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

05 May 2023

Pictured left to right: Amgen Australia’s Managing Director, Gabi Mittas; MTPConnect’s CEO, Stuart Dignam; QUT’s Distinguished Professor, Lyn Griffiths; Amgen Australia’s Head of Government Affairs, Dr David Thomson and Pfizer’s Executive Director & Emerging Science Lead (Asia & Asia Pacific) Dr Anand Gautam, also joined the Minister as key speakers and welcomed the seventh cohort of the program

Industry Minister Launches Bridge Program's New Cohort
Our CEO Stuart Dignam joined the Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic at the launch of The Bridge Program in Sydney to welcome the seventh cohort of researchers and entrepreneurs. MTPConnect is one of the founding supporters of The Bridge Program. This year we are supporting the program through our Researcher Exchange and Development within Industry (REDI) initiative as it fills a critical skills gap in the commercialisation pathway of therapeutics and increases industry and academia interactions. Congratulations to QUT, Distinguished Professor Lyn Griffiths and the industry-led consortium, including Amgen and Pfizer, who have done so much to support education and training of biotech and pharmaceutical industry professionals.

TTRA Round 3 Funding Round Closes
TTRA program’s third funding round supporting diabetes and cardiovascular disease projects to address the unmet health and medical needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, closed on 28 April 2023.

New Podcast Episodes
Check out this month's new episodes including our 150th episode with MTPConnect's new Chair, the Hon Jaala Pulford who discussed her distinguished career in government and her plans for the next chapter. And take a listen to clinical-stage Australian German company, BellaSeno, developing a next generation fully resorbable breast implant for soft tissue reconstruction, which recently started clinical trials in Brisbane.

WA MTP Sector Spotlight features Alcolizer Technology
The WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub’s WA March MTP Sector Spotlight featured Alcolizer Technology’s Dr Olga Shimoni in conversation with Dr Tracey Wilkinson at Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. They discussed Alcolizer’s road to global-scale commercialisation, on-shoring of their manufacturing, the pivot to COVID-19 #diagnostics, transferring technology from academia to industry and Olga’s personal experiences in transitioning into industry from a research career.

Follow the WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub on LinkedIn
The WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub now has a dedicated LinkedIn page. Keep up to date with news, events and opportunities in the WA sector, access local, national and global networks, and celebrate emerging innovations happening in WA.

SA Insights Series features SAiGENCI
The Adelaide Intermediary Program’s Stephanie Morris hosted the April SA Insights Series with South Australian ImmunoGENomics Cancer Institute (SAiGENCI)’s Director, Professor Chris Sweeney. Chris shared insights from his time as a researcher in roles at international cancer centers and Boston’s entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Check out AusMedtech Programme & Pre-Events in Adelaide
Check out the fantastic programme for AusMedtech - more than 400 industry leaders from across the medtech ecosystem are gathering to uncover key opportunities as they unite in Adelaide to engage with70+ cutting-edge keynotes and experts – 24-25 May. Delegates can connect to SA’s ecosystem by attending a pre-conference event: 'Discovering South Australia’s Medtech: A showcase of Places, People and Opportunities', which includes a SA Medtech Showcase with 20 medtech organisations and optional tours of Adelaide’s innovation precincts on 23 May, hosted by our Adelaide Intermediary Program – for further information, contact AIP.

Adelaide Intermediary Program Hosts Preparing for Pitching Session
To support industry partners, Adelaide Intermediary Program’s Stephanie Morris joined Dr Cameron Smith, partner of FB Rice and Dr Phil Kearney, Dr Chris Smith and Jacqui Wade to present a session on tailoring a presentation pitch and making a strong first impression. The workshop was aimed at organisations keen to engage with industry, including those attending the BIO International Convention in Boston US in June to ensure their partnering meetings return value. The event was held in conjunction with the Department for Trade and Investment Government of South Australia.

Australian Technologies Competition Opens
The Australian Technologies Competition (ATC) is a national growth and awards program showcasing and promoting innovative Australian technologies with global growth potential. Categories span clean energy, fintech/regtech, medtech, critical technologies (Web3), social impact and more. Entries opened 1 May 2023 for SMEs less than 100 employees who are ready to scale up their technology. And MTPConnect is once again supporting the Medtech and Pharma Award category. Apply by 31 May 2023.

Follow MTPConnect ‘s Adelaide Intermediary Program LinkedIn Platform
Our South Australian team has recently established a dedicated LinkedIn page to collate and curate opportunities for members of the SA health and medical innovations ecosystem to learn, connect and collaborate. Follow the Adelaide Intermediary Program to stay in touch with a host of activities, events and opportunities.

UNSW Founders Health 10x program backed by REDI
Applications for UNSW Founders Health 10x program is now open! The Health 10x program is a national accelerator delivered in partnership by UNSW Founders, The George Institute for Global Health and Virtus Health, and supported by our REDI Program.

BioMelbourne Network’s BioSymposium on Diagnostics
Our COO, Lisa Dubé discussed the work of the National Diagnostics Plan with Pathology Technology Australia at BioMelbourne Network’s Bio Symposium: Point of Care Diagnostics. She shared insights from the interim report with the final report to be published soon.