Australia’s research commercialisation revolution

Research and industry links the target of billions in new funding, but measures of success are still unclear

After nearly two years of disruption to research, squeezed incomes and general gloom about the way science and academia are valued, Australia’s universities were given a rare reason to hope.

In February, Australian prime minister Scott Morrison announced a A$2.2 billion package of investment designed to improve the country’s research commercialisation and put university innovation at the centre of its recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.