Startups using a university to go global

Monica Radclyffe, Centre Director, SETsquared Bristol Centre, University of Bristol

One thing I especially love about my job is the ability to build international links that can both support campus entrepreneurs looking to expand globally and bring overseas innovators (or investors) to our shores. All of this fits nicely into the uni’s 2025 strategy of becoming “Australia’s global university.”

I was reminded of this in February when I attended and spoke at a forum organised by the Department of Industry’s “Boosting Business Innovation Program.” Through the program, the NSW government has invested $12 million in 11 NSW universities (ours included) and the CSIRO to the tune of $1M each. The funding was announced mid-last year and is intended to accelerate innovation through our communities, leading to economic growth for NSW.

It was a pleasure speaking at the recent Department of Industries Boosting Business Innovation Forum hosted by Macquarie University

I was asked to speak on our global innovation projects and relationship building, with a particular focus on Asia. In preparing for this talk, I was reminded of some special moments and little wins that have come our way these past few years. You can see my slides here or a dot-point summary below:

• Torch Innovation Precinct: last year it was announced that UNSW would partnering with Chinese government bodies on the $100M Torch Innovation Precinct.
• Startup China: Connecting high potential startups with opportunities in China with two participating startups attracting $1.4M in Chinese investments so far. Last year’s 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners were female founder lead teams!
• Startup Japan: A series of Japan-Australia focused entrepreneurship initiatives including pre-accelerator bootcamp Innovation Dojo that has produced VR for language learning startup V-KAIWA and AI for menu translation startup ChewmonGo.
• Silicon Valley Mentors: We have a solid and growing group of 15–20 UNSW alumni based in and around Silicon Valley. The group have been welcoming UNSW student and alumni founder visits for several years. Recently one of the connections made to this group resulted in an investment (Super Ventures into Forcite).
• Last year we supported edutech business Tot-Tok participate in the Australia India TAT Capital Expo where they were connected with CEO’s, investors and thought leaders in India’s largest tech Incubator.
• The Business Boosting Innovation Program (BBIP) funding has enabled the TechConnect Global program at UNSW for SME’s.
• International student recruitment meets entrepreneurship: We’ve enjoyed a strong relationship between our startup programs and international student marketing and recruitment departments for years — I’ve previously written about this here.

For years, the university has had numerous teams working on growing our engagement with international institutions and individuals, including: overseas alumni relations, partner universities and alliances, tech transfer office networks, international student recruitment as well as strategic partnerships with foreign corporates and governments. At UNSW, we’re still learning, but we get to leverage all of these networks to benefit UNSW innovation and entrepreneurship — what a time to be alive!

We’re growing

Our new Startup China Program Manager, Melissa Ran has just left for 3 weeks accompanying a group of our entrepreneurs through one of multiple China focused startup programs we are running this year.

If you have any other enquiries or ideas for supporting our international innovation initiatives, please reach me directly on: j.flannery@unsw.edu.au