Creating economic impact by opening commercialisation pathways, building capability and industry collaboration
Start Something builds capability and capacity to create impact from the research by introducing lean business planning, product-market opportunity evaluation, industry connections and validation, and business pitching skills.
“Start Something is a crucial innovation initiative, directly engaging communities around key sectors that are critical to the future success of Western Australia. The platform creates collaboration which is essential to innovation success.” Peter Clarke, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science.
On all metrics, the initiative has proven extremely successful at taking researchers from the lab to create impact through new businesses, collaborations and job creation.
"The quality was truly impressive, and the business ideas have real potential for impact. To see such brilliant research translated into entrepreneurial ventures is exciting. I'm looking forward to seeing these companies grow and flourish." Kirsten Rose, Head of Innovation Partnerships, BHP.
Since 2015 we have helped >400 researchers in Western Australia and facilitated direct interaction with >40 industry experts across all high growth sectors.
Each year there are a series of Start Something Programs which in total provide 25 researcher-industry engagement sessions per annum in Western Australia. The workshop programs are supported by an Innovation Leadership Executive speaker series featuring industry leaders in emerging technologies and high potential export geographies.
START SOMETHING VIDEOS
START SOMETHING PROGRAMS
The Commercialisation Workshop Series is tailored for best outcomes in each research stream or areas and filled with industry speakers matched to research topics
"NERA’s role is to create and support an environment for the future, where boundaries become porous, where intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs thrive in high-growth innovative businesses. Start Something embodies the type of activity needed to support this culture, business and personal shift for the changing world of work, knowledge and economic opportunity."
- Mirander Taylor, CEO of NERA (National Energy and Resources Australia)
"This kind of training is critically important as it sees researchers move from having a focus on outputs to having a focus on outcomes, which unlocks their potential to have real impact."
- Dr Andrew Grime, ARC Industry Transformational Hub
The Leadership Series pulls together diverse audiences from corporate executives, government, Universities and entrepreneurs. In addition to cross-sector networking, they are introduced to innovation learnings from other geographies or companies leading transformational change.
“The Executive Innovation Series is an excellent way to learn more about the ever-changing world of innovation and the challenges innovation poses for all of us.”
— H.E Mr Lars Backström, Ambassador of Finland to Australialia
START SOMETHING WITH IMPACT
ALUMNI
ALUMNI GALLERY
PREVIOUS START SOMETHING TRAINERS,
SPEAKERS, MENTORS & JUDGES
START SOMETHING AWARDS
Acknowledging the importance of this initiative, prizes are awarded and acknowledged
Judging criteria includes readiness to proceed, viability, potential social impact or commercial demand and others. Prizes are support services and mentoring to move forward
2019
2017
2016
2015
START SOMETHING SUPPORTERS
SUPPORTERS OF START SOMETHING PROGRAMS OR PRIZES
“Murdoch is delighted to be working with incubation experts Innovation Cluster on this exciting initiative, for the program is an important component in broadening the commercialisation of the University’s world-class research.”
David Flanagan, Chancellor, Murdoch University
“The quality of the research presentations at the closing event were truly impressive, and the business ideas have real potential for impact. To see such brilliant research beginning to be translated into entrepreneurial ventures is exciting. I'm looking forward to seeing these companies grow and flourish in Western Australia.”
Kirsten Rose, Director of Clean Technology Innovation at BHP Billiton
“High knowledge and high value industry will be the driving force of WA’s future. Interaction between researchers and the outside world of mentors, investors, government and the wider network required for effective innovation does not work effectively within the confines of a university. For these reasons, the Start Something initiative and the Centre for Entrepreneurial Research and Innovationfacilitate the translation of research to real world effect.”
Charlie Bass, Philanthropist and Founder of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Research (CERI)
“NERA’s role is to create and support an environment for the future, where boundaries become porous, where intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs thrive in high-growth innovative businesses. Start Something embodies the type of activity needed to support this culture, business and personal shift for the changing world of work, knowledge and economic opportunity.”
Miranda Taylor, CEO National Resources Energy Australia
“Start Something shifts the dial for researchers and supports their efforts to engage with industry and new markets. The program increases the quality and flow of ideas to market and delivers real value to the communities we serve”
Mark Stickells, Director, Energy and Minerals Institute
“Start Something has really given me a great insight into how to go about starting a business from my research, especially how to validate the idea and the need. Knowing your solution, knowing your customers.”
Joanna Granich, Centre for Child Health, Telethon Kids Institute
“Start Something provides researcher staff and PhDs with their first introduction to the business modelling and technical knowledge skills necessary to focus their research and better engage with industry. We see it as a key feeder program for the CSIRO Accelerator.”
David Burt, Innovation Director, CSIRO
“The initiative supports UWA’s mission to drive social and economic development by getting research out from behind closed lab doors and into the broader community. We’re excited to be working with Innovation Cluster who deliver this program to engage the many entrepreneurs that we have across all disciplines in building skills to translate their research and create community impact.”
Professor Robyn Owens; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), University of Western Australia.
“The use of the mentors was excellent and an essential part of the ‘winning formula’ from my observation”
Robyn Hill, Director Research Management, The University of Auckland
“Working with commercialisation experts like Innovation Cluster and their networks adds immense value to the program and to each of the researchers.”
Dr Natasha Ayers, Director, iPREP WA & Agristart
“This kind of training is critically important as it sees researchers move from having a focus on outputs to having a focus on outcomes, which unlocks their potential to have real impact”
Dr Andrew Grime; Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems
“The Start Something workshops have added skills such as business modelling, financing, collaborating and pitching to the great ideas to enable the researchers to start commercialising. I can foresee many of these ideas in the market place in a short time.”
Brian Haggerty, SVP Innovation, Woodside Energy
“Start Something gave me time, creative space, skills and inspiration! It was a great introduction to the innovation space and helped my team to rethink how we approach commercialising our research."