New Partnership Creates Dedicated Digital Health CoWorking Space

17 August 2017

National non-profit digital health integrator and accelerator ANDHealth, recipient of the MTPConnect Project Fund Program, has teamed up with specialised health co-working space Agnes Health, to jointly advance the Agnes Health facility as a leading hub for digital health technology companies and entrepreneurs.

Under the agreement, the two groups will be co-located and will undertake to run a program of investment and precinct development activities in order to provide a vibrant co-working and collaboration space dedicated to supporting the commercialisation of digital health technologies in Australia.

“By joining forces with Agnes Health, we are able to jointly build a dynamic community of digital health innovators who will have ready access to the skills and expertise of the ANDHealth members, which span global leaders from the pharmaceutical, medical technology, software development, design and university sectors, as well as our national and international industry development partners,” said ANDHealth Managing Director, Bronwyn Le Grice.

“To be successful in actually getting these innovative healthcare solutions to market, it is critical that entrepreneurs have access to people with proven and demonstrable track records in developing and commercialising these types of technologies, and access to the broad range of skill sets necessary to navigate the path to market. The ANDHealth+ Program is designed to address these gaps and this collaboration provides entrepreneurs with a destination where they can network with and access these experts.” Le Grice said.

Before Agnes Health started at the site in East Melbourne, it was the headquarters of software company iCareHealth, who grew from a start up to have operations in Australia, the UK and Malaysia. In 2014, Telstra Health acquired the Australian arm of iCareHealth, with the original owners still growing the UK business (www.icarehealth.co.uk).

Chris Gray, director of iCareHealth and Chairman of Agnes Health commented, “I have no doubt we would have grown quicker and with lower costs if we had access to the collaboration and development model of Agnes Health and ANDHealth. The ability to connect with leaders in the healthcare industry, other digital health care start ups, as well as business mentors, will make a difference to the innovators growing their business."

“The building in East Melbourne has been owned by our family for over 30 years. We are now pleased to provide it as the hub for entrepreneurs with new, innovative digital solutions that are solving the challenges of populations around the world that are increasing their demands on both health care services and improved health outcomes.” Gray said.

The partnership is effective immediately and the ANDHealth team is already in situ at Agnes Health, 49 Agnes Street, East Melbourne.

Visit ANDHealth.com.au for more details.