Latest Insights
What does the future hold?
As we rang in the New Year for 2020, I had a similar feeling of deep apprehension and anxiety to when I turned on the news coverage of planes flying into the World Trade Centre in 2001. After the initial shock and horror, I imagined the implications, thinking ‘Is this...
Discovering the business behind a good idea
My name is Erinn Watts and after recently completing my HSC, I had the opportunity to do work experience at Gemaker. Gemaker is a commercialisation and marketing intelligence consultancy that helps companies to transforms ideas into products for the commercial market....
How to inspire 2000 students in one hour for the cost of a high-end iPhone
At gemaker, part of our mission is to build Australia by inspiring the next generation. We also know that not every business has the time or expertise to deliver a full-blown educational package. But you can still make a big difference. Here’s how. Donate money for...
You can’t commercialise your tech unless you communicate it
As a marketing communicator working in tech transfer, I frequently encounter STEM researchers and innovators who initially express scepticism about the value of my services. I strive to win them over, because (a) it’s a living and (b) they need my help, even if they don’t know it yet.
How to get the most out of attending an expo
Make your next expo visit a successful one with our expert tips. Spoiler alert: Most of the work happens before you arrive. Before you go Before booking an expo, do your homework and check it’s right for you. If you have an ideal customer you want to target, find the...
Challenges and opportunities for graduates: resilience, adaptability and climate action
gemaker Managing Director, Natalie Chapman, gave the occasional address at the University of Wollongong graduation on 24 June 2019. Below are the video and transcript of the speech.Deputy Chancellor Elizabeth Magassy, Presenting Dean of the Business Faculty,...
Commercialisation and Startups
What does the future hold?
As we rang in the New Year for 2020, I had a similar feeling of deep apprehension and anxiety to when I turned on the news coverage of planes flying into the World Trade Centre in 2001. After the initial shock and horror, I imagined the implications, thinking ‘Is this...
You can’t commercialise your tech unless you communicate it
As a marketing communicator working in tech transfer, I frequently encounter STEM researchers and innovators who initially express scepticism about the value of my services. I strive to win them over, because (a) it’s a living and (b) they need my help, even if they don’t know it yet.
Marketing makes or breaks commercialisation; don’t make these mistakes
Unfortunately, many STEM innovators underestimate the importance of marketing. I’m frequently contacted by research organisations or innovative businesses seeking to commercialise new knowledge or technology, who are suffering the consequences of an inadequate or...
11 ways to shipwreck your start-up
We’ve compiled a top 11 list of ways to shipwreck commercialisation of your new ideas or start-up.
Commercialisation Recommendations and Cautions for CRCs
This article is based on Natalie Chapman’s presentation at the annual conference of the Cooperative Research Centres Association in May 2018. I’ve been commercialising innovations arising from research organisations for 17 years. Over this time, I’ve been involved...
Research-Industry Engagement
How to get the most out of attending an expo
Make your next expo visit a successful one with our expert tips. Spoiler alert: Most of the work happens before you arrive. Before you go Before booking an expo, do your homework and check it’s right for you. If you have an ideal customer you want to target, find the...
Highlights from Science Meets Business
Every year, Science Meets Business brings together leaders in STEM and private industry to increase understanding and cooperation between these two complex sectors. In 2018, Science Meets Business focused on the theme ‘High Tech and Big Data’. The opening video...
Networking not working? Here’s the smarter alternative
Who likes networking? I ask this routinely when training researchers in industry engagement. The response is always a collective groan. Maybe networking is fun for exceptionally extroverted people, but for most of us, it seems fitting that the word includes ‘work’,...
How small business can have a big impact on STEM education
To sustain Australia’s STEM industries, businesses need to step up and help schools and teachers to educate and motivate the next generation of innovators. You don’t need to be a large corporation to have a positive impact on STEM education, as demonstrated by...
Researchers need soft skills training to succeed
To address a lack of essential, transferable, ‘soft skills’ training, Deakin University (DU) and Macquarie University (MU) are developing a series of seminars for Early-to-Mid-Career Researchers (EMCRs) working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics...
Innovation Insights
A challenge-based innovation program could fund your R&D
A growing number of increasingly diverse, challenge-based innovation programs are creating win-win opportunities for business, research and government to work together to solve real-world problems.
gemaker rewards young innovators at Australia’s largest science fair
For the tenth year in a row, the University of Wollongong ran the Illawarra Coal Science Fair on 29 November. The 2017 Fair was the biggest ever, attracting more than 1000 students from 85 schools around the region. Associate Professor Stephen Ralph, Head...
What Australian research and innovation can learn from Iceland’s soccer team
Iceland’s win wasn’t a happy accident. The country made a conscious decision to be good at soccer and invested in the sport.
What a party – Tech23 2015 – Celebrating Australian Innovation!
It’s an annual event that showcases 23 startups with high growth potential and technical expertise that are tackling big problems.
Anyone can Innovate!
So what is Innovation and what do you need to do it? Do you need to be a Steve Jobs or Mark Zuckerberg? The answer is no!
Funding Insights
A challenge-based innovation program could fund your R&D
A growing number of increasingly diverse, challenge-based innovation programs are creating win-win opportunities for business, research and government to work together to solve real-world problems.
The most overlooked source of funding
The Research and Development (R&D) Tax Incentive is an eligibility entitlement program administered jointly by the Department of Industry, Innovation & Science and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). The department manages the registration of the company’s...
The R&D Tax Incentive – Supporting Medical, Health and Life Sciences Research
Are you in the medical, health or life sciences sector? Is your company developing cutting-edge technology? If you answered yes, then you’re in good company! Registered expenditure for the R&D Tax Incentive scheme on Medical, Health and Life Sciences...
Reward for innovation: an update on the R&D Tax Incentive
For start-ups and other innovative companies, the R&D Tax Incentive is designed to reduce the cost and risk of undertaking research and development, by reducing their tax.
Strength from the storm: lessons learnt in winning a $450K grant
How would you feel if your start-up received A$450K in an Accelerating Commercialisation grant under the Australian Government’s Entrepreneurs’ Program?
Women in STEM Insights
Discovering the business behind a good idea
My name is Erinn Watts and after recently completing my HSC, I had the opportunity to do work experience at Gemaker. Gemaker is a commercialisation and marketing intelligence consultancy that helps companies to transforms ideas into products for the commercial market....
Challenges and opportunities for graduates: resilience, adaptability and climate action
gemaker Managing Director, Natalie Chapman, gave the occasional address at the University of Wollongong graduation on 24 June 2019. Below are the video and transcript of the speech.Deputy Chancellor Elizabeth Magassy, Presenting Dean of the Business Faculty,...
Natalie Chapman speaks at the University of Sydney Graduation Ceremony
Transcript: First of all congratulations!! You’ve put in a tremendous amount of hard work to be here today. You and your family must be so proud. What an awesome achievement. As a Science graduate of the University 24 years ago. I’m extremely honoured to be delivering...
International Women’s Day: a balanced report
The theme for IWD2019 (8 March) is #BalanceforBetter: The better the balance, the better the world. The bad news We still have far to go before the Australian workforce is gender-balanced. Firstly, there are financial imbalances: Full-time average weekly...
Attitudes to part-timers and flexible work key to management diversity
In my youth, I didn’t think about diversity, much. My Hungarian father came to Australia on a boat with his resilient and resourceful parents in 1949, but that wasn’t unusual in our neighbourhood.
More Insights
What does the future hold?
As we rang in the New Year for 2020, I had a similar feeling of deep apprehension and anxiety to when I turned on the news coverage of planes flying into the World Trade Centre in 2001. After the initial shock and horror, I imagined the implications, thinking ‘Is this...
How to get the most out of attending an expo
Make your next expo visit a successful one with our expert tips. Spoiler alert: Most of the work happens before you arrive. Before you go Before booking an expo, do your homework and check it’s right for you. If you have an ideal customer you want to target, find the...
Marketing makes or breaks commercialisation; don’t make these mistakes
Unfortunately, many STEM innovators underestimate the importance of marketing. I’m frequently contacted by research organisations or innovative businesses seeking to commercialise new knowledge or technology, who are suffering the consequences of an inadequate or...
11 ways to shipwreck your start-up
We’ve compiled a top 11 list of ways to shipwreck commercialisation of your new ideas or start-up.
Turning 7!
To be frank, when I started gemaker, I hoped that it might last three years before I had to give up playing start-up CEO in my garage and find a ‘real’ job. My wildest dream was to make a positive difference to Australian innovation and research...