Australia’s manufacturing and deep technology capabilities were highlighted at a national innovation showcase hosted by CSIRO, with researchers, investors, industry representatives and government officials gathering to explore how scientific discoveries can be translated into commercial outcomes.
Held on 11 June, ON Translate 2026 culminated in a showcase of the 10th cohort of CSIRO’s ON Accelerate program, featuring 46 researchers from nine Australian universities and research institutions developing ventures across areas including advanced manufacturing, health technologies, clean energy and environmental solutions.
According to CSIRO, the event aimed to strengthen pathways from research to real-world impact by fostering collaboration between Australia’s research, investment and industry communities.
The ON Accelerate 10 cohort has collectively secured more than $25.8 million in grant funding and capital investment, alongside venture agreements, commercial partnerships and placements in national and international accelerator programs.
CSIRO ON Innovation Program Director Tennille Eyre said Australia had a strong foundation in scientific discovery but faced the ongoing challenge of translating that research into broader economic and community outcomes.
“Australia is strong at discovery. The challenge and opportunity is turning that strength into outcomes that deliver real impact for the economy and communities,” Eyre said.
“Over the past decade, CSIRO’s ON Program has focused on building the capability, confidence and connections researchers need to translate ideas beyond the lab and into adoption.”
The cohort represents ventures working in priority areas including the transition to net zero, community health and wellbeing, environmental restoration and national resilience, with several projects focused on advancing manufacturing capability.
Among them is Geney Bio from the University of New South Wales, which is developing a cell and gene therapy manufacturing platform designed to reduce the cost, complexity and variability associated with producing advanced therapies. During the program, the team secured pilot trials, progressed its intellectual property commercialisation pathway and strengthened its governance arrangements.
CSIRO venture Verdant-ion is also targeting manufacturing opportunities through technology that converts seed oils into lower-cost synthetic graphite for battery applications. The team expanded engagement with international partners and investors while refining its commercial strategy.
Other ventures included Air2Energy from the University of Technology Sydney, which is developing technology to convert carbon dioxide emissions from gas boilers into electricity; DeepDerm from the University of Melbourne, creator of an AI-enabled skin cancer detection device; and Energy Diversions from the University of Newcastle, which is repurposing decommissioned mine voids into long-duration energy storage assets.
Member for Melbourne Sarah Witty MP said the showcase demonstrated the value of supporting researchers to move beyond the laboratory.
“ON Accelerate takes research further into new ventures, new industries and real-world impact,” Witty said.
The event also recognised Dr Benjamin Tonnot, founder of Energy Diversions, as the recipient of the 2026 Stanford Australia Foundation Hawkins Ueland CSIRO ON scholarship, which provides executive education opportunities through Stanford Graduate School of Business.
The latest cohort joins a growing network of ON Program alumni, which have collectively established 165 companies, secured more than $393 million in commercialisation grants and raised more than $521 million in investment capital.
Since beginning as a pilot initiative in 2015, the ON Program has expanded into a national platform designed to strengthen Australia’s innovation capability by helping researchers build commercialisation skills, create new ventures and support job creation.
