UniSuper invests $75m into commercialisation fund manager Uniseed

Industry super fund UniSuper has secured an investment relationship with Australia’s longest-established early-stage commercialisation fund manager – Uniseed investing $75m into the company.

According to UniSuper, the investment will cover existing projects as well as exciting new developments across industries such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, quantum computing and green energy.

Uniseed focuses on innovative programs that will change the world for the better.

John Pearce, CIO at UniSuper said Uniseed was a natural fit and logical choice for the fund.

“UniSuper has always championed Australia’s thinkers, creators and investigators. Uniseed is at the forefront of new start-ups and technologies,” he said.

“This is an excellent opportunity for UniSuper to actively participate in the development and commercialisation of research and technology that will shape the future. We look forward to seeing this investment blossom and grow over time”.

Peter Devine, CEO at Uniseed said UniSuper’s investment will unlock more engagement with Australia’s growing innovation and start-up sector.

 “UniSuper is one of Australia’s largest and most respected and innovative super funds, and the capital at its disposal will go a long way to ensuring we can seize opportunities presented by the brilliant minds at Australia’s top research organisations,” he said.

“This is a further step Uniseed is taking to facilitate commercialisation of Australian research. Today’s emergent start-ups are tomorrow’s tech and health giants, and with funding from UniSuper we are able to get in at the very early stages of these journeys.”

The investments will feed into UniSuper’s sustainable investment options.

Established in 2000 and now owned by the Universities of Melbourne, Queensland, Sydney, New South Wales and the CSIRO, Uniseed provides seed funding for early-stage research and technology developed by its five partners. These innovative organisations provide around half of all patents created by research organisations in Australia.