The Federal Department of Education’s $370 million Trailblazer Universities Program (TUP)
funded between (2022–2023 to 2025–2026) established six Trailblazers to focus on national
priorities such as defence, space, food and beverage, recycling and clean energy, and
resources technology and critical minerals.

Under the Trailblazer program, 14 Australian universities and 228 industry partners have also
co-invested a total of $1.02 billion to build new research capabilities and drive commercialisation
outcomes at speed and scale, to accelerate Australia’s innovation agenda.

The Trailblazers have joined forces to call for continued policy and investment support to extend
the successful momentum of the Trailblazer Universities Program, as outlined in a joint
submission to the Strategic Examination of R&D.

“The Trailblazers have only been running since 2023 and already having great success in
industry-university engagement and translating research into commercialisation. With $549
million directly invested by industry, it is clear industry backs this collaborative approach to R&D
and innovation. We are calling for government commitment to continue the success of the
Trailblazer program,” said Dr Sanjay Mazumdar, Executive Director of Defence Trailblazer.

Together, the Trailblazers have demonstrated the value of university-industry engagement in
experimental development, or the translation of research into practical applications – an area
where Australia has historically underperformed. Within 18 months of operation, all six
Trailblazers have had significant achievements:
• unlocking more than $549 million co-investment from 228 industry partners
• establishing over 319 collaborative projects between industry and academia; and
• fostering early career industry pathways for students and academics through
internships, industry sponsored PhDs and academic-industry secondments.

The joint submission to the Strategic Examination of R&D also highlighted several common
themes:
• Establish long-term and large-scale commitment to areas of strategic priority – a
national vision to guide R&D investment
• Support cultural reform by rewarding, recognising and incentivising universityindustry R&D – encourage the commercialisation of research
• Create greater societal understanding of the benefits of R&D and innovation – build a
“social license” for basic research, and encourage risk-taking in experimental
development
• Create stable funding programs that incentivise industry participation in R&D and
innovation – address the funding gaps between prototype development and
commercialisation
• Create and promote measures that are aligned to the outcomes and impact of R&D
investment – metrics to track the success of innovation-based products and services.