Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
Hunter Branch Meeting 2025-2 of the Royal Society of NSW — 15 May 2025
"From Test Tubes to Terawatts: How Research Sparked a Battery Business"
Professor Thomas Nann
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Allegro Energy, Newcastle
https://www.royalsoc.org.au/events/hunter-branch-meeting-2025-2/
The presentation commences at 01:25
Time Stamps:
00:00:00 Introduction: Emeritus Professor George Willis FRSN FAA, Chair, RSNSW Hunter Branch
00:01:25 Presentation: Professor Thomas Nann
00:49:07 Audience Q&A with Professor Nann moderated by Professor Willis
01:10:47 Meeting Close
Summary: Translating research outcomes into real-world impact is (almost) every academic’s dream. However, the journey from academia to business is steep and fraught with challenges. These include navigating negotiations with technology transfer offices, bridging the “valley of death” to develop the first minimum viable product, and mastering the complexities of running a business—a skillset far removed from the academic environment.
In this presentation, Thomas will share insights into this transition, touching on the science behind his work but also focusing on his journey from academia to leading a rapidly growing business.
About the speaker: Thomas Nann is the CEO and co-founder of Allegro Energy, an Australian company based in Newcastle. Allegro Energy provides sustainable, high-performance energy storage solutions, mainly focussing on long-duration energy storage using Allegro’s proprietary microemulsion flow battery technology. Thomas is an experienced speaker, leader, innovator and entrepreneur. He has many years of experience in leading academic research and research organisations, manufacturing facilities and commercialising research outcomes. Climate change mitigation and renewable energy have always been his passion. After completing his PhD in electrochemistry and his Habilitation in nanomaterials, he led numerous academic and industrial projects in the field of renewable energy generation and storage.
Hunter Branch Meeting 2025-2 of the Royal Society of NSW — 15 May 2025
"From Test Tubes to Terawatts: How Research Sparked a Battery Business"
Professor Thomas Nann
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Allegro Energy, Newcastle
https://www.royalsoc.org.au/events/hunter-branch-meeting-2025-2/
The presentation commences at 01:25
Time Stamps:
00:00:00 Introduction: Emeritus Professor George Willis FRSN FAA, Chair, RSNSW Hunter Branch
00:01:25 Presentation: Professor Thomas Nann
00:49:07 Audience Q&A with Professor Nann moderated by Professor Willis
01:10:47 Meeting Close
Summary: Translating research outcomes into real-world impact is (almost) every academic’s dream. However, the journey from academia to business is steep and fraught with challenges. These include navigating negotiations with technology transfer offices, bridging the “valley of death” to develop the first minimum viable product, and mastering the complexities of running a business—a skillset far removed from the academic environment.
In this presentation, Thomas will share insights into this transition, touching on the science behind his work but also focusing on his journey from academia to leading a rapidly growing business.
About the speaker: Thomas Nann is the CEO and co-founder of Allegro Energy, an Australian company based in Newcastle. Allegro Energy provides sustainable, high-performance energy storage solutions, mainly focussing on long-duration energy storage using Allegro’s proprietary microemulsion flow battery technology. Thomas is an experienced speaker, leader, innovator and entrepreneur. He has many years of experience in leading academic research and research organisations, manufacturing facilities and commercialising research outcomes. Climate change mitigation and renewable energy have always been his passion. After completing his PhD in electrochemistry and his Habilitation in nanomaterials, he led numerous academic and industrial projects in the field of renewable energy generation and storage.
