Overview

The Joint Venture Chemical Engineering Committee (JVCEC) warmly invites you to attend the ChemEngConnect Global Virtual Conference – JVCEC hybrid event hosted at the University of Melbourne Parkville Campus. This event will feature presentations from Dr Gang (Kevin) Li and Caecilia Potter on the topics The Tip of the Iceberg: What Commercialisation Actually Takes and The Journey of Commercialising Research.

The session will explore practical insights into research commercialisation, entrepreneurship, clean energy innovation, and the journey from laboratory research to real-world industry impact.

The Journey of Commercialising Research

This talk shares practical insights into research commercialisation and entrepreneurship, drawing on experience from two spin-offs: Gas Capture Technologies and Thin Air Technology. It traces the journey from fundamental research in gas separation and direct air capture to real-world deployment, highlighting key steps including IP strategy, industry engagement, scale-up, and venture formation. The talk will discuss both successes and challenges in translating academic innovation into market-ready technologies, with a focus on clean energy applications. It aims to provide a practical perspective for engineers and researchers interested in bridging the gap between laboratory discovery and commercial impact.

The Tip of the Iceberg: What Commercialisation Actually Takes

Research is only the visible part of innovation. Beneath the surface lies everything that determines whether a technology succeeds commercially or remains in the lab. This talk shares the journey of building VensoGrow and commercialising BreezeCoat™, a patented agri-coating and flash-drying platform developed from chemical engineering research by Emeritus Professor Owen Potter.

Through real-world lessons in scale-up, fundraising, partnerships, product-market fit, and failed trials, the session explores the gap between technical feasibility and commercial reality, highlighting the importance of adaptability, communication, and anti-fragility in deep-tech commercialisation.

Speakers

Gang (Kevin) Li, Associate Professor, University of Melbourne

Kevin at the University of Melbourne specialises in hydrogen production, CO2 capture, and natural gas processing. With a PhD from Monash, he has received awards including the ARC DECRA, Future Fellow (level 3), and WA Innovator of the Year. He has 200+ publications (Nature, Nature Physics, JACS), 30+ patents. His research has resulted in spin-out companies like Gas Capture Technologies, Thin Air Technology, and Carbelec, commercialising innovative energy and sustainability solutions. 

Caecilia Potter, CEO, VensoGrow

Caecilia is the Founder and CEO of VensoGrow, an AI-driven AgTech company pioneering BreezeCoat™, a patented, dust-free agri- coating platform technology that delivers biological and nutritional actives in controlled layers to improve nutrient use efficiency, microbial shelf-life and crop performance while reducing waste and emissions. She founded VensoGrow to commercialise the pioneering research of her late father, Emeritus Professor Owen Potter (co-founder of ICHemE in Victoria and past Chair), and has since led the company through pilot deployment, multimillion-dollar investment, government support, and partnerships with major industry players.

Nominated by Agrifutures for the 2026 Earthshot Prize, VensoGrow was also recognised as a top four finalist in the Beanstalk Drought Venture Studio and was invited to the May 26 Toronto Super Session with global incubator Creative Destruction Labs. Caecilia brings a multidisciplinary background across IT systems, financial services marketing and design thinking, with prior roles at Accenture and JB Were and as founder of award-winning studio Atticus & Milo. She is an AICD graduate, Wade Institute VC Catalyst alumna, Fellow of the Design Institute of Australia, Cranlana ethical leadership alumna, and an active angel investor focused on high-impact innovation - and enjoys cooking, gardening, art, travel and an active lifestyle. 

Time

18:30–20:00 AEST.