Following the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that kin8 and IPI formalised in October 2019, IPI Senior Director Dr Sze Tiam Lin was invited to offer insights on how to create real world impact through technology translation and commercialisation at the Australian management consultancy’s webinar on 11 November 2020.

Speaking to a virtual crowd comprising mainly innovators and researchers based in Australia, Dr Sze observed that there has been more emphasis on whether research outcome can be transformed to economic impact. He further encouraged more collaborations within the innovation ecosystem, especially during these uncertain times so that more opportunities can be created.

“As the African saying goes, ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, I believe that having a strong eco-system of local and international partners – including intermediaries – is crucial for successful commercialisation,” expressed Dr Sze.  

The other guest speakers at the webinar included Damien Thomas, Director at kin8; A/Prof Genevieve N Healy, NHMRC Career Development Fellow at the Cancer Prevention Research Centre in the School of Public Health, University of Queensland and Mal Hebblewhite, CEO at Atmo. For research and innovations to actualise, all guest speakers at the kin8 webinar echoed the need for stronger partnerships to assess the potential to bring a technology to market.