Australia is globally recognised for its world-class research, but when it comes to turning those big ideas into real-world impact, there’s still work to do.
At CSIRO’s ON Program, we’ve supported more than 8,000 researchers on their journey to research translation – that critical middle ground where science moves from the lab bench into boardrooms, policy rooms, hospitals, paddocks and beyond. It’s where knowledge becomes action and innovation starts to change lives.
The good news is that momentum is building. More researchers are embracing new ways of thinking, and more industry, investors and government players are coming to the table.
But to truly unlock Australia’s innovation potential, we need to break down long-standing barriers and build a more connected, transparent and inclusive innovation ecosystem – together.
From mindset shift to systemic change
One of the biggest ways we help that move the needle is helping researchers make a mindset shift. Many researchers are driven by curiosity and the desire to create impact, not necessarily by starting a business. But when they first engage with concepts like ‘commercialisation’ or ‘translation’, it can feel overwhelming or even irrelevant to their work.
Yet, as researchers start to see their work through a new lens, imagining how their ideas could benefit people beyond the lab; they begin to realise the potential for broader impact and new pathways for their discoveries.
That’s where the ON Program comes in. We help research teams identify the problem they’re solving – starting with asking whether there is a problem – not just focusing on the solution they’ve developed. We teach them how to talk to potential users, customers, partners and communities, and to test whether their work meets a real need. It’s not about turning every researcher into a chief executive, it’s about helping them connect their science to outcomes that matter.
We’re starting to see momentum shift when a researcher realises their decade of lab work solves a real, pressing problem – and they have the tools to do something with it – it changes how they approach research forever.
That mindset shift needs to be matched by changes in our system. Right now, Australia’s research translation landscape is fragmented and hard to navigate. There are brilliant programs and funding sources such as the National Reconstruction Fund, Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) and various state-level initiatives, but researchers often don’t know what’s available, or when to access it.
We need clearer, more consistent pathways and handover points between programs. We need systems that reduce risk and support researchers to explore ideas without risking their academic careers. Overseas, sabbaticals to pursue commercial or policy-driven outcomes are common around the world – here, they’re the exception.
Building impactful companies, policy tools or social ventures from research takes time. The ON Program has been running for 10 years and we’re only just beginning to see the true ripple effects of that work. Long-term investment is how we move from pilot projects to national priorities.
Broadening the definition of innovation
Research translation isn’t just about startups. Yes, we’ve supported dozens of companies that are now attracting investment, scaling and solving real-world challenges – in quantum computing, renewable energy, AI and more.
A standout example is Dragonfly Thinking, a team that completed the ON Program in 2024. Their work using AI to tackle complex global problems won them the inaugural National AI Sprint Awards and $300,000 in R&D support.
The team’s success underscores how purpose-led innovation, when supported with the right tools, networks and visibility, can thrive in Australia’s research landscape. It also highlights the importance of combining domain expertise with strategic mentoring and systems-level support.
But translation can also look like a policy advisory tool, a social enterprise, or a research-informed service offering. For example, one of our standout teams came from the humanities and used AI to influence policy around gender equity. It wasn’t a physical product, but the impact was tangible and the outcomes were national in scope.
We need to broaden our definition of innovation and ensure our funding models, programs and language reflect that diversity.
Australia’s innovation ecosystem should be a web, not a race. At ON, we work closely with other programs to help research teams find their next step – whether it’s the Industry Growth Program, university accelerators or domain-specific initiatives.
We also connect researchers with mentors from across sectors: legal, policy, investment, technical and more. These experts give their time generously, and in turn, help researchers avoid pitfalls and build resilience.
If we want to drive a culture of innovation, we need to remove silos, share information openly and collaborate across sectors and disciplines.
Building an inclusive innovation ecosystem
We can’t talk about impact if we’re not bringing all voices into the room. We’re doing dedicated work to improve representation of women, Indigenous researchers, regional innovators, and those from underrepresented disciplines like the social sciences and humanities.
Often, these groups are overlooked in commercialisation programs – but they’re doing research with enormous social, cultural and economic impact. And they deserve the same support, networks and opportunities to translate their work. They deserve the same support, networks and opportunities to translate their work as entrepreneurs building ventures in SaaS, machine learning and fintech.
The ON Program is taking a proactive role in this space, informed in part by research such as the ARC’s Gender and the Research Workforce report, which identifies persistent barriers to access and advancement across Australia’s research sector. At ON, we’re acting on this data with a firm commitment to inclusion, ensuring gender equity isn’t just aspirational but actionable, through more accessible program design and active engagement strategies.
We’re also trying to shift internalised barriers. Many people won’t apply for a program unless they meet every single criterion. That’s particularly true for women. So, we’re building outreach strategies, education pathways and inclusive programming that lowers those barriers and gives everyone the confidence to engage.
At ON Core 2025, Australian National University’s Elise Stephenson delivered a powerful address underscoring the need for systemic reform in research translation. She highlighted how critical it is to move beyond tokenistic engagement and towards a culture that actively dismantles structural inequities. Her call to action to embrace diversity of thought, purpose and lived experience strongly resonates with our program’s mission and drives the evolution of our work.
We’re at a turning point. The past few years have shown what’s possible when researchers are empowered, supported, and connected to the right people and resources. But this work is long term – and it’s fragile.
If we want to build a resilient innovation economy, we need to stay the course. That means continued funding, more joined-up systems, early-stage support, and a shared commitment to culture change.
Australia’s researchers are ready to lead. Let’s give them the ecosystem they need to make an impact – for our economy, our communities, and our future.
Tennille Eyre is the program director for CSIRO’s ON Innovation Program
This article was produced by InnovationAus.com in partnership with CSIRO ON Innovation Program as part of its sponsorship for the InnovationAus Awards for Excellence 2025.
Do you know more? Contact James Riley via Email.