A key annual survey has found the university continues to lead the nation in research commercialisation.
UNSW has been named Australia's number one university for startups and spinouts for the fifth year running by the Survey of Commercialisation Outcomes from Public Research (SCOPR).
The University's 2025 cohort of 25 spinouts spanned quantum security, clean energy, health and AI, and is already turning research into real-world results.
The SCOPR is conducted annually by Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia ( KCA) which helps build and foster relationships across research, industry and government. It leads best practice in entrepreneurship for research organisations.
KCA said this year's survey, which examined 2025 data, showed 102 new companies were created in Australia which generated almost $1 billion in industry contracts.
UNSW Deputy Director of Business Development and Commercialisation Dr Dax Kukulj said the results demonstrated that one in four spinouts from Australian universities came from UNSW. Further, UNSW had the highest number of new patent filings with 75 in 2025.
"Being recognised as the top research organisation for spinout creation for the fifth consecutive year is a proud achievement for UNSW and reinforces our position as Australia's most entrepreneurial university," Dr Kukulj said.
"With numerous startups already attracting significant investment, it shows our academics are helping to create real-world products and services that are delivering solutions that continue to benefit not only business but society as a whole."
Being recognised as the top research organisation for spinout creation for the fifth consecutive year is a proud achievement for UNSW and reinforces our position as Australia's most entrepreneurial university.
Spinouts creating real-world products
CounterCurrent , which calls itself the "Google maps of the sea" and Quantum Lock , a device that protects critical infrastructure from tampering and cyber threats, have both raised funds this year.
Counter Current helps ships navigate their journeys, reduce fuel costs and carbon emissions and overall operating costs.
It combines onboard sensors, a genAI forecasting tool for localised and accurate weather predictions and a route optimisation tool which combines the movement of ocean currents and genAI forecasts to recommend the most fuel-efficient route for the vessel.
Quantum Lock is using quantum physics to ensure the security of critical infrastructure. It helps financial exchanges, power plants and data centres prove they have not been tampered with by providing consistent verification.
Quantum Lock has received $400,000 in grant funding and is engaged with a major US financial institution and an Australian data centre operator, among others, with a view to collaborating and potentially piloting Quantum Lock's technology.
EPIWATCH Global is an AI-driven infectious disease platform for spotting potential epidemics. Its software team works closely with epidemiologists to evaluate, test and train the system with real-time tools to support response to and mitigation of epidemic threats.
EPIWATCH is led by Professor Raina MacIntyre, who heads the Biosecurity Program at the Kirby Institute at UNSW. She has also won the Chairman's Award and a Highly Commended in Security and Resilience gong at the 2026 American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Alliance awards .
