Cochlear and Macquarie showcased technology and hosted demonstrations during the R&T (Research & Technology) Expo, a part of the Cochlear Global Research Symposium.

Last week, international experts and thought leaders from the audiology community visited Macquarie for the inaugural Cochlear Global Research Symposium to discuss the latest research and best clinical practices in implantable hearing solutions.

Many high profile guests were in attendance, with speakers at the symposium including the President and CEO of Cochlear Limited Chris Smith, Former Cochlear CEO Professor Chris Roberts, who is currently on the board of Innovation and Science Australia (ISA), and our own Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton, all of whom emphasised the importance of working collaboratively to achieve research and innovation solutions.

In his address at the opening session of the symposium, Professor Dowton discussed the importance of Macquarie’s relationship with Cochlear, our largest on-campus partner.

“We are currently preparing the next generation of researchers by working with our partners, and we count, very proudly, Cochlear as one of our major partners. The Australian Hearing Hub is a remarkable partnership between Macquarie University, Cochlear and a host of organisations from audiology and other disciplines. It is bringing people together into spaces where ideas can germinate,” he said.

The essential nature of universities working closely with research organisations moving forward was also raised by Professor Chris Roberts, whose opening address discussed how innovation will occur in the global markets of the future.

“We are going to need universities, non-for-profits and governments to come together in unprecedented ways as the only solution is to work collaboratively and globally. Places such as the Australian Hearing Hub are acting as a catalyst for global collaboration,” Chris said.

The University has placed precedence on growing the Macquarie-Cochlear collaboration by exploring new opportunities for the partnership, with October heralding the appointment of Dr Lisa Rodgers into a new role as Director of the Cochlear Macquarie University Partnership. Lisa says that she is looking forward to working collaboratively with Cochlear to achieve great things for both organisations.

“This is a partnership that will yield excellent collaborative research outcomes, and one that I am extremely proud to be involved with,” she commented.