Congratulations to CSIRO for winning the KCA Best Research Commercialisation Award at today’s KCA digital awards ceremony. CSIRO’s submission was based on being able to quickly and accurately X-ray ore to see how much gold is inside. The system, PhotonAssay, uses high-energy X-rays to increase gold recovery by 1-3%, which is worth $2 billion a year to this industry alone. Additionally, there are no hazardous substances in this process, improving environmental impact and worker safety.
Additionally, CSIRO also took home the KCA Best Research Contract/Collaboration Award. Their second invention is a varnish called MS3, which is created through ‘flow chemistry’ and is being used to preserve priceless masterpieces in art galleries around the world. It was created to address a sudden need after the world’s best varnish went out of production, and no one knew how to recreate it. The National Gallery of Victoria approached CSIRO, who used their expertise in chemical synthesis to make a new and improved varnish, which has been exported across the world by Melbourne company Boron Molecular.
And finally, we’d like to congratulate Curtin University on winning the KCA People’s Choice Award for their PainChek app. The app uses artificial intelligence to recognise micro expressions to calculate the severity of the pain in dementia patients, so that carers can better assess them. Sadly, 85% of aged care residents with dementia experience pain but cannot verbalise it. PainChek Ltd was listed on the ASX in 2016, and a government grant has made the app available to 100,000 people.
POF Managing Principal Ross McFarlane had the pleasure of presenting these awards during today’s virtual event. “As the world recovers from the damage of COVID-19, the role of KCA in helping deliver the benefits of public sector research to our economy, and more broadly to our society, is more important than ever. Congratulations to the winners of the KCA Awards.” Ross McFarlane says.
Well done to the other finalists from The University of Queensland and UniQuest. Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick is once again proud to be the sponsor of the KCA awards, which celebrate achievements of KCA members in Australian tech transfer.
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| Pictured above: Ross McFarlane and others at the KCA Virtual Awards event |
