Dr George Feast

George is the Deputy Director of the SME Connect team and is based in Clayton, VIC.

George leads delivery of the SME Collaboration Initiative aims to double the number of SMEs that engage with publicly-funded research by increasing facilitation and reducing the barriers for SME interactions with universities and CSIRO. He also has responsibility for SME Connect programs: CSIRO Kick-Start, Innovate to Grow and Generation STEM Links.

George's role involves engaging with Government, university and industry stakeholders to create national-scale leadership and systems to increase SME engagement and drive the Australian economy forward through innovation. We are providing better coordination and marketing between existing schemes, piloting and expanding new programs with relevant stakeholders, and training SMEs and researchers in the value of R&D engagement.

George also provides leadership to the CSIRO Kick-Start program which helps start-ups and very small businesses access dollar-matched funding to undertake a project with CSIRO. Kick-Start provides vouchers of up to $50k to assist companies perform research, development or testing projects utilising CSIRO researchers, capabilities and facilities.

Since joining SME Connect in 2016, George worked on the establishment of the SIEF STEM+ Business program, as well as promoting the wide range of offerings the SME Connect team has to universities, research organisations and beyond before becoming the Kick-Start program manager in early 2017. George also served as the acting Business Development Director for CSIRO Services in 2019.