EMERGE supports research-based business, 2022 #futureNENW

Throughout 2022 the EMERGE program has been supporting students, academics, and others keen to add values to research, with strategies, tools and expert advice.

As the demand increases for publicly funded research to transform problems, generate innovation and develop solutions, students and academics are stimulated to demonstrate the impact of their research for the benefit of the economy, society, policy, environment or culture.  However, the path to achieving impact with research is never straight forward.

To support UNE students and researchers, UNE SMART Region Incubator developed the EMERGE program.

EMERGE includes a series of interactive workshops led by guest speakers with expertise: intellectual property, science-based business models and funding strategies for university start-up and spin-offs. 

Two EMERGE programs ran successfully in 2022. Ben Geatrex was one of the 25 participants. 

Ben works in the chemistry department at UNE, in the field of organic synthetic chemistry. He enrolled in the EMERGE program to validate a business idea, based on his research and experience working in the industry. Ben is developing a process that would allow for separating and purifying fine chemicals using cellulose as a cheap alternative to current approaches. 

Ben valued the program, felt it restored his focus, and provided insight into how to best move forward with his idea. He said, “I found the different sessions that were offered to be really helpful in different ways. Having the interactions with the different participants and seeing the challenges that they face, but also the support and encouragement that is available is really useful.” 

Ben is still in the process of deliberating his next move. The UNE SRI community is here to support his entrepreneurial journey. 

EMERGE is proudly funded by the NSW Government under the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund and delivered in association with Armidale Regional Council.