Many pathways. One Purpose. Research to Impact turns ideas into action

R2I is a university-wide program designed to help more UTS research reach the people, partners, systems and communities who can apply, adapt and scale it.

In welcoming senior research leaders to the program launch, UTS Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Kate McGrath said R2I positions research translation as a visible, supported and sustained part of how UTS delivers research and makes a difference in the world.  

“R2I brings research translation support together for the very first time under one coherent university-wide program. It provides time and funding to focus on translation, support for commercialisation, proposals, engineering and prototyping through Rapido. It offers IP professional development and peer support and pathways to deeper engagement with industry, government and the community,” Kate said, emphasising that spinouts and licences are not the only measure of success. 

“In terms of societal benefits, policy impact, changes in professional and clinical practice, community outcomes and social innovation all count just as much, and sometimes more, depending on what it is that's been achieved.” 

In launching R2I and opening the RES Hub Impact space, Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Parfitt acknowledged the strong sense of purpose at UTS.  
 
“The work that we do is informed by certain values like social justice and the progress of our communities. Whatever research translation looks like, there are lots of ways to do it,” he added. 

“The UTS community does excellent research and has outstanding examples of impact in one way or another - whether it's through our careful deployment of our intellectual property, whether it's through the way in which we work with partners and ensure that their needs and their problems inform what we do and shape some of the thinking that we're able to bring to bear on the problems, either directly or indirectly. These are UTS attributes that are well-known within the community,” Andrew said. 
 

Deputy Vice-Chancellor External Engagement and Partnerships Dr Alana Piper praised the R2I program for bringing coherence and focus to the research journey.  

“R2I helps give us a frame through which to build the culture, the confidence, the capabilities and the connections to help our promising ideas take shape and make a difference,” she said. 

By bringing market intelligence, relationships, practical support and professional skills together with research excellence, Alana said the UTS partnerships and engagement portfolio looks forward to collaborating through R2I to direct translation efforts towards opportunities that have a high chance of impact on investment.  

“Research translation is the bedrock. The strongest opportunities grow through that exchange between researchers and the people who ultimately are going to benefit from their work as ideas are developed, tested and refined,” Alana said. 

A visible pathway to research translation 

With RES Hub Impact now the front door to research translation at UTS, Kate described the benefits of having a dedicated physical place where researchers, professional staff and partners in industry, government and the community can come together. 

“You can come here to get advice on a drop-in basis and connect with our research translation and impact team. You can workshop a problem, meet a potential partner or simply run into colleagues doing related work, sharing community and a sense of expertise and experience,” she said. 

“External partners supporting research translation activities can also use the space while they're on campus, making it easier to for them to spend time at UTS.” 

Andrew noted the important signal in establishing a dedicated translation space. 

“Physical spaces like this make sense. They bring people in to have the discussions and conversations needed to build the relationships that matter in that pathway to impact.” 

Research translation in action   

Associate Professor Erin Turbitt and Associate Professor Mathieu Pernice then shared how the R2I program supported each of their translation pathways. 

Erin’s research focuses on supporting parents and families navigating genetic information, including through the NurtureNextGen project supported by the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). 

I now have a much better understanding of what it takes to move from research and co-design to a product that’s genuinely usable

“We are working with parents to develop a digital tool to support clearer conversations at highly complex and time-critical moments, helping families understand information, make decisions and navigate care with greater confidence,” she said. 

Through R2I, Erin worked with UTS Rapido on software development and user experience testing.  

“We moved from early designs towards a more functional, browser-based prototype that we can demonstrate, get feedback on and continue to refine,” she said. 

“I now have a much better understanding of what it takes to move from research and co-design to a product that’s genuinely usable. And that's what I'd encourage other researchers to think about: not just what my research could produce, but what it would take to get the knowledge into the hands of the people it's intended to benefit.” 

Scalable solutions with algae 

Mathieu discussed his work translating algae research into scalable solutions through his role as Chief Scientific Officer of Algenie, an algae-based biotechnology startup supported through R2I.  

R2I helped bridge the often-challenging gap between academic research and commercialisation, enabling Algenie to progress at startup speed. 

 “To realise the vision that algae biotechnology should be accessible, scalable, and importantly, economically viable enough to have real-world impact, scientific excellence alone is not enough. Success requires radical collaboration across science, engineering, product development, business model innovation, customer discovery, intellectual property, fundraising and strategic partnerships,” he explained. 

Mathieu encouraged researchers to involve customers and stakeholders early in the research translation journey. 

 “The one thing I wish I'd known earlier is that you don't need to have the entire pathway mapped out from day one,” he said.  
 
“The key is to engage with end users as early as possible, regardless of your translation pathway. The earlier you start those conversations, the faster you learn what is needed and where your research can create the greatest impact.” 

Importantly, R2I helped bridge the often-challenging gap between academic research and commercialisation, enabling Algenie to progress at startup speed. 

“It wasn't simply funding that made the difference. R2I connected us with the people, expertise, networks, customers, partners and investors needed to accelerate our development. For a startup, speed matters, and R2I helped us move much faster than we could have on our own,” he said.  

Participate in R2I schemes 

R2I supports research translation at different stages, from early validation through to prototyping, capability-building and strategic acceleration. Among initiatives soon open for applications are:

For the UTS research community, these announcements reinforce that research translation is not an add-on or an afterthought, but an integral part of how excellent research becomes useful knowledge, practical solutions and meaningful impact.  Many pathways. One Purpose. UTS supports them all. 

Images by Kwa Nguyen.

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