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Inventor Mentoring

One-on-one support for your commercialisation journey

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The Inventor Mentoring program matches University of Sydney researchers with experienced external mentors to explore the real-world potential of their research, particularly those new to commercialisation.

  • Connect to an entrepreneurial community of support.
  • Develop confidence in commercial understanding.
  • Build interpersonal skills to communicate their research.
  • Develop an understanding of what it takes to get a technology, process, or other invention to market.
  • Have ongoing conversations and guidance to develop a commercialisation strategy for their research.

Program format and dates

Monthly 1.5-hour sessions with your matched mentor

All sessions will be held over lunch and in person at the Sydney Knowledge Hub on the Darlington Campus to give you the chance to meet other researchers and supporters of commercialisation in and outside the University of Sydney.

Mentees need to attend all sessions:

  • Thursday 16th October 2025, 12pm - 1:30pm
  • Thursday 13th November 2025, 12pm - 1:30pm
  • Thursday 11th December 2025, 12pm - 1:30pm
  • Thursday 5th February 2026, 12pm - 1:30pm
  • Thursday 12th March 2026, 12pm - 1:30pm
  • Thursday 9th April 2026, 12pm - 1:30pm

These 2.5-hour workshops are designed to enrich your mentoring sessions.

Mentees need to attend all sessions:

  • Thursday 30th October 2025, 2pm-4:30pm
    Testing your commercialisation model
  • Thursday 4th December 2025, 2pm-4:30pm
    Building a robust exit strategy
  • Thursday 5th March 2026, 2pm-4:30pm
    Stakeholder management and communication

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Submit an EOI

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Applications for 2025 have now closed. Submit an expression of interest for 2026.

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Download program guidelines

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Meet the 2025 cohort

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Contact

Manual Name : Jane Cockburn

Manual Description : Program Manager

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Who is this for?

This program is for researchers who are interested in seeing their research applied in the real-world but have little or no experience or confidence with commercialisation.

Participants must be a researcher (staff or higher degree researcher) at the University of Sydney at the start and for the duration of the program, and their research project must be at a Technology Readiness Level (PDF) of 5 or above.

Our mentors

Our mentors are skilled external participants that have an interest and experience in supporting researchers in the early stages of commercialisation journey. The program provides an opportunity for mentees and mentors to develop a trusting relationship by meeting regularly and discussing matters relating to career development.

Matching mentors and mentees

The first meeting will introduce participants with mentors, provide an induction, and allow time for questions and networking. Participants will nominate their preferred mentor, and the Program Manager will confirm matches based on preferences, sector knowledge, interests, and compatibility. If a pairing isn’t working, the Program Manager can arrange a new match at any time.

Become a mentor

If you want to become a mentor, reach out to jane.cockburn@sydney.edu.au.

Testimonials

I have started serious discussions for incorporation of a company.

Past participant

We are capital raising and about to do a simulated clinical trial.

Past participant

I'm starting an internship with a medtech firm aligned to my research area.

Past participant

Stay connected

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Link URL: https://www.sydney.edu.au/engage/industry-business-partnerships/sydney-knowledge-hub/get-in-touch.html

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Link URL: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydneyknowledgehub/

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Link URL: https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1982545/1961767/

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