Super fund Hostplus tips another $100 million into uni commercialisation fund IP Group

Industry superannuation fund Hostplus has poured another $100 million, on top of its existing $210 million investment, into listed early-stage science investor IP Group Australia. 

The $310 million IP Group Hostplus Innovation Fund has invested in several university spin-outs, including electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft startup AMSL Aero, UNSW telecommunications traffic analysis venture Canopus Networks, Wollongong Uni green hydrogen electrolyser Hysata and Monash’s Additive Assurance (Monash University), a metal additive manufacturing. The fund invests in deeptech, life sciences and cleantech.

IP Group chief investment officer Alistair McCreadie said the Hostplus Innovation Fund will continue its current mandate with an increased focus on university spin outs in Australia and New Zealand.

“This commitment from Hostplus to IP Group will support investment in companies that have the potential to drive  environmental and social change, including clean energy, green transport, medicine, healthcare, artificial intelligence and machine learning,” he said. 

“The IP Group Hostplus Innovation Fund continues to demonstrate the investment opportunity of deep  technology rooted in Australian university research.” 

Hostplus CEO David Elia, said:“We are excited to further strengthen our  partnership with IP Group to invest in Australian and global deep tech companies through the IP  Group Innovation Fund.” 

IP Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange and has partnered with Australia’s Group of Eight leading universities as well as the University of Auckland in  New Zealand.