UNSW will continue to change the world through our research excellence and an entrepreneurial spirit that drives a culture of discovery and innovation, translation into tangible products and services, and positive impact. From our research into renewable energy solutions to computer science and quantum physics, to city and economy shaping research, we have a deep commitment to leading research excellence.
Our research discoveries and creation of new knowledge will enrich our educational offerings by enhancing learners’ understanding of emerging societal issues and how to apply innovative, real-world solutions.
We will engage with government, industry and community with intellectual curiosity and generosity to better anticipate and respond to societal, industrial and environmental needs.
We will strengthen UNSW’s standing as a leading research university by expanding and deepening our research partnerships. We will enhance our systems to create a potent research environment that nurtures innovative, collaborative leaders and knowledge creators who deliver impact in the areas where it is needed most. We will further harness the distinctive UNSW superpower of our shared research infrastructure and ecosystem to optimise meaningful partnerships and outcomes.
We aspire to:Â
- be global leaders in research through impact, excellence and partnerships
- be a world-leading entrepreneurial university
- be in the top 10 universities globally for the highest number of successful university spinout companies
- increase higher degree research (HDR) enrolment, completions, retention and satisfaction, including for underrepresented groups
- continue to diversify our income for research and research infrastructure through industry partnerships, philanthropic donations and other funding sources.
Objectives
1. Create a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment that optimises our research excellence and potential, by:
- focusing on the most pressing challenges, where our research can have the greatest positive societal impact
- balancing this societal impact research alongside excellent fundamental, deep discipline research that is futuristic and speculative in nature
- diversifying our research partnerships and funding – building our partner funding alongside traditional sources
- leveraging our global reputation for research excellence to create a virtuous cycle of researcher recruitment practices, mentoring and career development programs, including global experiences.
2. Underscore and accelerate our shared critical research infrastructure – physical, digital and AI augmented – and support ecosystem, by:
- continuing to harness the distinctive UNSW superpower of our shared research infrastructure ecosystem, including pilot facilities (such as the Solar Industrial Research Facility) and shared facilities (like , )
- enhancing access to this research ecosystem throughout UNSW as well as with research, industry and government partners
- driving engagement and research translation with external partners and enhancing support from technical experts
- scaling our investment in digital and physical research infrastructure, including leveraging AI and emerging technologies.
3. Amplify UNSW’s entrepreneurial culture and reputation to accelerate successful research translation and commercialisation, by:
- significantly scaling our research translation outputs, including deepening existing collaborative partnerships
- increasing the number of UNSW-supported spinout companies, and expanding UNSW Founders and the Entrepreneurial Campus programs
- providing the resources and expertise to translate great ideas and innovative solutions into commercial opportunities and policy change.
Flagship initiatives
Delivering ‘UNSW Missions’
We will embark on a distinct set of ‘UNSW Missions’, interdisciplinary programs of work focusing on achieving large-scale impact within our Societal Impact Framework (SIF) areas. They will leverage our global standing in research excellence, our cutting-edge infrastructure and our reputation for collaboration to attract partners – supporters, industry, government and peak bodies – who share our vision.Â
Building early and mid-career research opportunities and capacity
To create the research capability and capacity that will enable UNSW to advance Progress for All, we will offer career development opportunities for emerging generations of early to mid-career researchers to work with the best researchers in the world. This will build on our successful Scientia Fellows and PhD programs.Â
Centring Indigenous knowledges in research
We aspire to authentically embed Indigenous knowledges in our research practices. This will include engaging with Indigenous expert knowledge on its own terms, supporting Indigenous-led research and providing the necessary resources to strengthen Indigenous knowledge institutions. By integrating these practices, we aim to create a research environment that respects and elevates Indigenous knowledges, contributing to more impactful research outcomes.Â
Scaling entrepreneurship and commercialisation
We will continue to lead as the most entrepreneurial university in Australia and will become a global leader. This will be through fostering the highest number of sustainable startup and spinout companies created using technology developed at our University, and our commitment to new ventures through the Industry and Innovation, New Ventures team and UNSW Founders.Â
Get in touch
Our Strategy was designed by our UNSW community, for our UNSW community so we want everyone to get involved. Please get in touch to discuss the Strategy or ask any questions.