NewSouth Innovations Pty Limited (NSi) commercialises research and technology developed by the University of New South Wales.

NSi is a company limited by shares, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and controlled entity of UNSW. Formally Unisearch Limited, the organisation was restructured in 2005 and NSi was formed with a business model clearly focused on intellectual property (IP) commercialisation and technology transfer. We and are physically located within the Research Precinct on the Kensington campus of UNSW.

Our primary function is to manage and commercialise the intellectual property of UNSW. This typically involves the protection of IP through patents and other forms of protection, the licensing of that technology and the raising of capital through the formation of spin-off companies.

The breadth of experience at NSi enables effective development of business relationships and strategic alliances with key partners in relevant industry sectors. NSi has an independent Board of Directors made up of representatives from the academic and investment communities.

NSi has a technology commercialisation team for physical sciences, which includes IT, engineering and photovoltaics; and a team for life sciences. We also have a team of business analysts, legal specialists and an accounts department; all supported by our administration, operations and public relations staff.

Working with the NSi staff is BwiseIP Pty Ltd, a consultancy contracted to manage our IP portfolio and to work with other service providers such as patent attorneys and lawyers. BwiseIP have staff working at NSi to implement our IP protection strategies and support the business development process.

NSi forms spin out companies as a key commercialisation strategy. NSi retains an interest in these companies through equity or licence. These companies proudly work with technologies developed at UNSW. Examples of our recent spin offs

UNSW is affiliated through its Schools within the Faculty of Medicine with a number of organisations which collaborate with the University in relation to teaching and research activities. This collaboration involves the following hospitals:

UNSW researchers commonly work within these organisations and NSi typically takes the lead in commercialising IP developed jointly between these organisations and UNSW.

Uniseed is a $61m fund that has a commitment, through pre-seed and seed stage venture capital investment, to successfully commercialise the outcomes of Australian research and ingenuity from the University of Queensland, the University of Melbourne and the University of New South Wales.

NSi is proud to work in partnership with Uniseed. This represents an important step in forging a link between academia and business that focuses on the commercialisation of innovative ideas and inventions for global consumption.

NSi hosts a fulltime Uniseed Investment Manager, Dr David Rowe.

CASESTUDY: BT Imaging Pty Ltd (BTi) was formed in October 2007 to commercialise photoluminescence imaging systems for the Photovoltaic manufacturing industry. BTi’s technology – a result of UNSW research – offers a superior method for the inspection of silicon wafers and offers manufacturers of the wafers significant throughput, performance and cost advantages. Uniseed and the Allen and Buckeridge Emerging Technology Fund (ETF) invested in BTI’s seed round.

For further information: Uniseed website.