From Lab to Launch: A Researcher's First Steps with I2N

This In-Person event was held on Friday 29 May 2026

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Wondering if your research could go further? Join us for a plain-English crash course on your first steps toward commercialisation.

Are you a UON researcher, academic or HDR student working on something that could solve a real problem outside the lab, but unsure how to take the next step or who to talk to?

This workshop is designed for researchers who are curious about the commercial potential of their work but don't know where to begin. You don't need a business plan. You don't need to leave your research role. You don't need to call yourself an founder. You just need to bring your idea and an open mind.

In this two-hour session, you'll be guided step-by-step through a proven approach to working out whether your research solves a genuine problem for real people, and how to communicate that value clearly. Then you'll hear directly from two researcher-founders who have already walked this path:

  • Claudia Bruinsma, Co-Founder of Myci and PhD Candidate in microbial synthetic biology at UON. Myci turns fermentation by-products into high-performance, sustainable skincare. Claudia is an alumna of FLIP and the I2N Accelerator.
  • James Bradley, Co-Founder of Facet Amtech, a deep-tech venture working to revolutionise the global ammonia industry through a novel catalyst. James is a UON Mechanical Engineering graduate, a former I2N Entrepreneur in Residence and previously co-founded Diffuse Energy.

Event Information

  • Date: Friday May 29, 1-3pm, Engineering Precinct, Callaghan
  • Room: EF122
  • Campus: Newcastle (Callaghan)

📅 Order of Proceedings
1:00PM Doors open, refreshments
1:10PM Housekeeping and introduction
1:15PM Workshop: connecting your research to real-world value
2:20PM Founder fireside with Claudia Bruinsma (Myci) and James Bradley (Facet Amtech)
2:50PM Audience Q&A
3:00PM Workshop concludes