Since 2015, we've helped more than 500 Australian SMEs grow and gain a competitive advantage by accessing cutting edge research expertise and facilities through our programs.
An element of the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources' Entrepreneurs' Programme, Innovation Connections is a free one-on-one facilitated service to assist SMEs in establishing research priorities, locating researchers and providing access to funding to fast-track R&D projects.
We helped the world’s largest power electronics supplier design and develop a new electric vehicle charger that allows single-phase electricity and solar power to fast charge EVs.
To evaluate the energy efficiency of the Norris AP500 cold wash-cycle design, a collaboration with the University of Newcastle was facilitated by CSIRO’s Innovation Connections program.
We helped Richstone Group find the right research partners for its prefabricated plumbing systems, creating intellectual property and potential new markets.
CSIRO’s SME Connect team worked alongside HE Silos to validate the efficiency of their insect fumigation system and enhance the longevity of grain storage by facilitating a research project with Charles Sturt University.
To prevent overhead crush injuries on Elevated Work Platforms (EWP), Premier Rock Machinery (PRM) developed a safety sensor with the help of an Innovation Connections Graduate Placement grant.
Global wine ingredients business, AB Biotek, teamed up with the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) to develop and commercialise AWRI’s new yeast strain with the help of an AusIndustry Innovation Connections grant, facilitated by CSIRO SME Connect.
To better understand the nutritional benefits of wasabi, Shima Wasabi engaged a CSIRO Senior Research Scientist following a referral through CSIRO's SME Connect team.
CSIRO helped small business Yolngu Business Enterprises (YBE2) develop the capability to control destructive ant infestations for Rio Tinto Alcan.
With the support of a Federal Government Innovation Connections grant, facilitated by CSIRO SME Connect, Envirostream was able to work with researchers from Swinburne University to develop a process for extracting valuable materials from recovered batteries.
To train and educate consumers on Smartstream’s medical safety products, a recent graduate was engaged to develop a simulation app with the support of CSIRO’s SME Connect Team and the Innovation Connections Facilitation and Graduate Placement Grant.
We worked with Queensland company TAE to help them commercialise our Guardian Mentor Remote (GMR) wearable technology system and make it available to the global aerospace industry.
CSIRO Kick-Start is a new initiative for innovative Australian start-ups and small SMEs, providing funding support and access to CSIRO’s research expertise and capabilities to help grow and develop their business.
CannPal identified a gap in the market for natural plant-derived animal therapies that are both safe and effective for promoting better health and wellbeing for companion animals, focusing on compounds derived from cannabis.
Australian Plant Proteins (APP) optimised the protein content extracted from faba beans to more than 80% through a CSIRO Kick-Start project.
An SME Connect introduction between retail leasing specialists LeaseInfo and CSIRO’s Data61 has revolutionised commercial lease abstraction.
Helping Conflux Technology commercialise its novel liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger technology.
Aggravating or debilitating nerve pain affects one in twenty Australians. Medical devices start-up ReNerve is pioneering the way in developing ready-to-use products for the repair or replacement of damaged peripheral nerves.
The journey of agricultural products from producer to consumer is rapidly being redesigned with the introduction of innovative smart tracking software.
CSIRO researchers helped to optimise Q-Sera’s blood collection technology for commercial use.
STEM+ Business enables SMEs to build on existing successful collaborative projects by providing funding support for the placement of early career researchers from Australia’s research organisations into their business to develop and implement new ideas with commercial potential.
Aquaculture SME Australian Bay Lobster Producers Limited is developing a novel vision-system to support healthy lobster growth with SIEF STEM+ Business Fellow Dr Xun Yu at Griffith University.
Following the success of their CSIRO Kick-Start engagement, retail leasing specialists Leasing Information Systems (LIS) pursued a SIEF STEM+ Business project to deepen the capability of their Accurait® software leading to significant new business.
Mayne Pharma received support to gain US FDA approval for a drug capsule to be marketed in the USA, registration of a patent for a new formula, and multiple high impact research papers through a SIEF STEM+ Business project.
Tackling a critical need in the hard disk drive industry, Melbourne-based laser products specialist OptoTech fast-tracked the development of its surface defect detection system with STEM+ Business.
Securing a SIEF STEM+ Business grant enabled Workforce Health Assessors to develop a new pre-employment risk screening system “Quescreen”, filling a current gap in the employment services sector.
Queensland-based Aquarius Technologies teamed up with Griffith University through the STEM+ Business program and fast tracked R&D into their Ultima water monitoring technology.
This Sydney-based start-up worked with the STEM+ Business team to tee up a partnership with University of Newcastle's Dr Hui Song and develop some innovative solutions in waste and water management.
Melbourne biotech start-up MecRx is working with CSIRO researcher Dr Rohan Volpe to fast track drug discovery.
This Sydney-based pharmaceutical research company teamed up with cardiovascular inflammation and fibrosis specialist, Dr Ben Rayner from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sydney, through a STEM+ Business project looking to fast track drug discovery.
This Emerging biotechnology company has teamed up with University of South Australia through a STEM+ Business project looking to fast track drug discovery.