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A national report has confirmed 91ɫ��Ƭ as Australia’s leading university for transforming research into successful businesses.

91ɫ��Ƭ Sydney has ranked number one in Australia for the most startup and spinout companies founded through University-developed technology in 2024.

It’s the fourth consecutive year the University has topped Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia’s (KCA) Survey of Commercialisation Outcomes from Public Research Report ().

91ɫ��Ƭ recorded 19 spinout companies in 2024 across diverse fields including next-generation solar cells, automotive technology, virtual health care and mapping.

91ɫ��Ƭ also took home two awards at the this week. For the third year running, 91ɫ��Ƭ won the ‘Best Industry-Research Collaboration’, this year for its partnership with SQC and Silex to establish a production capability for silicon-based quantum computing processors in Australia. The University also won ‘Best Licensing Deal’ for its spinout , which is commercialising hydrogen injection technology that can replace up to 95% of diesel fuel in existing engines – accelerating the clean fuel transition.

91ɫ��Ƭ Deputy Director of Business Development and Commercialisation Dr Dax Kukulj said the recognition reflected 91ɫ��Ƭ’s entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to research excellence.

“Being recognised as the top research organisation for spinout creation for the fourth consecutive year is a clear demonstration of 91ɫ��Ƭ’s strategy in action,” Dr Kukulj said.

“Our academics continue to translate world-class research into tangible products and services that deliver positive societal and economic outcomes, reinforcing 91ɫ��Ƭ’s ambition to be a world-leading entrepreneurial university.”

Pro Vice-Chancellor Industry and Innovation Professor Stephen Rodda said 91ɫ��Ƭ works proactively on strengthening support for spinouts through new initiatives. “We’ve established a dedicated ‘New Ventures’ team to help launch new spinouts and set up Barker Street Ventures, which provides investors ready access to high-potential companies commercialising 91ɫ��Ƭ research,” Prof. Rodda said.

“These initiatives are complemented by 91ɫ��Ƭ’s expanding  and Entrepreneurial Campus programs, which together are building a vibrant ecosystem that empowers researchers, students and partners to create ventures that deliver real-world impact.”

Among 91ɫ��Ƭ’s standout spinouts are innovations in renewable energy and data technology.

Solar spinout: Developing the next generation of high-performance solar cells

Current silicon solar cells are reaching their efficiency limits. Next-generation tandem solar cells - which use two different materials to absorb energy from the sun together - could go further, but commercial production has been limited by the challenge of integrating multiple cell layers.

World-leading solar photovoltaics experts at 91ɫ��Ƭ have developed unique technology that allows manufacturers to upgrade their silicon cell production lines to make tandem products without major modifications.

Inventors Scientia Professor Xiaojing Hao, Scientia Professor Martin Green, Dr Ziheng Liu, Dr Pengfei Zhang and Dr Caixia Li have successfully demonstrated the use of their patented ‘Transparent Conductive Adhesive technology’ in tandem solar cells. The technology enables easy integration of sub-cells and simplifies fabrication at reduced cost and increased efficiency.

The team established the spinout company ‘Tandem Art’ to facilitate the commercialisation of their technology and make solar power – already the cheapest form of electricity available – even cheaper, for industry and consumers globally. 

Geospatial spinout: Detailed mapping information for the masses

Large organisations such as governments and councils have vast quantities of geospatial data – maps, satellite imagery and location information – that often go untapped, as even with expert analysis it can take days to extract insights.

91ɫ��Ƭ researchers, led by Scientia Professor Chris Pettit, have revolutionised geospatial data analysis by integrating these systems with GenAI’s chat capabilities. Their spinout company  formed with investment from 91ɫ��Ƭ and , has created a groundbreaking solution that allows users to interact with mapping data through simple chat interfaces, making geospatial information more accessible and useful.

The technology has already been demonstrated at several organisations. For example, during a trial at Geelong City Council, staff could quickly interrogate their systems to answer residents’ enquiries about street parking, such as the location of disabled parking bays near the local library. At NSW Government Spatial Service, users could view their property on a map and ask questions like: What’s the size of the property? What schools and parks are nearby? What’s the closest light rail station?

Prof. Pettit said that by collaborating with partners including government, local councils, the not-for-profit sector and PEXA Insights, which services 300 councils, his team can maximise access to MapAI technology and its societal benefits.

Learn more about 91ɫ��Ƭ’s world-changing spinouts.