IMCRC Partner Stryker opens new medtech R&D lab in Queensland

26 September 2022

Pictured at the Stryker R&D Lab Launch event in Brisbane, from left, Maurice Ben-Mayor President South Pacific Stryker, Sue McLeman Chair MTPConnect, David Chuter CEO and Managing Director IMCRC, Rob Wood Senior Director Research and Development Stryker Asia Pacific, the Hon. Ian Macfarlane Chair IMCRC, Kevin Lobo Chair and CEO Stryker, Tom Williamson IMCRC Researcher and post-doctorate RMIT University, and Ulrich Buhner Chief Engineer R&D Stryker Digital, Robotics and Enabling Technologies.

A new Australian research and development (R&D) lab for innovative medical technology has been opened in Queensland by Stryker, one of the world’s leading medical technology companies. Established with the support of the Queensland Government, the University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology and Metro North Hospital and Health Service, the Lab will work to accelerate the translation of research within Australia’s medical technology ecosystem.

Stryker’s R&D Lab is based in Brisbane’s world-renowned Herston Health Precinct, a place where 13,000+ clinical and non-clinical staff, scientists, researchers, and students in 30+ health facilities, medical research institutes, universities, and organisations, come together to deliver excellence in health innovation, education, research, training, and clinical care. Being located within this MedTech ecosystem allows the R&D Lab’s researchers and engineers to better collaborate with clinicians and understand their current and future needs, all at the site of care.

Demonstrated power of collaboration

The R&D Lab builds on existing partnerships with clinicians, researchers, universities, healthcare providers and government that have already demonstrated the power of collaboration to accelerate the innovation process. Now, with an expanded focus on digital health, data science, robotics, clinical software applications, and advanced manufacturing research, the R&D Lab is poised to have even more of an impact on the future of healthcare.

Stryker’s investment in the R&D Lab stems from its five-year, collaborative research project with the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC), RMIT University, St Vincent’s Hospital, University of Technology Sydney, University of Sydney and University of Melbourne. The IMCRC project, which commenced in 2017, combined 3D printing, robotic surgery and advanced manufacturing to create patient-specific bone implants to treat bone cancers and tumours.

IMCRC is an independent and for-impact cooperative research centre with a successful, proven and scalable model for catalysing research and business partnerships that drives transformative commercial outcomes for participating Australian manufacturers. To date, IMCRC has successfully co-invested in more than 70 R&D projects, catalysing more than $230 million in transformative manufacturing research.

Ongoing contribution to Australia’s medtech manufacturing ecosystem

CEO and Managing Director of IMCRC, David Chuter, congratulated Stryker on the opening of its Lab and recognised its ongoing contribution to Australia’s medtech manufacturing ecosystem.

“As a company at the forefront of medical technology, Stryker’s expanded presence in Australia will generate significant opportunities for researchers, universities and local industry, creating skilled jobs and pathways for collaboration,” Mr Chuter said.

“IMCRC is delighted that, following our successful collaborative R&D partnership, Stryker has invested in this landmark R&D facility and deepened its commitment to medical research innovation in Australia.

“By supporting the establishment of meaningful partnerships between research institutions and industry, and by providing the right incentives and framework, we can deliver critical, globally relevant innovations that lead to local medical manufacturing opportunities. We must continue to attract more globally leading businesses like Stryker to invest in Australia and utilise our world-class research and innovation expertise, especially where this can enhance our manufacturing capabilities.”

Translating leading research into real-world patient outcomes

Maurice Ben-Mayor, President of Stryker South Pacific, said Stryker was pleased to partner with Queensland’s Government, Australian universities and healthcare providers to translate leading research into real-world patient outcomes.

“Stryker’s project with IMCRC demonstrated the importance of collaborative, open R&D and helped shape our current approach to innovation. We are delighted to take our next steps in Australia and support its future as a world leader in medtech with the opening of our R&D lab,” Mr Ben-Mayor said.

“With its world-class research institutions and highly skilled workforce, Australia has the capabilities Stryker needs to develop and produce the next generation of innovative medical technology. And, with the establishment of the R&D Lab, we can meaningfully collaborate with clinicians, researchers, scientists, and institutions from across Australia, to help transfer our leading research into real-world patient outcomes.”

Along with other key Australian medtech representatives, MTPConnect Chair Sue MacLeman attended the opening of the new Stryker R&D facility in Brisbane last Friday.

Stryker reports projects are already underway to apply artificial intelligence and machine learning to deliver insights and real-time decision support to healthcare providers, creating a data-driven approach to solving clinical problems.