Robert Short has exploited outstanding new science to develop products with profound impacts on human health and wealth creation. He pioneered the deposition of polymer coatings from electrically-excited gases and their use in medical devices. Rob founded two successful spin-out companies. As founding director he oversaw the development of six commercially successful, patent-protected, products. These include Myskin, a novel technology for the treatment of severe burns, and PureCoat, a brand of advanced tissue culture ware. As inaugural director of the Mawson Institute at the University of South Australia, Professor Short built a world class research institute at the manufacturing/biotechnology interface, nurturing technologies with demonstrable global impact. He is currently Pro Vice Chancellor at the University of South Australia.