Spotlight Down Under on the Top Universities

With data compiled by Clarivate Analytics, Reuters released the inaugural Reuters Top 75: Asia’s Most Innovative Universities. The rankings aimed to highlight the universities whose research is being harnessed most widely in commercial application, demonstrated by patents. Released this past August, the listings include six Australian universities. Learn more about the rankings.

ANZ rankings

In the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity along with the Regional Account Managers, Anthony Leal and Brian Syron, to meet with people at the different universities, and I want to share some of their success.

 University of Sydney

It’s no surprise that Australia’s oldest university is ranked as one of the most innovative, given its new addition last April of Australia’s first purpose-build nanoscience facility. University of Sydney averaged a 31% patent-acceptance rate during the recent six years assessed by Clarivate Analytics for the ranking.

Sydney

Duncan Ivison – DVCR  and Jeroen Prinsen, Head of ANZ-SEA, Clarivate Analytics    

Monash University

As Australia’s largest university, with more than 120 research centres and institutes, it was no surprise to see Monash attain a high rank. From 2009 to 2014, Monash filed 138 patents, ultimately earning  a 23.9% grant rate. I expect to see that number grow as Monash continues work on the Monash Vision System, a “bionic eye” that combines a brain implant with a miniature, wearable camera, promising the restoration of sight to up to 85% of the currently untreatable blind.

Monash

Professor Pauline Nestor, Vice Provost (Research), Monash and Jessica Turner, Global Head of Government and Academia, Clarivate Analytics

University of Queensland

If there was a ranking for longest-running science experiment, University of Queensland would take the lead with their ‘pitch drop experiment’, marking its 90th anniversary this year. But UQ’s innovation certainly didn’t stop there, as the research community truly lives by the school’s motto, “By means of knowledge and hard work.” For the recent six-year period surveyed for the ranking, this spirit is manifest in 192 filed patents, with 48 granted.

Queensland

Nicole Thompson, Director, Research Management and Strategy, and Ian Harris, Director, Research Partnerships

University of Melbourne

Home of the Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne puts its money where it matters: research. An annual research expenditure of $850m led to 89 patents filed with a 28.1% grant rate. With works on Alzheimer’s and Stem Cells Australia, there’s little doubt Melbourne’s research impact will continue to grow.

Melbourne

Julie Willis, Pro Vice-Chancellor  and Jeroen Prinsen, Head of ANZ-SEA, Clarivate Analytics

University of New South Wales

From its beginning, University of New South Wales has been focused on the scientific, technological and professional disciplines, an attribute which proves in its inclusion among the region’s Top 75. Between 2009 and 2014, 96 patents were filed, but we can expect to see that number grow, since University of New South Wales won the highest amount of funding from the Australian Research Council.
NSW

From left to right:
  • Brian Syron, Account Manager at Clarivate Analytics,
  • Brian Boyle, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Enterprise)
  • Nick Fisk, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research)
  • Jeroen Prinsen, Head of ANZ-SEA, Clarivate  Analytics

University of South Australia

With a history of collaboration established early in its roots with the merger of South Australian Institute of Technology and College of Advanced Education, University of South Australia has continued that trend by fostering strong research partnerships within the industry, resulting in a number of start-ups. Between 2009 and 2014, UniSA credited that collaboration with 54 patents filed, for a 14.8% grant rate.

South Australia

From left to right:
  • (Left) Dr Stephen Rodda: Chief Executive Officer – UniSA Ventures
  • (Centre) Professor Tanya Monro: Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research and Innovation
  • (Right) Dr  Ross McLennan: Director: Research and Innovation Services

I’m very interested in seeing how the universities fare and which new institutes will join the list with the release of the second annual Reuters Top 75: Asia’s Most Innovative Universities due 8 June.