In Case You Missed It: Here's What The MTPConnect Team Has Been Up To in February

Banner Image

04 March 2020

Pictured: Professor Trent Munro from the University of Queensland’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and Professor George Lovrecz from CSIRO talk to the MTPConnect Podcast team in Melbourne.


New Appointment for Our Chair

At the end of February, our Chair Sue MacLeman was appointed to the Prime Minister’s Digital Technology Taskforce in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to guide Australia on the path to be a leading digital economy by 2030. Sue will be a part of the Digital Experts Advisory Committee and will work with other experts to support the MTP sector and grow innovation and commercialisation in the digital health environment.

MTPConnect was Awarded REDI

Last month, we were excited to announce that we had been awarded the $32 million Researcher Exchange and Development within Industry (REDI) initiative, as part of the MRFF. Working with our partners, REDI is all about driving skills development and workforce training that brings together researchers, clinicians, industry and the entrepreneurial ecosystem to enhance Australia’s MTP sector workforce. More news to come on REDI so be sure to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn

TIA Forum 2020

Our Managing Director & CEO Dr Dan Grant presented at the TIA Forum 2020 in Brisbane on the challenges and opportunities for the sector and connecting with the researchers in biologics, cell and gene therapies.

Talking about Collaboration with Fellow Industry Growth Centres

Our COO Stuart Dignam sat on a panel with along with a representative from the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (DISER) and other Industry Growth Centres – NERA, FIAL, AustCyber and AMGC – to talk to students and university staff at RMIT University’s Engaging for Impact series in early February.

BTB Funding Information Sessions Wrap-Up

The BTB team finished touring Round 2 Information Sessions at the University of Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research in Sydney’s Greater West. Thank you to everyone who came along to these sessions across Australia. Round 2 closes for Expressions of Interest on Friday 6 March at 5pm AEDT. If you want further help with applying for this round, please take a listen to our recent podcast episode on the BTB program.

BMTH Round 3 Update

Another MRFF initiative to watch is the BMTH program where Round 3 Expressions of Interest are being reviewed, and applicants will be notified soon.

Information Exchange at Monash Global MBA

Our Chair Sue MacLeman presented to Monash University’s Global MBA class, in late February, on megatrends and the future of health. This is the second time she has presented to the MBA class.

Jobs networking for Industry and Students in Perth

The MTPConnect WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub in partnership with CSIRO’s Data61 Ribit and the City of Perth hosted the ‘Speed Networking for Jobs’ event where 75 graduates met up with 16 companies to get tips about applying for positions and establish connections way after they finish their degrees.

The companies included:

  1. Teach for Australia
  2. Diag-nose Medicine
  3. Advance Genetic Testing
  4. EpiChem
  5. WISE Realities
  6. Kelly Scientific Services
  7. Edith Cowan University (Cybersecurity department)
  8. Fugro Remote Operations
  9. Proteomics International
  10. Ear Science Institute
  11. WA Country Health Network
  12. PwC Life Sciences
  13. APR Intern
  14. Linear Research
  15. KinChip Systems
  16. KPMG

We’ll be releasing some footage of the night courtesy of City of Perth, so follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn

Podcast Spreading the News

On the podcast front, we headlined Australia’s research response to developing a vaccine for COVID-19, released a Round 2 BTB Information Session recorded live in Melbourne, profiled Victoria’s Lead Scientist Dr Amanda Caples and discussed deep tech with Cicada Innovations CEO Sally-Ann Williams. Subscribe on all podcast platforms to receive fresh episodes straight to your device! 

Staff Update

Last month, we said farewell to Divya Kalla, our BMTH Project Manager. On behalf of MTPConnect, we would like to thank her for her efforts in working closely with funding recipients of our BMTH program and wish her all the best for her future endeavours.