Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has celebrated the achievements of its latest ON Accelerate cohort at a showcase event held in Melbourne, spotlighting the potential of deep tech to address major global and national challenges.
The showcase marked the culmination of the three-month ON Accelerate 9 program, which supports researchers in fast-tracking their breakthrough ideas into market-ready ventures, the agency said in a news release.
Eleven teams were selected earlier this year for their innovative approaches in fields such as drug development, healthcare delivery, and sustainability.
According to CSIRO, the program aims to remove longstanding barriers that hinder the commercialisation of deep tech, offering tailored support to help researchers validate their technologies and engage with investors, customers, and mentors.
Dr Jen Taylor, executive director of Future Industries at CSIRO, said this year’s cohort demonstrated strong potential in sectors critical to Australia’s future, particularly biotech and healthcare.
“We’re incredibly proud to support the next wave of Australian researchers endeavouring to solve society’s most critical challenges,” Dr Taylor said.
“Establishing connections with the broader innovation ecosystem, including mentors, investors and customers, is crucial for success, yet no easy feat, and continues to be a key barrier impacting Australian research translation. We’re committed to breaking down these barriers and unlocking pathways for success.”
The ON Accelerate 9 teams collectively secured more than $33.8 million in grant funding and capital investment during the program.
All participants reached technology validation milestones, including developing novel medical treatments and diagnostic tools, as well as sustainable industrial technologies.
One of the standout participants, Dr Brennan Mills of I-VADE from Edith Cowan University, received the 2025 Stanford Australia Foundation Hawkins Ueland & CSIRO ON scholarship.
The award grants access to the Executive Education Program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Roisin Ryan of the Stanford Australia Foundation said the scholarship would help Dr Mills deepen I-VADE’s commercialisation capabilities. “The award will help translate a breakthrough idea to an indispensable solution for those working in the healthcare industry,” Ryan said.
Ella Casale of Elemental Therapeutics, based at the University of Melbourne, received the CSIRO ON Impactful Leadership Award and $10,000 to support further professional development.
Throughout the program, teams participated in commercialisation training, investor and customer engagement, and received personalised coaching to help them bring their innovations to market.
The Accelerate 9 cohort included:
- 3DCeraFlex, which secured pilot studies across the aerospace, defence, and biomedical sectors for its ceramic 3D printing technology.
- Ability Optics, advancing two optical technologies with an international instrument manufacturer.
- Amorfoil, pivoting to meet demand for amorphous electrical steel foils used in EVs and transformers.
- Elemental Therapeutics, which received over $3 million in non-dilutive funding and presented at a global antibiotic resistance conference.
- Enhanced Analgesics, which filed a patent for a non-opioid chronic pain relief drug.
- Epiblox, partnering with a pharmaceutical company and seeking VC funding for an epilepsy treatment.
- Facet Amtech, developing clean ammonia production technology and participating in CSIRO’s Kick-Start and Investment NSW programs.
- I-VADE, which received innovation funding from WA’s Department of Health and joined Microsoft’s Founders Hub.
- ProSeek Bio, developing early ovarian cancer detection diagnostics.
- TopiCure, awarded federal grant funding to advance gel-based drug delivery.
- Viortec, working with stakeholders to finalise the commercialisation of its SmartClamp product.
The ON Program, launched in 2015, has so far helped create 83 new companies, secure $336 million in commercialisation grants, and raise $415 million in investment capital.
