The Innovation and Commercial Research team helps guide UOW's world-class researchers to engage with industry. They explore research and development capabilities, while providing the connections and knowledge to ensure partnerships are mutually beneficial. This team can assist with:
- Industry / Business & UOW Researcher Engagement Facilitation
- Commercial Research Contracts, Tenders, Grants and CRCs
- Contract Research Consultancies
- Identification, protection and Commercialisation of Intellectual Property & Innovation
General enquiries:
Innovation and Commercial Research Unit, Level 1, Mike Codd Building, Innovation Campus
icr-enquiry@uow.edu.au | 02 4221 5086
Find our more about UOW partnering with industry
George Tomka - Senior Manager Business Development
George taps into over 25 years of international experience achieving successful outcomes across business, government and research, to ensure that UOW’s innovative capabilities have lasting value and are accessible to companies. George leads ICRU, engaging with researchers and our networks to maximise the opportunities and build mutually beneficial relationships.
Zahra Shahbazian - Senior Business Initiatives Manager
Zahra leverages her extensive experience with local and NSW industry to identify areas of common strategic research between Industry Partners and UOW staff focussed on translations research and commercialisation. Zahra is specialised in all NSW and Federal funding scheme and is particularly focused on engaging agile SME partners.
Dr Leo Stevens - Business Development Manager - Advantage SME Program
As an Industry Research Manager, Leo leverages his extensive experience with local and NSW industry to identify areas of common strategic research between Industry Partners and UOW staff focussed on translations research and commercialisation. Leo leads UOW's Advantage SME program which provides support to both researchers and industry partners seeking to initiate collaborative research projects. Having both academic and industry experience, Leo is well placed to help bridge the gap between research and industry, and can assist with opportunity identification, introductions, project scoping, grants and compliance.
Dan Cartwright - Business Development Manger
As an Business Development Manager, Dan provides strategic advice on industry research engagement, commercial research, and commercialisation to stakeholders in the University.
Andrew Morton - Business Development Manger - Innovation
Andrew loves collaborating with the amazing people who work at UOW, creating knowledge for a better world. Andrew joined UOW in 2022 after a long corporate career, primarily working in intellectual property and innovation management. He is always willing to assist UOW researchers navigate the commercialisation landscape and exchange insights to create shared understanding.
Scott Snaidero - Industry and Community Partnership Coordinator
Scott leverages his extensive experience in business development, financial management and stakeholder engagement to identify and assist researchers pursue commercial research tender funding opportunities and build capacity and capability in their own stakeholder engagement approach.
Kerry Duff - Intellectual Property Administration Officer
Kerry provides support to the Technology Transfer Office as well as assisting the ICR team with administration, record management services. Kerry supports UOW commercialisation and commercial research business development activities, which includes patent administration and intellectual property workflow.