ANDHealth launches WA Connected Health Commercialisation Initiative with our WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub

07 November 2022

ANDHealth, Australia’s leading digital health commercialisation organisation, has launched the WA Connected Health Commercialisation Initiative, in collaboration with our WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub, a partnership with MTPConnect, the WA Government Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Industry, and the University of Western Australia.

Announced at AusBiotech 2022 conference, by Minister for Emergency Services; Innovation & ICT; Medical Research; Volunteering, the Hon Stephen Dawson MLC, the Initiative is designed to build the capability of WA digital health companies and continue WA’s trajectory to become a global destination for digital health innovation and commercialisation.

Under the Initiative, ANDHealth will deliver a “turbocharged” pilot of its targeted commercialisation programs to the WA digital health sector. Companies will have access to global and national digital health expertise through ANDHealth’s BRIGHT Ideate & Innovate programs, a series of expert workshops and one-on-one coaching sessions, alongside the establishment of a dedicated ANDHealth program office in WA.

“ANDHealth’s programs are proven to support Australian digital health companies to navigate the complex commercialisation pathway, from idea to international market entry,” said ANDHealth Managing Director and CEO Bronwyn Le Grice.

“The pipeline of companies in WA supported by ANDHealth has grown 154 percent year on year since our first engagement with the Western Australian Government and our WA partners in 2019. This initiative is focused on increasing, enriching, and maturing the pipeline of evidence-based digital health companies in WA to enable them to grow locally and scale globally.”

Minister for Emergency Services; Innovation & ICT; Medical Research; Volunteering, The Hon Stephen Dawson MLC, commented, “Western Australia is home to a growing number of digital health innovations which have significant potential to attract investment, create jobs, and most of all, improve patient lives. Our local innovations, paired with our strong capabilities in medical research, are primed to deliver measurable impact and grow our sector locally and we are thrilled to facilitate access to proven programs that will help them achieve this.”

MTPConnect CEO Stuart Dignam flagged the new digital health initiative as an exciting development for growing the WA medical products sector.

“The digital evolution has rapidly become central to the medical products sector and presents so many opportunities for growth. MTPConnect and the WA Life Science Innovation Hub are delighted to partner with ANDHealth to help WA companies to grow and scale and ultimately seize the commercial opportunities on offer,” said Stuart Dignam.

With ANDHealth’s support, WA companies will be in a stronger position to access the annual intake of the national ANDHealth+ program. Funded by the Australian Government’s Medical Research Futures Fund, ANDHealth+ participants share in up to $3.75M of direct project funding, up to $3.5M of in-kind services from pre-vetted suppliers, and approximately $700k of ANDHealth expertise dedicated to assisting selected SMEs to undertake project activities, procure specialist expertise and meet necessary milestones.

For further information contact MTPConnect’s Director Stakehholder Engagement WA, Dr Tracey Wilkinson and follow ANDHealth news.