| Monash home | About Monash | Faculties | Campuses | Contact Monash |
| Staff directory | A-Z index | Site map |
| Monash home | About Monash | Faculties | Campuses | Contact Monash |
| Staff directory | A-Z index | Site map |
|
|
Catalyst capitalists3 September 2008
A new Monash postgraduate course is giving science students the skills they need to convert science discoveries into business success stories, helping to ensure Australian ideas aren't lost overseas. When it comes to research, Australian scientists are punching above their weight. While representing just 0.3 per cent of the world's population, Australia produces 2 per cent of total research. Professor Nick Birrell, who is speaking tomorrow at the Clayton campus as part of Research Month, said while there were some outstanding research success stories, the same cannot always be said of Australia's ability to translate those results from laboratory to board room. "The nation's researchers regularly lead thinking on drug development, engineering innovation and technological evolution, but we do not have the infrastructure to develop them," Professor Birrell said. The solution is a unique course at Monash, a Masters in commercialisation of science and technology, developed in conjunction with the Graduate School of Business. "Researching a great idea is one thing, but ensuring it becomes a commercial reality is another altogether. This course fills the gap, ensuring Australia can capitalise on our intellectual strengths and commercialise research discoveries," Professor Birrell said. The course gives science graduates the skills they need to commercialise leading-edge medical, scientific and technology research projects. Subjects include law, patents and marketing, but unlike other courses, aspiring entrepreneurs also get hands-on experience, being assigned to work alongside some of the University's elite teams of researchers to develop real commercialisation plans for emerging research. In 2007, the course attracted a dozen post graduate students. In 2008, numbers have grown to 29, with half the students travelling from countries including Malaysia, India and the US. The course is getting some early results for students and businesses with several graduates already earning jobs with PricewaterhouseCoopers and corporate partner nabCapital. Professor Birrell will discuss how to make money from research at the Clayton campus tomorrow, Thursday 4 September, at the Rotunda Theatre in Building 8 from 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm. For more information about the event visit the Research Matters website. |
