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

12 January 2024

MTPConnect 2023 Annual Report Out Now
Check out our new Annual Report to find out more about the impact of MTPConnect's accelerator programs for DISR and the Medical Research Future Fund that have so far injected $153 million into the sector, supporting 196 innovation projects across Australia. This investment has leveraged more than $1 billion in additional industry contributions and flow-on external investment, allowing SMEs to scale-up and create new jobs.

MTPConnect Strengthens Life Science Links Through MoU with Korea Health Industry Development Institute
With the execution of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), MTPConnect and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) have committed to working closely together to support the growth of health and medical technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies in each country. The MoU has been executed in Seoul and Melbourne, with the signing witnessed by Australia’s Ambassador designate to the Republic of Korea, Jeff Robinson.

New Podcast Features REDI and GSK Australia’s Graduate Researcher Program Bridging Careers Between Research and Industry
Check out our special two-part episode on the GSK Australia Graduation Researcher Program, supported by our REDI initiative. In part one, we hear how PhD graduates are applying their academic skillset & gaining industry skills in the pharmaceutical industry. In part two, we delve into some of the roles within the pharmaceutical industry and the driving motivations behind them. Read our story prompted by this episode, about moving from academia to industry!

Medical Science SMEs to Benefit from Industry Growth Program
The $392 million Industry Growth Program has been launched to help start-ups and small businesses within the National Reconstruction Fund priority areas to commercialise and grow their companies through advisory services and opportunities for matched grant funding. Grants from $50,000 to $250,000 to support early-stage commercialisation projects and $100,000 to $5 million for commercialisation and growth projects will be available - read the program information guide to find out about eligibility and how to apply.

MTPConnect Podcast Highlights of 2023!
It’s been another year and another series of the MTPConnect podcast. In season five, the podcast team produced 25 episodes, welcoming 92 inspiring guests, reaching 89 countries and topping 57,000 downloads. Thanks to all of our guests who joined us locally and globally! Looking forward to sharing our sixth series with you in 2024, connecting with the people and the stories behind Australia's growing medtech, biotech and pharma sector. Don't forget to subscribe!

ASHRA Partnering Summit - Partnering for Translation and Building an Innovation Culture
MTPConnect’s TTRA program co-hosted the Australian Stroke and Heart Research Accelerator (ASHRA) 2023 Annual Partnering Summit at the Victorian Heart Hospital in Clayton, Melbourne recently. With over 110 guests from industry, academia, research institutes, the health sector and government, it was an opportunity to learn, contribute and connect. Established in early 2022 through our Targeted Translation Research Accelerator (TTRA) program, ASHRA is working to transform the field of cardiovascular research in Australia by bringing a new sector-wide focus on clinical impact and entrepreneurship.

WA 'Spotlight on 2023' Snapshots
Take a peek at the wonderful photos captured at the WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub end of year 'Spotlight on 2023' event supported by Novacina.

SA APPLAUSE23 RECAP
Check out the Adelaide Intermediary Program's 60-second video recap to find out how SA's health and medical innovations sector celebrated at this special sector event APPLAUSE23.

WA's First 2024 Spotlight on Commercialising Medtech; a US and Australian perspective
Want to know what it takes to bring a novel medtech product to market? The WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub, in partnership with The Centre for Entrepreneurial Research and Innovation (CERI), invites you to the first WA MTP Sector Spotlight Series event for 2024, focusing on medtech commercialisation with OncoRes Medical's Non-Executive Director Jill Anderson and OncoRes Medical's CEO and MD Dr Kath Giles sharing insights on the US and Australian medtech sector. Join us on 8 February 2024 at The Centre for Entrepreneurial Research and Innovation (CERI) in Nedlands. Register!

Life Sciences WA Meets Innovator Podcast Series
Check out the Life Sciences WA 'Investor meets Innovator' Podcast Series! The first episode features Dr Melissa McBurnie from Brandon Capital who discusses investing with impact in life sciences. This show is supported by an XTEND grant from the New Industries Fund, Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation and MTPConnect's REDI initiative.

BridgeTech Program 2024 is open!
What are your professional development plans for 2024? The BridgeTech Program is a fully-funded program for professionals looking to expand their medtech commercialisation knowledge and networks. Learn from online modules and attend events featuring high-profile industry speakers.
Connect with one of Australia’s most significant medtech professional networks - apply by 31 January 2024.

The Bridge Program 2024
Looking to take your commercialisation skills to the next level in 2024? The Bridge Programis a fully-funded program for professionals looking to expand their pharmaceutical commercialisation knowledge and networks. Learn from online modules and attend events featuring high-profile industry speakers - apply by 28 February 2024.

Australian Export Awards
Congratulations to winners in the Australian Export Awards from the health and medical sector. Care Essentials (VIC), an exporter of Australian-made medical products was named Australian Exporter of the Year. SDI Limited (VIC), a world leader in specialist dental materials including tooth fillings and tooth whitening products, won the International Health Exporter of the year. And Medical Rescue (QLD), which provides international aeromedical evacuation services for the Indo-Pacific region, won the Australian Export Awards’ Professional Services category.

Calling Clinician Entrepreneurs to Join ASME
Are you a clinician wanting to transform healthcare through innovation - join the Australian Society for Medical Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Backed by a committee of 'medical entrepreneurs' with diverse skills and backgrounds, it's a home created for doctors & other healthcare professionals to connect with medical entrepreneurs & innovators. Check out all the details on ASME website, follow on LinkedIn and join as a member for free!

Diversity and Innovation Tech Fest @West Tech 2023
The WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub was a proud co-organiser of the Diversity and Innovation TechFest, a satellite event of West Tech Fest 2023 to celebrate and support the diversity in West Australia's Startup and Tech Ecosystem, held in early December.

Staff Updates
A warm welcome to Dr Natalie Rickers who joined our Adelaide Intermediary Program as the Commercialisation Director South Australia. A microbiologist who has led global teams bringing new products to market in genetics and genomics, Natalie will be supporting innovations and attraction of funding to SA's healthtech sector.

During November, AARMNet Project Manager Meghana Kulkarni left MTPConnect to pursue an opportunity in the AMR sector at the Doherty Institute. And we farewelled BioMedtech Horizons Program Director Dr Vishal Srivastava who has made an enormous contribution to the successful delivery of the BMTH program supporting medtech innovators since he joined in 2019. The MTPConnect team wish Meghana and Vishal all the best.