DEADLINE: KCA Australasian Research Commercialisation Awards

Have you enabled an outstanding industry partnership, spin-out, licensing deal, or a HASS initiative that’s created real impact beyond academia? Or do you know a research commercialisation professional who deserves recognition? 

The KCA Australasian Research Commercialisation Awards celebrate the high-impact achievements of innovators and commercialisation teams from our member organisations.

Award Categories

Best Industry-Research Collaboration
For a significant and successful industry-research collaboration comprising any/all facets of research commercialisation, contract research, consulting services, training programs, infrastructure programs, community programs, and other collaborative research engagement activities spanning at least 18 months.

Best Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) Initiative of the Year
For a significant and successful Humanities and Social Science (HASS) initiative implemented in the previous 18 months, that has successfully transferred knowledge, methods, tools, or creative outputs beyond the academic context, generating demonstrable societal and/or commercial value for external partners, communities, industry, government, or the broader public. This could include initiatives involving translation of societal-focused research, licensing of tools or methodologies, spin-outs or start-ups rooted in HASS expertise, policy influence platforms, digital humanities tools, creative technologies, or social innovation ventures.

Best Licensing Deal
For a significant and successful licensing deal. There must be evidence that the IP and knowledge transfer provided as part of the deal is being actively used by the licensee and provides a significant advantage or benefit. Particular emphasis will be placed on licensing to existing companies.

Best Spin-out
For a significant and successful spin-out. There must be evidence that the IP and knowledge transfer provided as part of the spin-out is actively used by the new venture and provides a significant advantage or benefit in the past 5 years since spinning out.

Research Commercialisation Professional of the Year
Open to both established (senior) and emerging (mid-career) research commercialisation professionals who demonstrate best practice research commercialisation, commitment to championing research commercialisation and a commitment to increasing commercialisation capability within their organisation and/ or the sector.

Key Dates

• 1 July 2025 – Nominations open
• 28 August 2025 – Nomination deadline (5pm AEST)
• 3 October 2025 – Finalists announced
• 15 October 2025 – Awards announced and presented at the Annual Conference Dinner