Commercialisation Australia is looking for experienced business people to share their knowledge, skills, experience and networks to help Australia's promising innovators successfully take their intellectual property to market.
We are looking for mentors who:
- have hands-on experience in commercialising a product, process or service;
- have business, management or technical/domain expertise;
- have a genuine interest in helping researchers, individuals and innovative companies take their ideas to market; and
- are available to communicate with Commercialisation Australia participants on an ad hoc basis.
We are also looking for mentors who are global leaders in their specific technology field and would be keen to interact with Commercialisation Australia and its participants.
As a Volunteer Business Mentor you will be offering your time and experience freely to benefit Australia's commercialisation performance and long term economic prosperity. Commercialisation Australia supports our mentors by covering costs for travel and associated expenses.
How to Apply
To become a Volunteer Business Mentor, please complete the Expression of Interest form* available here.
Please note that individuals submitting Expressions of Interest will undergo a screening process. Applicants will be contacted in writing to advise them of the outcome of their application.
On joining as a Commercialisation Australia Volunteer Business Mentor, you will be required to sign a Deed with the Commonwealth by which you agree to act ethically and recognise confidentiality. A copy of the Deed will be available on the website soon.
Commercialisation Australia participants wishing to access mentors are also required to sign a Deed as part of their Funding Agreement (Schedule 3) by which they agree to indemnify the Volunteer Business Mentor and Commercialisation Australia against any claim resulting from any activity or actions taken by the successful applicant. A copy of the Commercialisation Australia Funding Agreement is available on the Funding Agreement Page.
If you encounter any difficulties in completing or submitting the Expression of Interest form, or would like any further information in relation to the Volunteer Business Mentor Program, please contact Commercialisation Australia at CA.Mentors@innovation.gov.au or call our Hotline 13 22 56.
*Commercialisation Australia will use the information provided in the Expression of Interest form to assess and register mentors for the Volunteer Business Mentor Program, to prepare a mentor profile in the Commercialisation Australia volunteer mentor database and for the administration of the Commercialisation Australia Program.
Your information may be disclosed within Commercialisation Australia and its staff, including Commercialisation Australia Case Managers and within the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research for the purposes of administering Commercialisation Australia. It may also be disclosed as permitted or required by law, or in response to questions posed by the Minister, Parliament or its committees.
The use and disclosure by the Australian Government of information provided by you to Commercialisation Australia is regulated by the relevant provisions and penalties of the Public Service Act 1999, the Public Service Regulations, the Privacy Act 1988, and the general law.