The start-up world’s need for speed means adding academic research to the mix isn’t always a priority for entrepreneurs in fail-fast environments. A new partnership between Bond University and LuminaX aims to change that.
The LuminaX Health Accelerator brings together 10 health entrepreneurs from around Australia for a 14-week industry-led program at the Gold Coast’s Cohort Innovation Space to fast-track commercialisation and market readiness.
Academics from the University’s Healthcare Innovations program will be on hand to mentor and guide the founders through the intensive program.
They’ll also be able to connect founders to Bond postgraduate students to undertake bespoke research and give their start-ups a business edge.
“Academic research isn’t always seen as practical for the start-up world – it has traditionally been a slow process, done over years and often by the time the research is complete, the business and the market has moved on,” says Professor Sharon Mickan, who heads up the Healthcare Innovations program.
"But there is real value for businesses who are just starting out in collaborating on the design of research that can really help their products and ideas become the best they can be. Our aim is to give entrepreneurs that business edge, but also to give our students the skills to do quality, rigorous research at a pace and in a way that benefits businesses in a fast-moving marketplace.”
Professor Mickan says students will take part in capstone projects working directly with founders to summarise and synthesise the research evidence, providing data and insights that will benefit end users.