en.Wedoany.com Reported - The 10th cohort of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) ON Accelerate Program completed its showcase at the ON Translate 2026 event on June 11. Comprising 46 researchers from nine Australian universities and research institutions, the team is developing entrepreneurial projects in areas such as advanced manufacturing, health technology, clean energy, and environmental solutions.
The event aims to strengthen the pathway from research to real-world impact by fostering collaboration between Australia's research community, investment sector, and industry. The 10th cohort has collectively secured over AUD 25.8 million in grants and capital investments, along with venture agreements, business partnerships, and selection into domestic and international accelerator programs.
Tennille Eyre, Director of CSIRO's ON Innovation Program, stated that Australia has a strong foundation in scientific discovery but continues to face challenges in translating research outcomes into broader economic and social benefits. Eyre noted that Australia excels in discovery, and the challenge and opportunity lie in converting this strength into outcomes that deliver real impact for the economy and communities. Over the past decade, CSIRO's ON Program has focused on building the capabilities, confidence, and networks researchers need to take ideas from the lab to application.
This cohort represents enterprises working in priority areas, including the transition to net-zero emissions, community health and well-being, environmental restoration, and national resilience, with several projects focused on enhancing manufacturing capabilities. Geney Bio from the University of New South Wales is developing a cell and gene therapy manufacturing platform aimed at reducing the costs, complexity, and variability associated with producing advanced therapies. During the program, the team secured pilot trials, advanced its intellectual property commercialization pathway, and strengthened its governance arrangements. CSIRO spin-out Verdant-ion is also targeting manufacturing opportunities, with technology that converts seed oils into lower-cost synthetic graphite for battery applications. The team expanded its engagement with international partners and investors while refining its business strategy.
Other enterprises include 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, which has created an AI-powered skin cancer detection device; and Energy Diversions from the University of Newcastle, which repurposes decommissioned mine sites into long-term energy storage facilities.
Sarah Witty MP, Member for Melbourne, stated that the showcase demonstrates the value of supporting researchers beyond the lab. The ON Accelerate Program advances research further into new enterprises, new industries, and real-world impact.
The event also recognized Dr. Benjamin Tonnot, founder of Energy Diversions, who received 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 has collectively established 165 companies, secured over AUD 393 million in commercialization funding, and raised more than AUD 521 million in investment capital. Since its launch as a pilot program in 2015, the ON Program has expanded into a national platform aimed at enhancing Australia's innovation capacity by helping researchers develop commercialization skills, create new enterprises, and support job creation.
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