What we did

We were engaged to determine the health sector’s views regarding medical research commercialisation since the release of the Strategic Review of Health and Medical Research – Better Health Through Research 2013.

We conducted a comprehensive review that incorporated an overview of public and private funding supporting the development and commercialisation of medical research in Australia, and qualitative research that sought to obtain responses to four research questions:

1.  What are the sector’s views regarding existing government funding support and gaps that remain unaddressed or are not sufficiently addressed, particularly in commercialisation and translation of research?
2.  What are the sector’s views regarding the impact of MRFF initiatives to improve the capability and capacity of the medical research and innovation sector to commercialise research outputs, and any perceived gaps?
3.  How have institutions positioned themselves to maximise commercialisation opportunities?
4.  What are the sector’s views regarding other barriers to commercialisation of research outputs in Australia?

How we did it

Our approach drew on several qualitative research techniques including an initial document review and developing an overview of public and private funding programs. This evidence review considered the impact of initiatives to improve the capability and capacity of the medical research and innovation sector to commercialise research outputs, perceived gaps that remain unaddressed, and perceived barriers to commercialisation of research outputs. We then conducted an extensive stakeholder engagement process through interviews and a sector questionnaire. We met with key stakeholders and sector experts to determine their views on medical research commercialisation as informed by our desktop review and their personal knowledge and experience.

Benefits for the client

The Department of Health gained detailed insight into the sector’s views on the existing government funding support and gaps that need addressing, the impact of MRFF initiatives on improving the capability and capacity of the medical research and innovation sector to commercialise research outputs, institutional views on maximising commercialisation opportunities, and the sector’s view of barriers to commercialisation of research.

Our report is available here