NICTA Announces Second Entrepreneur-in-Residence

Australian ICT research Centre of Excellence, National ICT Australia (NICTA), announced today that it has engaged Mr. Steven Subar as its second Entrepreneur-in-Residence.

 

NICTA ‘s Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EiR) Program involves an individual who has a history of successful venture capital-backed, start-up company development, together with extensive experience, and connections with investors and potential industry partners. The EiR program provides NICTA and its researchers with direct access to highly experienced entrepreneurs to assist in realising the commercial potential of their research. These entrepreneurs are charged with identifying industry-specific market opportunities, and working with NICTA’s researchers and commercialisation team to build world-class companies. 

 

Mr. Steven Subar was recruited from a roundtable event held in Palo Alto California, United States in March this year.  The event was aimed at introducing NICTA and the Entrepreneur-in-Residence program to experienced entrepreneurs in the heart of Silicon Valley.  Over 60 entrepreneurs attended the event, resulting in a number of applications being submitted to become part of this program.

 

Mr Subar, joins NICTA for up to a 12-months.  A seasoned executive and accomplished entrepreneur with more than 20 years experience Mr. Subar’s experience ranges from accelerating growth for established enterprises, launching new startups, to transforming struggling ventures into viable operations.

 

“We are very pleased to have Mr. Subar on board. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge that he can bring to NICTA”, said Randal Leeb-du Toit, Commercialisation and IP Manager, NICTA.

 

Mr. Subar commented, “I was initially attracted to NICTA because of the passion for excellence imbued within those that I first met. That sprit is what it takes to create new technology and, from that new technology, new companies.  I am looking forward to working with all the staff at NICTA and applying my experience building successful venture-backed business in high-growth markets, as well as having some fun in the process”.

 

“As a result of an Entrepreneur-in-Residence’s knowledge of a particular industry

and their surrounding environments, they are able to identify and apply their entrepreneurial experience to successfully transferring NICTA technology into the corporate domain,” said Mr. Leeb-du Toit.

 

NICTA ‘s Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EiR) initiative is part of a broader commercialisation program.  Mr Ric Clark, NICTA’s Chief Operating Officer said, “Commercialisation is an integral part of NICTA’s operations.  We have already implemented extensive commercialisation training, we conduct regular scanning for commercialisation opportunities which has resulted in the filing of 12 provisional patents, provide business planning expertise for our research projects and have employed an extensive business development program.”

 

Mr. Subar has a reputation for attracting high profile investors, board members, and strategic partners.  In addition to his EiR role, Mr. Subar remains a Managing Partner of z2m4 inc., a boutique management consulting firm he founded in 2001.  z2m4 specialises in delivering portfolio company performance for managers of and investors in high tech business.

 

 

For further information:

National ICT Australia

Clare Gill (nee MacDonald)

Ph: 02 9209 4743 or 0414 580 025

clare.gill@nicta.com.au