb.edu.au/norvicfoods#apply-for-support
The University of Melbourne welcomes applications from eligible organisations and will utilise an Expert Panel to help assess the best projects for support. Projects will be assessed against the eligibility criteria, and the project’s likelihood of returning significant benefits to the Hume region of Victoria, the degree of innovation involved in the project, alignment with the teaching and learning objectives of the NVFv, alignment with the University of Melbourne’s accelerated innovation objectives, and opportunities offered by the project to engage with the culturally and linguistically diverse community of the Hume. Collaborating with NorVicFoods through a project will give your company or organisation access to a broad range of the expertise and capabilities in the University of Melbourne, and specifically in disciplines that are relevant to the agri-food industry

RIC Internship Program

https://students.unimelb.edu.au/careers/find-a-job/working-on-campus
The Research Innovation & Commercialisation (RIC) Knowledge & Technology Transfer (K&TT) internship program provides graduate research students with the opportunity to support the technology transfer activities of the K&TT team within RIC over 6 months.

Formal courses

BioDesign Innovation

https://biodesignmelbourne.com
Biodesign Innovation is a postgraduate unit at the University of Melbourne. Over a nine-month period, teams of students from the Masters of Business Administration program and Masters of Engineering program collaborate with hospital clinicians to design medical devices to meet important clinical needs, along with relevant market considerations and business models.

Building Entrepreneurial Ventures

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2022/subjects/busa90529
The purpose of this subject is to study and practice topics on developing an entrepreneurial venture from an idea through to its first ‘minimum viable product’ in the market, and first customer.

Engineering Entrepreneurship

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2022/subjects/engr90026
This subject is designed to introduce all participants to their potential as entrepreneurs. By developing their own enterprise proposal within small groups, students will learn and demonstrate various processes by which successful new ventures move from idea to launch.

Entrepreneurial Organisation

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2022/subjects/mgmt90227
This subject focuses on the design, structure, and processes for creating and managing an entrepreneurial enterprise both operationally and strategically.

Entrepreneurial Practice

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2022/subjects/mgmt90201
This subject introduces entrepreneurship as a key driver of success in all organisations, ranging from start-ups to large, mature organisations and in both public and private settings.

Entrepreneurship & Innovation

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2022/components/btrack-23
This is a breadth track that develops knowledge and skills to assist you in starting your new business venture.

Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2022/subjects/mktg20007
This subject introduces theories intertwined with practice on how internal and external or “new” entrepreneurship and innovation can provide value to customers, firms, and other stakeholders.

Entrepreneurship for Sustainability

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2022/subjects/mult30024
This subject is for anyone interested in learning, through experience, about entrepreneurial approaches to addressing real challenges to create impact and value – not just learners with entrepreneurial ambitions.

Entrepreneurship Principles and Tools

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2022/subjects/unib10022
This subject presents some of the key frameworks and tools needed by entrepreneurs and is for anyone who has an interest in understanding entrepreneurship, not just potential founders.

Foundations of Entrepreneurship Practice

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2022/subjects/mgmt90222
This subject helps students to focus on topics of entrepreneurship and innovation. The subject focuses on the creation, assessment, and growth development of new and emerging ventures, whilst paying particular attention to how the organizational requirement change during the launch of an innovation.

Graduate Certificate in Biotechnology (Enterprise)

https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/graduate/graduate-certificate-in-biotechnology-enterprise/
The University of Melbourne’s Graduate Certificate in Biotechnology (Enterprise) will help you leverage your existing knowledge to sharpen your business skills, and examine the intersection of the commercial and technical realities of your sector.

Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship

https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/graduate/graduate-certificate-in-entrepreneurship/
The Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship can equip you with the knowledge and practical skills to be an agent of change in either a new venture or an established organisation.

Indigenous Business Ecosystems

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2022/subjects/mgmt90287/
This subject aims to introduce students to the key issues, concerns, and theories of Indigenous hybrid venture creation in the context of entrepreneurial ecosystems that are unique to a region’s particular socioeconomic needs and priorities for social, cultural, spiritual, and environmental value creation.

Innovation & Entrepreneurship in IT

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2022/subjects/isys90039
This subject asks the question ‘what makes a successful entrepreneur?’ The subject will look at topics such as how innovation works and how it can be managed, different modes of entrepreneurialism, how entrepreneurs think and how to create, build and sustain an entrepreneurial business.

Innovation and Enterprise Project

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2022/subjects/mgmt90175
This research-focussed subject will draw together, and enable students to apply, the knowledge and skills they have acquired in the Master of Enterprise program.

Managing Entrepreneurship and Innovation

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2022/subjects/mgmt30006
The subject examines foundations of entrepreneurship and innovation, the entrepreneurial journey and fundamental strategies, developing entrepreneurial ventures and innovation and entrepreneurial practices in organisations.

Master of Entrepreneurship

https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/graduate/master-of-entrepreneurship/the-experience/
The Master of Entrepreneurship program combines a highly practical, ‘learning by doing’ approach to subjects alongside a huge number of seminars by entrepreneurs, investors and industry mentors delivered by the Wade Institute throughout the year. The University of Melbourne is the registered provider of the Master of Entrepreneurship CRICOS provider code: 00116K

Masters of Biomedical Science - Biomedical Enterprise

https://biomedicalsciences.unimelb.edu.au/study/current-student-information/master-of-biomedical-science/specialisations/enterprise
The Masters of Biomedical Science - Biomedical Enterprise, focuses on entrepreneurship and commercialisation within biomedical research. This specialisation will position you to capitalise on the potential health and economic benefits of your discoveries.

Intrapreneurship Fundamentals UoM MicroCert

https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/microcredentials/intrapreneurship-fundamentals/
This course is ideal for professionals who aspire to improve their practice in innovation and intrapreneurship. It is co-designed with Telstra.

Social Entrepreneurship

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2022/subjects/mgmt90165
This subject seeks to equip students with a critical understanding of the social enterprise form and support them in developing a startup social enterprise with the purpose of solving a social and/or environmental problem.

Specialist Certificate in Biotechnology (Enterprise)

https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/graduate/specialist-certificate-in-biotechnology-enterprise/
The University of Melbourne’s Specialist Certificate in Biotechnology (Enterprise) will help you leverage your existing knowledge to sharpen your business skills and examine the intersection of the commercial and technical realities of your sector.

Develop

Act on your innovation ambitions and connect with customers

Activities

FEIT Endeavour Competition

https://endeavour.unimelb.edu.au
The Endeavour Competition is a showcase of innovative engineering projects that address real-world industry and community problems, improve processes and have significant commercial applications developed by students in collaboration with industry government, the community sector, and various Depts across UoM.

Future Founders Club (MBS)

https://my.mbs.edu/mbstai/club_signup
The Future Founders Club's purpose and mission is to help students launch both entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial startups. Membership required

Expert help

Facility

Bio21

https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au
Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute (Bio21 Institute), is a multidisciplinary research centre specialising in medical, agricultural and environmental biotechnology.

IBM Quantum Hub

https://www.unimelb.edu.au/quantumhub#ibm-quantum
IBM Quantum is advanced quantum cloud technology – several real quantum computer devices and simulators available for use through the cloud – enabling Fortune 500 companies, startups, national research labs and academic institutions to run experiments and explore use cases.

Illumina: The Advanced Genomics Collaboration

https://www.tagcaustralia.com/
Illumina and the University of Melbourne have partnered to accelerate the translation and commercialisation of biomedical research within the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct, lifting local genomics research and clinical trial capabilities, and fostering a pipeline of commercially focused genomics innovation projects.

Telstra Creator Space

https://eng.unimelb.edu.au/telstra-creator-space
Telstra Creator Space is an accessible fabrication lab located at the University of Melbourne’s innovation precinct, Melbourne Connect.

Funding

CSL Research Acceleration Initiative

https://www.csl.com/research-and-development/awards-grants-and-initiatives/csl-rai
The CSL Research Acceleration initiative fast-tracks discovery of innovative biotherapies through partnerships between CSL and Australasian research organisations. Successful applicants will receive up to AUD $250k p.a. for up to 2 years (max AUD $500k funding). Interested researchers are invited to email Paul Barrett at paul.barrett@unimelb.edu.au for information session webinar links and online application instructions.

MDHS Dean's Innovation Grants

https://staff.unimelb.edu.au/mdhs/research-support-and-evaluation/research-development-and-initiatives/internal-grant-and-fellowship-schemes/deans-innovation-grants
The Dean’s Innovation Grants scheme supports biomedical translational research with the potential to achieve significant societal and economic benefit. University of Melbourne login required

MGSE Innovation Funding Scheme

https://cloudstor.aarnet.edu.au/plus/s/xcYyU1AKnA16yeU
Building on MGSE’s existing initiatives that aim to seed discovery and broaden collaboration, we are excited to announce MGSE’s new Innovation Funding Scheme (for projects up to $150k). This scheme aims to provide an incubation pathway for innovative research outputs (including novel products, services, and innovations in courseware), particularly those that generate University-owned intellectual property with scalable potential to support further research translation, or secure other University or external funding (such as Proof of Concept or Genesis Funding Schemes).

Michael Hirshorn Medical Research Commercialisation Fund

https://staff.unimelb.edu.au/mdhs/research-support-and-evaluation/research-development-and-initiatives/faculty-trust-fellowships/michael-hirshorn-commercialisation-trust
This award supports initiatives that are focused on the commercialisation of biomedical research that is conducted through the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne. This includes work in partnership with other Faculties or Divisions within the University or with external research partners. Approximately $65,000 is available for allocation in the 2022 submission round. It is anticipated that the maximum funding awarded to any one proposal will not exceed $32,500. Projects will be funded for up to 12 months. University of Melbourne login required

Proof of Concept Fund

https://gateway.research.unimelb.edu.au/resources/ip-and-commercialisation/knowledge-and-technology-transfer/start-ups/proof-of-concept-fund
The RIC POC scheme is an 'enabling' fund to facilitate research translation and an outcome with an external party with no expectation of a direct investment return. University of Melbourne login required

On line resources

RIC Inventor Guide

https://gateway.research.unimelb.edu.au/innovation-outputs-and-impact/innovation-and-enterprise/knowledge-and-technology-transfer/assets/SG_UoM_InventorsGuide_v10.pdf
The RIC Innovators guide is a Guide to assist Innovators navigate the journey from research to product. University of Melbourne login required

RIC Startup Guide

https://gateway.research.unimelb.edu.au/innovation-outputs-and-impact/innovation-and-enterprise/knowledge-and-technology-transfer/assets/UoM-Startup-Guide-2020-Revision-003.pdf
The RIC startup guide serves as a guide to assist researchers with setting up their start-up. University of Melbourne login required

Program

Clinical Entrepreneur Program

https://www.auscep.com.au/
The Clinical Entrepreneur Program (CEP) is targeted at clinicians in NSW, VIC, and WA who have an innovative idea, product or service that has the potential to create positive change in the Australian healthcare system. Based on the highly successful UK NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme, the Australian CEP aims to accelerate innovation while developing the entrepreneurial and innovation mindset of Australia's clinicians and healthcare professionals.

E=mc2

https://staff.unimelb.edu.au/science/research/research-development,-internal-and-philanthropic-portfolio/faculty-of-science-grants/emc2
The Faculty of Science Research Framework 2020-2025 is centred around fostering excellence in research that has deep relevance and impact within the academy and beyond. The E=mc2 initiative is designed to be light touch and the start of a conversation, rather than a cumbersome application process. To best address the needs of applicants and maximise impact from their project, the Faculty will offer a range of support options from expert advice (via RIC Business Development) to targeted funding. University of Melbourne login required

InnovatEd - Incubation Funding Program

https://www.unimelb.edu.au/mec/melbourne-innovated
InnovatEd takes into account projects needs are different depending where in the innovation process they are. InnovatEd tailors support for projects over a 12 month incubation period.

NorVicFoods Industry applications

https://fvas.unimelb.edu.au/norvicfoods#apply-for-support
The University of Melbourne welcomes applications from eligible organisations and will utilise an Expert Panel to help assess the best projects for support. Projects will be assessed against the eligibility criteria, and the project’s likelihood of returning significant benefits to the Hume region of Victoria, the degree of innovation involved in the project, alignment with the teaching and learning objectives of the NVFv, alignment with the University of Melbourne’s accelerated innovation objectives, and opportunities offered by the project to engage with the culturally and linguistically diverse community of the Hume. Collaborating with NorVicFoods through a project will give your company or organisation access to a broad range of the expertise and capabilities in the University of Melbourne, and specifically in disciplines that are relevant to the agri-food industry

NorVicFoods Internships and PhD Opportunities

https://fvas.unimelb.edu.au/norvicfoods#for-students
NorVicFoods offers a range of unpaid internships for Masters students currently enrolled through the University of Melbourne. The internships are offered through a number of agri-food businesses located within the Hume region. Costs involved with the internships are fully covered (transport, accommodation and reasonable meal expenses). NorVicFoods is offering either full stipends or scholarship top-ups for PhD students with projects that are designed around agriculture and food innovation that can be applied in the Hume region of Victoria, Australia.

Olab

https://ipp.eng.unimelb.edu.au/for-industry/o-lab
Olab is a coordinated program of applied research whereby students develop digital-focused solutions for SMEs amd industry (e.g. prototyping, testing and validating hypotheses of innovation concepts) over 3-6 months.

SPARK

https://mdhs.unimelb.edu.au/about/innovation-and-enterprise/for-staff-and-students/resources/programs2/programs/spark-melbourne
SPARK provides education, mentoring and funding for translational research projects in Therapeutics, MedTech and Diagnostics over 2 years to advance academic discoveries from bench to bedside.

Validate

Test the commercial and technical aspects of your innovation

Activities

Expert help

Facility

Bio21

https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au
Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute (Bio21 Institute), is a multidisciplinary research centre specialising in medical, agricultural and environmental biotechnology.

Dookie Campus farm estate

https://fvas.unimelb.edu.au/dookie#farm
Broadacre farm Dookie’s broadacre farm is home to crops including 220 hectares of canola and 430 hectares of wheat, and 5000 merinos pastured on 1200 hectares of clover, lucerne and phalaris. The broadacre farm is a valuable resource for food security and climate change adaptation research and teaching. Dairy farm Our ultra-modern dairy comprises robotic milking machines, milking shed and feeding systems with capacity for 180 cows. The new shed has been draped with solar panels to produce 30 kilowatts of electricity, which is about half the three-stall robot's needs. Orchard Established in the late 1970s, the Dookie orchard is home to three hectares of Pink Lady apples. Located on the southern slopes of Mount Major, the orchard is a valuable resource for food security and climate change adaptation research and teaching.

IBM Quantum Hub

https://www.unimelb.edu.au/quantumhub#ibm-quantum
IBM Quantum is advanced quantum cloud technology – several real quantum computer devices and simulators available for use through the cloud – enabling Fortune 500 companies, startups, national research labs and academic institutions to run experiments and explore use cases.

Illumina: The Advanced Genomics Collaboration

https://www.tagcaustralia.com/
Illumina and the University of Melbourne have partnered to accelerate the translation and commercialisation of biomedical research within the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct, lifting local genomics research and clinical trial capabilities, and fostering a pipeline of commercially focused genomics innovation projects.

Neobionica

https://www.neo-bionica.com
NeoBionica is Australia's first medical device development facility, to fast-track treatments for people with epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, hearing loss, stroke and diabetes. A new, purpose-built facility bringing together the leading minds from the Bionics Institute and the University of Melbourne, to increase the speed from concept to clinical application.

Telstra Creator Space

https://eng.unimelb.edu.au/telstra-creator-space
Telstra Creator Space is an accessible fabrication lab located at the University of Melbourne’s innovation precinct, Melbourne Connect.

WEHI Drug Discovery Centre

https://nddc.wehi.edu.au
The National Drug Discovery Centre enables Australian medical researchers to access the latest in advanced ultra-high throughput screening, addressing a critical early challenge in the drug discovery pipeline.

Funding

BioCurate Proof of Concept Fund

https://www.biocurate.com/resources/biocurates-proof-of-concept-fund-faq/
The BioCurate PoC fund supports projects that require additional experimental validation following initial project review by BioCurate, where the identified scientific gaps are a barrier to project progression at BioCurate

CSL Research Acceleration Initiative

https://www.csl.com/research-and-development/awards-grants-and-initiatives/csl-rai
The CSL Research Acceleration initiative fast-tracks discovery of innovative biotherapies through partnerships between CSL and Australasian research organisations. Successful applicants will receive up to AUD $250k p.a. for up to 2 years (max AUD $500k funding). Interested researchers are invited to email Paul Barrett at paul.barrett@unimelb.edu.au for information session webinar links and online application instructions.

NIBR Global Scholars Program

https://www.novartis.com/careers/nibr-global-scholars-program
The NIBR Global Scholars Program (NGSP) is a competitive program designed for innovators from invited institutions to gain funding for breakthrough science not covered by traditional grant support. Through this program, NIBR supports projects focused on novel science with the objective of being translated to drug discovery and/or clinical research.

Pfizer Centres for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI)

https://www.pfizercti.com/
CTI supports the translation of promising science into clinical candidates and facilitates authentic collaboration between Pfizer scientists and academic investigators around the world, supported by Pfizer’s industry-leading drug development expertise and capabilities.

On line resources

RIC Startup Guide

https://gateway.research.unimelb.edu.au/innovation-outputs-and-impact/innovation-and-enterprise/knowledge-and-technology-transfer/assets/UoM-Startup-Guide-2020-Revision-003.pdf
The RIC startup guide serves as a guide to assist researchers with setting up their start-up. University of Melbourne login required

Program

NorVicFoods Internships and PhD Opportunities

https://fvas.unimelb.edu.au/norvicfoods#for-students
NorVicFoods offers a range of unpaid internships for Masters students currently enrolled through the University of Melbourne. The internships are offered through a number of agri-food businesses located within the Hume region. Costs involved with the internships are fully covered (transport, accommodation and reasonable meal expenses). NorVicFoods is offering either full stipends or scholarship top-ups for PhD students with projects that are designed around agriculture and food innovation that can be applied in the Hume region of Victoria, Australia.

Grow

Leverage the value of your innovation to scale and sustain impact

Activities

Expert help

Facility

Neobionica

https://www.neo-bionica.com
NeoBionica is Australia's first medical device development facility, to fast-track treatments for people with epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, hearing loss, stroke and diabetes. A new, purpose-built facility bringing together the leading minds from the Bionics Institute and the University of Melbourne, to increase the speed from concept to clinical application.

Funding

BioCurate Proof of Concept Fund

https://www.biocurate.com/resources/biocurates-proof-of-concept-fund-faq/
The BioCurate PoC fund supports projects that require additional experimental validation following initial project review by BioCurate, where the identified scientific gaps are a barrier to project progression at BioCurate

IP Group

https://www.ipgroupanz.com
IP Group is a leading intellectual property commercialisation company which focuses on evolving great ideas, mainly from its partner universities.

Tin Alley Ventures

https://research.unimelb.edu.au/research-at-melbourne/tin-alley-ventures
Tin Alley Ventures supports high-potential startups to achieve impact through access to investment, expertise and networks to help them reach their full potential and create impact at scale.

Uniseed

https://uniseed.com
Uniseed is Australia’s longest-running venture fund, operating at the Universities of Melbourne, Queensland, Sydney & New South Wales, and the CSIRO, with investment capital provided by these research organisations and investment partners.

Program