Griffith Enterprise (GE) has won a major category in new awards acknowledging organisations able to turn research into commercial reality.
GE received two nominations in the inaugural Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia (KCA) Research Commercialisation Awards, with its SEEDcreative arts project taking out Best Creative Engagement Strategy.
Each year SEED brings together Griffith’s popular music, creative arts, film and marketing students to develop and promote an album. Studentslearnhow to interact with online music providers and make valuable industry connections.
Through major partners such as the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), they perform a concert series, The Seed Project,thus building a following and enhancing their reputations and that of Griffith.
GE’sBusiness and Innovation Manager (Education, Creative Arts & Design, and Humanities), Mr Anthony Pages, has worked closely with the Queensland Conservatorium on growing the SEED enterprise through strategic partnerships such as that with QPAC.
“SEED needed a creative partnership arrangement that went well beyond the traditional sponsorship/production support to help build its key learning offering,” says Mr Pages.
“The Queensland Conservatorium’spartnership withQPACadds a much-neededconcert series to the mix, so that along with the commercial acumen Griffithstudents build through developing and selling an album, they also hone performance skills to thrive in the world of emerging DIY artists.”
Griffith Enterprise’s second nomination was in the Best Commercial Deal category for “Silicon Carbide Coast”, a suite of initiatives designed to commercialise Griffith’s silicon carbide (SiC) on silicon (Si) platform technology.
KCA is the peak body for groups and individuals associated with knowledge commercialisation and exchange between public sector research organisations, business and government.
Executive Officer Ms Melissa Geue says translating research success into commercial uptake by industry, and the creation of Australian jobs, is an intricate, challenging and resource intensive process.
“It’s important that we take the time to recognise and acknowledge the efforts of those involved in this process,” says Ms Geue.