Key points
- For Australia to stay globally competitive, research translation must be embedded in our mindset, collaborations, and investments.
- ON has supported 7,800+ researchers, created 700+ deep-tech jobs, and helped alumni secure $750M+ in funding, driving Australia’s research-to-impact journey and creating impact at scale.
- Sustainable innovation requires a whole-of-system approach with collaboration as the key to success.
Innovation is never static. It evolves, adapts, and transforms in response to emerging challenges and opportunities.
For Australia to remain competitive on the global stage, we must foster a culture where research translation is not just encouraged but embedded in the way we think, collaborate, and invest in the future.
At ON Core 2025, this spirit of evolution was front and centre.
From research to real-world impact
For nearly a decade, CSIRO’s ON Innovation Program has been at the forefront of this shift in Australia, empowering researchers with the skills, networks, and pathways needed to create real-world impact.
Dr Jen Taylor, Executive Director, Future Industries officially opened the ON Core 2025 event. She took the time to reflect on her own ON Program experience in 2016:
“When we joined the ON Program in 2016, as part of an informatics team, we had no idea what to expect. What followed was four months of mind-bending hard work. Deconstructing, pivoting, and rebuilding a technology we had lovingly created.
"It was humbling, intense, and incredibly rewarding. ON didn’t just shape our project; it transformed the way we communicate and engage with the world,” Jen said.
When ON first launched in 2015, the focus was clear, Australia needed more research-based startups. But over time, we quickly learned that true success isn’t just about creating companies. It’s about embedding a mindset of impact from day one, ensuring researchers have the skills, networks, and pathways to translate their ideas into real-world outcomes.
This shift has led to remarkable results, and today, in 2025 - the Program has:
- Equipped 7,800+ researchers and innovators across 62 research organisations with commercialisation and translation skills.
- Supported the formation of new deep-tech companies, creating 700+ jobs in high-impact sectors.
- Enabled ON alumni to raise $415M+ in investment capital and secure $336M+ in commercialisation grants.
These achievements highlight not only the success of the program but also the increasing momentum of Australia’s research-to-impact journey. However, momentum alone is not enough.
A system-level approach to Innovation
Real and lasting success in research translation requires a whole-of-system approach, one that brings together researchers, industry, investors, and policymakers in a shared commitment to impact.
We are leading the way through a suite of program initiatives designed to support every stage of the innovation journey:
- By supporting Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) and strengthening the pipeline of investible, research-led innovations.
- By backing startups emerging from Australian research through Main Sequence Ventures (MSV), our deep-tech investment fund.
- By being a partner through the National Industry PhD Program and various Trailblazer Universities Program, we're accelerating university-industry collaboration to drive commercial outcomes.
These initiatives, through The Australian Government’s research translation and commercialisation agenda, are evolving how Australia supports research translation. The goal is to remain globally competitive and innovation ready.
As Australia faces a $32 billion R&D investment gap, we must rethink how we support research translation. Innovation isn’t one-size-fits-all, and neither should our approach be.
That’s why ON is evolving.
The Program has been working on several strategic initiatives to better serve researchers at every stage of their journey:
- ON Innovation Program pathways: mapping complementary programs to help teams find the best route to impact.
- ON Evolution: expanding our support beyond startup creation.
- Global Benchmarking: learning from the world’s best to refine our approach.
- Inclusive Innovation: a new collaboration with ANU to ensure diverse voices are represented in Australia’s innovation ecosystem.
The path forward: Collaboration at the core
As we look to the future, our success will depend on deep collaboration, shared ambition, and a willingness to challenge conventional thinking.
To achieve this, we must ask ourselves: Are we allowing enough time and flexibility for meaningful stakeholder engagement? Are we truly embedding co-design and co-leadership in our innovation models by collaborating meaningfully with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTQ+ communities, and founders with disabilities? Are we aligned on the challenges we need to solve, and are we speaking the same language across disciplines and sectors?
Innovation should not be the responsibility of a single researcher or organisation, it must be a collective effort, co-created and co-owned by all of us.
ON Core 2025 wasn’t just about learning, the focus was on collaboration.
Australia’s future depends on our ability to work together, break down silos, and support researchers in bringing their ideas to life. Whether through licensing, industry partnerships, or new funding mechanisms, we must continue evolving how we drive research translation.
And we are committed to evolving its approach to research translation, working alongside our partners to drive transformational change for Australia’s future. By working together, we can unlock new possibilities, create real-world impact, and secure Australia’s position as a global leader in research translation and innovation.
The future of our innovation ecosystem is evolving. Let’s shape it together.