Professor Darren Martin
Professor Darren Martin is a global leader in research and commercialisation of polyurethanes, polymer nanocomposites and renewable nanomaterials. In addition to many high impact publications, his research has led to several licensed and granted patents, with a proven track record in “end-to-end innovation”. The Martin Group takes fundamental discoveries and learnings in materials science and biology and progresses the science, engineering, regulation and translation of these technologies for the benefit of Queensland and Australia. Current active platforms include the unique cellulose nanofibres from Australian spinifex arid grasses, and organosilicate nano additives being commercialised by the AIBN spin-out company TenasiTech Pty Ltd.
He has been an active researcher in both the ARC Centre of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials and today in UQ’s Centre for Translational Polymer Research. Martin is the Founder and Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of the successful UQ startup company TenasiTech Pty Ltd (www.tenasitech.com). Founded in 2007, TenasiTech is the first Queensland start-up to receive Commercialisation Australia funding; has won the prestigious iLab Prize in the national Enterprize Competition; and received the 2010 UQ EAIT Commercialisation award.
As inventor and research leader of the spinifex nanocellulose platform technology, Professor Martin won a 2016 UQ Partners in Research Excellence Award (PIREA) for ongoing engagement, co-development and commercialisation of this technology with The Dugalunji Aboriginal Corporation (DAC) in remote NW QLD.
