One local vice-chancellor says the COVID-19 pandemic is an opportunity to drive innovation.

Western Sydney University vice-chancellor Barney Glover addressed a symposium on research commercialisation this week, explaining that Australia needs to develop national ­capabilities.

“Over the last two decades we’ve had a number of opportunities nationally when we’ve discussed the importance of innovation and commercialisation, but we haven’t really driven home the advantages we have in Australia,” he told the online symposium run by the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE).

“Now, possibly because of the burning platform of the pandemic, we have more alignment of opportunity than we’ve ever had before.”

He said the work is starting already, with a federal government review of research commercialisation, headed by Siemens Australia chair and chief executive Jeff Connolly, currently taking place. 

Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge launched the review, seeking a far higher level of research commercialisation in Australian universities.

Mr Tudge sees commercialisation both as a source of funding for universities and as a way to spur economic growth.

But Professor Glover says having more applied research translated into commercial opportunities cannot happen without underlying, fundamental research.

“We can’t have an ecosystem of translational and impactful research if we don’t appreciate the role that’s played by fundamental research in universities and other organisations,” he said.

“From that perspective, investment in the Australian Research Council, the National Health and Medical Research Council, and other agencies, is absolutely vital.”

Professor Glover said Australia needs to account for the fact that international student fees – which were used to fund research – have all but dried up. 

He said the Federal Government needs to make a funding “readjustment” to enable long-term support for fundamental research in universities.