A pioneering team of engineers at UNSW Sydney is transforming the path to commercialisation for Australia’s green tech startups, providing critical late-stage engineering support through the newly launched Technology Translation Squad (TTS).
This Australian-first initiative is designed to bridge the gap between academic research and market-ready products, addressing a longstanding challenge in the nation’s innovation landscape.
Funded by the federal government’s Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy (TRaCE), the TTS offers rapid, low-bureaucracy technical expertise to help startups and SMEs overcome complex electrical engineering hurdles.
Eligible businesses can access up to five free days of specialised support, with the option to continue via paid arrangements or other support programs.
“We provide our technical knowledge to help these businesses to keep pace with evolving markets and commercialise their technology,” said Professor John Fletcher, who co-founded the TTS with Lead Technology Translator Dr Matthew Priestly.
The program draws inspiration from a successful model developed by Prof. Fletcher at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, where a national network of researchers delivered fast, accessible solutions to industry challenges.
Australia’s push towards net zero by 2050 has heightened demand for electrical engineers, exposing a significant skills shortage.
“The work required to meet net zero by 2050 is predominantly in electrification, and of course that requires a lot of electrical engineers,” Dr Priestly said.
“Our manufacturing sector – particularly in electrical engineering products – is very limited, which means we don’t have enough deep technical expertise here.
“If an SME or a startup has an interesting challenge that needs support, the only option has been to go to one of the big consultancy companies, which can be prohibitively expensive for these young companies,” he added.
Unlike traditional consultancies, the TTS is “almost entirely impact-focused,” prioritising projects with high potential for positive national impact.
One early success is a $2.2 million collaboration with NSW-based energy storage startup Green Gravity, which uses gravity-based systems in legacy mine shafts to store renewable energy.
“Our collaboration brings together industry knowledge and academic research to ensure our technology is efficient, safe, and ready for commercial deployment,” said Mark Swinnerton, Founder and CEO of Green Gravity.
Prof. Fletcher said: “Our model makes university expertise more accessible and responsive to real-world needs. In doing so, the TTS not only enhances the reputation of universities among Australian businesses, especially in the high-demand fields of decarbonisation and electrification, but also ensures academic knowledge is translated into practical, impactful solutions.”
