Australian Universities Back Research Commercialisation as Sector Struggles With Post-COVID Blues
Industry groups representing Australian universities are backing the federal government’s move to explore how the sector can better commercialise research and technological developments.
The proposal comes as the tertiary sector grapples with a post-COVID economic environment, which has seen the sector shed 17,300 jobs and lose over $1.8 billion in revenue over the past year.
The government launched the University Research Commercialisation consultation paper in late February, seeking to gather ideas on how to best “maximise” the economic benefits of university research.
“We want our high-quality research to better translate into the breakthrough products, new businesses and ideas we need to grow our economy and improve our society,” Education Minister Alan Tudge said at the University of Melbourne.
A previous meeting of the Regional Universities Network (RUN). Photo Inga Williams / The Queensland Times
âOver the past nine years, RUN has been a great champion for the crucial work of our regional universities and has represented our interests well at the national level, but there is still much work to do.â
Prof Klomp said he would fight to ensure the interests of regional universities werenât forgotten.
âAs incoming chair, Iâm looking forward to continuing to ensure that our regional universities get a seat at the national decision-making table, and that government policy and legislation is enacted in the very best interests of the regions,â he said.