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Hi $firstname$, 

We've got a few team changes to share this month. Our wonderful Ecosystem Manager, Josh Pitt, is heading off to an exciting new role as Lecturer (Practice) and Deputy Director, Creative Destruction Lab at Monash University (go Josh!). We're incredibly grateful for everything he's contributed to the ON team and will be cheering him on. The good news is he's still close by and remains a part of the ecosystem. Stepping into the Ecosystem Manager role in the interim is the brilliant Annie Le Cavalier - if you'd like to connect, reach out via LinkedIn.

On a personal note, I'll be taking some time off to take on a new challenge as I become a mother of two aged 2 and under! I want to thank all of you for being part of this incredible community and look forward to re-connecting when I'm back on board in 2026.

While I'm on leave, our amazing ON Program Director, Tennille Eyre, will be bringing you the next newsletter update, and the ON team will continue to keep things moving and supporting you and your big ideas.

What's coming up:

ON Accelerate 9 showcase is just around the corner! Get ready to be wowed by Australia's next wave of research-powered innovation. More details and a link to register below.

Longitudinal Survey will be hitting your inboxes in May. This helps us to gauge our impact and improve what we do, so your input really matters.

ON Prime 17 cohort are launching this week with their immersion sessions kicking off across 6 hubs nationally – keep an eye out for a mid-year showcase event near you.

And as always, please keep the updates, wins and asks coming! We love hearing from you - and if there's a connection or support you need from the ON community, we're just a message away.

ONwards, 
Poppy and the ON Team 

Beyond startups:

Read about the real impact of research translation

Research impact isn't just about papers or startups. It can also take shape through licensing, consulting, policy and other channels. Programs like ON support researchers in exploring these varied pathways - recognising that ideas can create impact in many forms, not just through venture creation. We wrote an article about it last year, check it out here.

For those interested in how their research might contribute beyond the lab, ON Prime is the first step to explore and test possibilities. The next round is coming later this year, sign up to be the first to hear about it.

ON Accelerate 9 Update

New ON Accelerate 9 Cohort Announced

They’ve been on a roll ever since! Read about ON Accelerate cohort 9.

Now halfway through the program, these 11 incredible teams are already turning bold ideas into real-world impact. Their journey kicked off late last year with a high-intensity Bootcamp, where they tested their ideas, market potential and resilience.

After connecting with mentors, investors and coaches, they earned their place in ON Accelerate - a three-month sprint designed to fast-track research breakthroughs towards commercialisation.

From drug development and diagnostics to healthcare delivery and advanced manufacturing, this year's cohort is tackling some of today's biggest challenges. And they're just getting started.

Want to hear from them in person?

Register now to us in Melbourne on Thursday 5 June for the ON Accelerate 9 Showcase, where these research-powered ventures will pitch to investors, industry leaders and the broader innovation ecosystem.

ON the Radar

Have an event or opportunity to share with the Australian innovation community?

Let us know via ON@csiro.au and we'll share it in our next edition.

  • Cicada x Tech2 Are on the Hunt for 23 Visionary Startups and Founders – closes 30 April 2025  
    Cicada is searching for 23 of Australia's most promising deep tech startups tackling global challenges with ground-breaking science and technology. Get the opportunity to get national recognition and share your critical tech innovation in front of investors, industry leaders, and media. Apply here
  • ARENA Funding Opportunities – on-going 
    ARENA (Australian Renewable Energy Agency) funds innovative renewable energy projects to help accelerate Australia’s clean energy transition. It’s for businesses, researchers and organisations driving new energy solutions. Find out more.  
  • Research Translation Essentials Course, 1 & 2 May 2025, Adelaide  
    This hands-on 2-day program is designed to help health researchers, clinicians and healthcare professionals turn research into impact. It covers implementation science, stakeholder engagement, co-design and strategies for translating research into healthcare solutions. Learn more
  • Applications Open for the Remarkable 2025 Accelerator Program – closes 15 May 2025 
    Are you innovating in the spaces of disability, health or ageing? The Remarkable 16-week Accelerator program is designed to help founders to grow faster and scale impact. Startups that are post-product and post-revenue and ready to grow, or medtech startups still in development or pre-revenue are encouraged to apply. Apply now
  • CSIRO x Cicada Innovations: Scaling Deep Tech with the Right Partners – Lessons from Founders – 22 May 2025, Sydney 
    Don't miss a dynamic panel discussion featuring founders who are scaling their businesses with the right partners. They'll explore startup challenges, sharing experiences, lessons learned and commercialisation pathways to turn their ideas into scalable ventures. Register here.  
  • QUT’s Material Science Networking Event – 5 June 2025, Brisbane  
    Join a special networking event for researchers and industry leaders to explore innovations and build collaborations in materials science. Register here.  
  • Main Sequence Spin-Out Simulation Playbook 
    Spinning out a company from a university is rarely a straightforward process.  Main Sequence built a Spin-out Simulation to help stakeholders better understand these challenges and competing interests while fostering empathy and collaboration. Check it out here
  • Scholarship Announcement - PhD students needed for an immediate start  
    Do you know someone who is passionate about tackling real-world challenges through research, or are you seeking an opportunity to make a meaningful impact yourself? Check out the current scholarships with many more to be announced or sign up to the mailing list for program updates.  
  • BEDA’s MedTech Global Accelerator Program  
    Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA) has launched its MedTech Global Accelerator Program - a unique opportunity for local innovators to connect with international partners and investors. Find out more.  
  • R&D Coach Opportunity  
    Want to help SMEs explore R&D within research organisations? Submit an EOI to become a coach in the Innovate to Grow 8-week online program. Check it out here.  
  • WA Food Industry Education Collaboration Program  
    The WA Food Industry Innovation program helps small and medium food and beverage businesses connect with research expertise to solve technical challenges and grow. Through funding support and research collaboration, the program drives innovation across Western Australia’s food and beverage sector. Learn how to get involved.

What We're Listening to This Month

Listen to it here

Ever wondered how Australia’s startup scene got its start? Our ON Prime Program Lead, Richelle McNae, has - and she’s been tuning into a great podcast that dives right into it.

The History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem, hosted by Adam Spencer, chats with the founders, investor and changemakers who were there from day one. From the early tech days to today's fintech wave, it's packed with insights and stories that bring the journey to life. Whether you're building your own thing or just love a good origin story, it's well worth a listen. Check it out here.

ON Alumni In the News

Had a win? Share it with us

We're excited to see our ON alumni making waves! From startups to groundbreaking research, you're shaping the future.

  • Special shout out to Collaborative Urban (ON Prime 16), Biobead (ON Accelerate 9 Bootcamp) and Circular Mortar (ON Prime 16) for receiving funding in the first round of the Australia's Economic Accelerator (AEA) Ignite program. Over $59 million has been awarded through 155 grants across 28 universities! Find out about future rounds.
  • HEX20 - a ON Prime 8, ON Accelerate 7 Bootcamp and D.Start alum - have supported the successful launch of 'Nila' - India's first private satellite for hosting payloads - aboard SpaceX's Transporter-13. Read more about it out here!
  • ON Accelerate 6 alumni Laronix have made history, developing the world's first female-sounding voice solution for women who've undergone a laryngectomy. Featured recently on 7 News, the team also celebrated a major milestone with FDA registration for two of their breakthrough products - AVA Voice and MIRA Voice.
  • Big congratulations to ON Prime 15 and ON Accelerate 9 Bootcamp alum Medivox on receiving an IdeaStarter Grant from Perth Biodesign. The grant enabled the team to develop an early prototype of Medivox, an AI-powered digital medical translator designed to reduce language barriers and improve communication in healthcare settings. 
  • ON Accelerate 7 team, DHI-AI, has partnered with eflow Global to transform market abuse detection through AI-powered trade surveillance. Read about it here.
  • ON Accelerate 6 participants and now founders of Breaker have received a $2M pre-seed round from Main Sequence. Breaker is an AI company redefining autonomy through software-driven intelligence – we're so excited to see what's next!
  • ON Accelerate 6 team HydGene Renewables took out the top prize at the 2025 Smart Energy Hydrogen Pitch Battle during last week's Smart Energy Expo. Check out their win on LinkedIn.
  • ON Prime 15 alumni, Dr Cheng Zhang and his team are developing scalable solutions to tackle PFAS in real-world environments, and have now been back by $1 million from Advance Queensland and supported by GHD and OCTA.
We're proud of our ON community! Got an exciting breakthrough, milestone or update? Share your latest updates and let's celebrate your success together.