Impact, collaboration and incentives: How UNSW is redefining research excellence
In this episode, we are joined by Professor Bronwyn Fox, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Enterprise at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), to explore how one of Australia’s leading research universities is redefining research excellence through collaboration, innovation, and impact. Bronwyn shares how UNSW is transforming its research culture—embedding entrepreneurship across disciplines, investing in shared infrastructure, and creating new pathways to turn discovery into societal and economic value.
From building an ecosystem that connects researchers, founders, and investors, to rethinking how impact is recognised and rewarded, to fostering a culture where collaboration and co-creation thrive, this conversation offers practical insights for institutions seeking to align excellence with purpose and build research systems that truly make a difference.
You can read a summary below, and listen to the full interview in our podcast:
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Summary
From research to real-world impact
When Bronwyn began her career, she was told she would never make it to professor if she kept “mucking around with industry.” Two decades later, she leads one of Australia’s most entrepreneurial universities—one that celebrates collaboration, innovation, and impact as integral to academic excellence.
Today, UNSW’s research ecosystem looks very different from the one she entered. What was once seen as a trade-off between scientific rigour and real-world relevance is now recognised as a powerful combination.
Building the foundations of an impact ecosystem
UNSW’s transformation didn’t happen overnight. As Bronwyn explains, the university has invested in building an entire ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship and collaboration at every stage—from student ideas to global spinouts.
A cornerstone of this shift is the Founders Program, which touches over 10,000 staff, students, and alumni each year and generates 300 startups annually. Through mentorship, pitching competitions, and access to funding, the program has redefined how the university community approaches innovation.
When 10,000 people have access to entrepreneurial experiences, it changes the culture of the whole university.
This cultural momentum is reinforced by strategic initiatives like Barker Street Ventures, which enables alumni to invest directly in UNSW startups, and the university’s growing portfolio of seed and proof-of-concept funding.
Recognising collaboration as research excellence
One of UNSW’s biggest shifts has been in how it defines and rewards success. The traditional model of research evaluation—based solely on publications and citations—is evolving to include engagement, societal impact, and collaboration.
UNSW’s Faculty of Science has pioneered the “Pact for Impact,” a framework that helps researchers articulate and track the diverse ways their work creates value—whether through policy influence, industry collaboration, or improved community outcomes.
While this journey is still in its early stages, Bronwyn stresses the importance of staying thoughtful about measurement: metrics should guide behaviour, not dictate it.
What you measure, you often create. We have to be careful that new metrics drive the right kind of change.
The culture of sharing and collaboration
Bronwyn credits UNSW’s collaborative spirit as one of its greatest strengths. The Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, a shared research infrastructure model, has fostered a culture of openness and collective problem-solving across disciplines.
When academics share their equipment, it becomes a powerful tool for collaboration. That culture of sharing permeates everything we do.
These values extend beyond campus walls. UNSW encourages a co-design approach with industry partners—working alongside them to address complex challenges rather than acting as a service provider. The goal, Bronwyn says, is to build long-term trust-based partnerships that deliver real outcomes for both sides.
Lessons from the lab: co-creation in action
One story stands out from Bronwyn’s own research career. While working with Mercedes-Benz and Multimatic to develop carbon fibre composites for cars, she and her team were tasked with creating a material that could be produced in one minute—a dramatic leap from the industry standard of an hour.
The project not only produced an industrial innovation but also forged a decade-long relationship rooted in shared discovery and trust—a perfect example of the co-creation mindset that UNSW now champions institution-wide.
Looking ahead: Australia’s moment for impact
Bronwyn is optimistic about the next decade for Australian research and innovation. With new national initiatives such as the Australian National Reconstruction Fund and Future Made in Australia, she sees growing momentum around translating research into value creation.
It’s an incredibly exciting time to be in Australia. We now have the mechanisms, the funding, and the appetite to take research further than ever before.
For her, the key to sustained progress lies in courage, persistence, and community.
Sometimes we’re motivated by the things we’re told we can’t do. Use that energy to prove people wrong—and never be afraid to ask for help. People will bend over backwards to support you.
Ready for more?
Curious to see how other universities are building collaboration into their DNA? The article Commitment, Not Cash: Jönköping University’s Partnerships for Impactful Research and Education highlights how Jönköping is redefining value in partnerships—focusing on shared purpose, long-term trust, and impact over financial investment.
For a different perspective, the podcast Why UniSA Is Putting Partners at the Centre of Its Strategy delves into how the University of South Australia has embedded collaboration across its operations, creating an enterprise model that strengthens both engagement and innovation outcomes.
Stay tuned for the next episode on this series and don’t forget to follow us on your preferred podcast platform!
