Australia’s scientific research should not just end as academic writing but lay the groundwork for innovative products to benefit the nation. That’s the focus of Australia’s new chief scientist Cathy Foley, who has on Wednesday given her first major address in the role. Foley worked on indium nitride for her PhD, finding the chemical was responsive to the right spectrum for creating white light. She published her research in a paper and left it at that, but a Japanese team later progressed the findings and won a Nobel Prize as it laid the groundwork for LED lights. “With the benefit of hindsight, you might describe that as a brutal lesson in lost opportunities,” Foley told the National Press Club. “Not only for me, but for Australia.” As chief scientist she is determined for researchers to branch out into commercialising their work. “This is the task of building connections and collaboration to advance …