Griffith University’s commercialisation arm, Griffith Enterprise, has appointed a new leader to drive innovation and enterprise.
Griffith Enterprise Director Nicholas Mathiou has a track record in establishing and managing entrepreneurial, high growth, technology-based companies.
Mr Mathiou co-founded and directed Australian Stock Exchange listed investment fund Medica Holdings Limited and its subsidiary life sciences company Cytopia Ltd.
He helped to raise more than $45 million for Medica and assisted its portfolio companies to attract more than $30 million from private, venture and public capital markets.
Mr Mathiou also guided many clients to develop strategy and business plans, build new product and innovation practices, raise funds, establish technology commercialisation ventures and undertake acquisition and investment appraisals.
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Professor Lesley Johnson said she was delighted Mr Mathiou would lead Griffith Enterprise.
“He has had an outstanding career in managing significant research and development projects that achieved remarkable commercial results,” Professor Johnson said.
She said Griffith Enterprise was implementing a dynamic new business model to significantly improve commercialisation services and add value to all stakeholders and the University.
“Mr Mathiou’s leadership and experience will help to implement this new model, which aims to boost commercial returns and add value to industry and community by ensuring knowledge-transfer,” she said.
“We have also recently recruited a new advisory board of external members who will provide valuable input in our commercial ventures.”
Mr Mathiou said Griffith’s diverse research and teaching strengths in water, climate change adaptation, health and drug discovery, through to music and the arts, tourism and the Asia-Pacific provided extraordinary opportunities.
“The University’s wide ranging expertise can potentially lead to countless products and services that address market needs while providing solutions to pressing global challenges,” Mr Mathiou said.
Mr Mathiou said he was inspired by Griffith’s history which demonstrated innovation and vision.
“The University established Australia’s first School of Environment 30 years ago and this foresight is paying dividends for the nation today as Griffith provides national leadership in climate change adaptation research,” Mr Mathiou said.
The Griffith Enterprise team has already established six private capital-funded commercialisation ventures in the past five years. They manage more than 20 patent families and set up several multi-million dollar commercial research projects.
Griffith Enterprise’s established ventures include the Asia-Pacific Centre for Franchising Excellence, which provides research, consultancies and training to the franchise industry, and Aqua Diagnostics, which is developing a novel wastewater industry device.