ECU researchers Associate Professor Ferry Jie, Dr Geremy Farr-Wharton, Professor Amanda Devine and CSIRO Program Manager, Josh Pitt.
Edith Cowan University (ECU) is partnering with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to help its researchers discover pathways to have a positive impact on the world.
ECU recently held the Idea to Collaboration workshop as part of CSIRO’s ON Innovation Program.
The event brought together a diverse group of academics with a shared goal of exploring how their research can address real-world issues through a customer-centric, design-thinking approach.
In attendance were researchers from fields as diverse as sustainable eco-tourism and midwifery mentoring programs to coral reef preservation.
The common thread of the workshop was making complex research more understandable for the public and on "ecosystem" mapping to deeply understand the needs of stakeholders and end-users.
Josh Pitt, Program Manager, Innovation Ecosystem at CSIRO said, "The aim [of the workshop] is to upskill and change the mindset of researchers to encourage entrepreneurial thinking, coming at it from that of the customer."
Industry-aligned research and commercialisation
A highlight of the workshop was a case study presented by ECU Associate Dean of Public Health and OHS, and Professor of Public Health Nutrition Amanda Devine, who is leading the University's charge when it comes to industry engagement and research commercialisation.
Professor Devine and her research team is developing a product in partnership with a Perth-based food manufacturer that aims to change the lives of people experiencing gut health issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, and gestational diabetes.
Their aim is to get their product into the commercial market.
"We aren't in this for the money. I want to make sure that research doesn't sit in a thesis on the shelf somewhere. I want it to get out there to help people's health," said Professor Devine.
ECU PhD candidate Caitlyn O’Dea with CSIRO Facilitator Andy Lamb.
The workshop also provided participants with tools and frameworks to transform their research approach and scaffold engagements into successful partnerships.
ECU PhD candidate Caitlyn O'Dea, who is researching seagrasses in Australia's Cocos Keeling Islands, said the workshop had inspired her to engage more with industry and community.
"There's so much in this space that scientists can learn because we're about our topic and are so immersed in our research," Caitlyn said.
"But we can really struggle to bring that out of our circle into community or industry and make the science relevant.
"These tools are super applicable to working with anyone that's not immediately part of the research."
ECU open for business
The workshop underscored ECU's commitment to partnering with industry, government, and community to address global challenges. ECU is ready and willing to collaborate, harnessing the power of research to create real-world solutions.
Whether you are from industry wanting to address problems with innovative solutions, an alum with industry challenges, or someone considering a PhD with an industry focus and in a position to support ECU’s research, the University offers a supportive and innovative environment to turn research into value.
Join ECU in making a difference and contributing to a better future.
