Aussie research hits $336m commercial high, but makers face funding cliff
Australian research organisations generated $336 million in commercialisation revenue in 2025. That was up 39%. But they struggle to fund manufacturing.
Australian universities and research institutions had a strong year in 2025. They turned discoveries into products and startups.
New figures show $336 million in commercialisation revenue. That was up 39% from 2024.
The sector created 102 new companies. It also signed 766 licensing agreements.
That was up 25%. The federal government has frozen more than $800 million in uncommitted funding.
It also paused the Industry Growth Program. This hides a crisis.
Startups like Conry Tech and Refilled can build prototypes. But they cannot find capital to manufacture at scale.
The gap is between $2 million and $10 million. It is too small for venture capital.
It is too big for most government schemes. Without local funding, these companies seek money overseas.
Often the money has strings attached. They must relocate the factory or lose the cash.
- $336 million
- Commercialisation revenue 2025
- 39 per cent
- Growth from 2024
- 102
- New companies created
- $800 million
- Government funding frozen
Why it mattersIf Australian startups move manufacturing overseas to find funding, Australia loses factories. It loses jobs too. It loses the long-term IP wealth those companies would create.
AustraliaAustralian startups risk relocating their manufacturing and operations overseas to secure investment, taking skilled jobs and technology development out of the country.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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