Australia’s research and innovation sectors gathered on 11 June for ON Translate 2026, a national event led by CSIRO that highlighted the commercial potential of emerging deep technology ventures.
The event culminated in a showcase featuring the 10th cohort of ON Accelerate, a program designed to help researchers transform scientific discoveries into commercial ventures and real-world outcomes.
The 2026 cohort includes 46 researchers from nine Australian universities and research institutions. Intellectual property underpinning the projects originated from six universities, while participants were drawn from a further three institutions.
According to CSIRO, the teams represent a growing pipeline of ventures focused on national priorities including the transition to net zero emissions, healthier communities, environmental restoration and national resilience.
Researchers participating in ON Accelerate receive support to build commercialisation skills, connect with investors and establish industry partnerships needed to move technologies beyond the laboratory.
Collectively, the cohort has secured more than $25.8 million in grant funding and capital investment. Teams have also signed commercial partnerships, negotiated venture agreements and gained entry into national and international accelerator programs.
The technologies span a broad range of sectors. They include systems that capture carbon dioxide and generate electricity, AI-powered skin cancer detection devices, precision oncology platforms, water extraction technologies for remote regions, and innovations aimed at reducing the cost and complexity of cell and gene therapy manufacturing.
Tennille Eyre, program director of the ON Innovation Program at CSIRO, said the initiative played an important role in strengthening Australia’s innovation ecosystem.
“Australia is strong at discovery. The challenge and opportunity is turning that strength into outcomes that deliver real impact for the economy and communities,” she said.
“Over the past decade, CSIRO’s ON Program has focused on building the capability, confidence and connections researchers need to translate ideas beyond the lab and into adoption.”
Member for Melbourne Sarah Witty said the showcase demonstrated the value of supporting research commercialisation.
“ON Accelerate takes research further into new ventures, new industries and real-world impact,” she said.
During the event, Dr Benjamin Tonnot, founder of Energy Diversions, was named the recipient of the 2026 Stanford Australia Foundation Hawkins Ueland CSIRO ON scholarship.
The scholarship provides an ON Accelerate alumnus with the opportunity to undertake executive education at Stanford Graduate School of Business to strengthen leadership and commercialisation capabilities.
Since launching as a pilot in 2015, the ON Program has contributed to the creation of 165 companies. Alumni ventures have secured more than $393 million in commercialisation grants and raised more than $521 million in investment capital.
