PhD mentoring program rolls out across Australia

AusBiotech

The award-winning Industry Mentoring Network in STEM (IMNIS) MedTech-Pharma Program has now been launched across Australia, after the program was funded on the back of a successful pilot. 

IMNIS is an initiative of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) that connects motivated second year PhD students (mentees) with outstanding industry leaders (mentors). The Program provides mentees the opportunity to increase their understanding of the industry sector, develop the skills needed to be successful within the broader STEM sector (industry, academia, government) and extend their professional network. It also provides mentors the opportunity to ‘give back’ to the sector

The IMNIS pilot, part of which was led by AusBiotech, demonstrated success in multiple universities across three states.

In 2016, IMNIS was recognised with a prestigious Business Higher Education Round Table Award and was awarded funding from MTPConnect to expand the program nationally.

Australia is ranked lowest among OECD nations in collaboration between business-research collaborations – not just large businesses, but also SMEs. Only 30% of Australia’s PhD students go into industry or government compared to over 70% in most industrialised countries. The Program aims to raise Australia’s level of industry-university collaboration and foster a culture of research and innovation.

IMNIS seeks to develop a new generation of industry-savvy PhD graduates who can engage with industry, kick-start collaborations and transition between sectors.

The Program is supported by consortium partner AusBiotech and sponsored by CSL and KPMG.