A new initiative aimed at increasing the presence of locally made medical technologies in healthcare services has been announced with the formation of the Australian Medtech Manufacturing Alliance (AMMA). 

The Alliance, spearheaded by the BioMelbourne Network, builds on the foundation of the Australian Medtech Manufacturing Centre and will pilot its efforts in Victoria.

The AMMA brings together several key industry partners, including AusBiotech, MTPConnect, AMTIL (Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited), and ICN Victoria (Industry Capability Network), with seed funding support from the Victorian Government.

Focus on advocacy and local procurement

The Alliance aims to address procurement barriers that currently limit the uptake of Australian-made medical technologies within the domestic healthcare system.

Karen Parr, CEO of BioMelbourne Network, highlighted the importance of the initiative in creating sustainable local opportunities.

“Australia is home to world-class medtech innovators and manufacturers. Increasing awareness of these companies and growing local content in health will support Australian health services to continue to deliver world-leading care and strengthen our country’s sovereign capabilities,” Parr said.

“The Victorian pilot aims to demonstrate the potential of this ambitious and important solutions-focused Alliance and serve as a stepping stone for advancing the national agenda.”

Call for industry support

The AMMA is inviting Victorian medtech companies currently manufacturing or developing products for local or international markets to join the Alliance.

Contract manufacturing firms are also encouraged to participate. While peak industry bodies involved in the initiative offer formal memberships, the AMMA has clarified that becoming an Alliance supporter is not contingent on membership.

The Alliance aims to work closely with these peak bodies to build on existing industry efforts, helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) grow both locally and internationally.

New uplift program in development

The AMMA is also co-developing a capability uplift program to help medtech manufacturers identify and secure opportunities within the domestic health system.

The initiative aims to address this gap by creating clearer pathways into the health sector, mirroring practices in other international markets.

The AMMA said establishing strong domestic customers will serve as crucial proof points for Australian products and attract further investment in medical innovation.

The Alliance’s efforts aim to unlock opportunities within the healthcare sector to ensure Australian patients benefit from locally made technologies.

Companies interested in joining the Alliance or participating in the capability uplift program can express their interest directly through the AMMA.

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Eleven Western Australian organisations are gearing up to showcase their innovative medical devices and services at the AusMedtech 2024 conference.

This premier industry event, attended by key national and global markets, will provide a platform for these companies to highlight their advancements and explore new business opportunities.

Leading the WA delegation is Science and Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson, who will also address the conference on the dynamic health and medical research ecosystem in Western Australia and the available business prospects.

Over the past five years, the number of medical technology and digital health companies in Western Australia has doubled, the government reported in a media statement.

One notable attendee is Metabolic Health Solutions (MHS), a recipient of the Cook Government’s Investment Attraction Fund (IAF).

The IAF funding has enabled MHS to manufacture their first batch of locally made ECAL Devices, which are used to measure and monitor a patient’s metabolic health.

AusMedtech 2024 will bring together companies from across the country to share advancements, insights, and best practices with their counterparts, while also securing potential interstate and international partnerships.

Minister Dawson highlighted the significance of the event, “In WA we are extremely fortunate to have a pool of amazing and very talented health and medical researchers, whose work is positioning WA as a global leader.”

The eleven WA organisations attending AusMedtech 2024 include:

• Orthocell
• Metabolic Health Solutions
• Resonance Health
• Pawsey Supercomputing Centre
• OncoRes Medical
• Inspiring Holdings
• Curtin University – Healthy Connections
• The University of Western Australia
• WA Department of Health
• WA Country Health Service
• WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub

The minister concluded, “This delegation of WA organisations are experts in their field, and this is a great opportunity to promote WA’s medtech sector and all our State has to offer to support growth in the industry.”

The AusMedtech conference, known as the nation’s premier industry event, offers a multitude of opportunities for building business networks both interstate and internationally.

For more information about the event and the attending organisations, visit: WA Government – AusMedtech.

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Signature Orthopaedics has forged a strategic alliance with Medtech researchers from the University of Melbourne and RMIT University in a move set to fuel advancements in the medical technology (Medtech) and manufacturing sector.

The joint initiative seeks to combine the knowledge of these organisations in biomedical engineering, health sciences, technology advancement, and design with Signature Orthopaedics’ groundbreaking expertise in medical technology, the university said in a news release.

Declan Brazil, CEO of Signature Orthopaedics, highlighted the partnership’s focus on collaborative research and development (R&D) in specialized areas of clinical and technological innovation.

“Together we will develop a clinical test bed for new materials, designs and methods in orthopaedic implants and devices, and connect our joint talent to amplify scientific and industry leadership across Australia’s growing Medtech sector,” he said.

The CEO added, “This partnership’s goal is to bring to market new and personalised medical implant technologies that can improve health outcomes and quality of life.”

This collaboration fortifies Melbourne’s standing as a burgeoning hub for Medtech research, education, and commercialization, complementing substantial investments by the Victorian Government and both universities in Medtech training and skills enhancement.

Notable initiatives include the Victorian Medtech Skills and Devices Hub and the forthcoming Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery, poised to be Australia’s premier biomedical engineering research translation centre.

Distinguished Professor Milan Brandt, technical director of RMIT’s Advanced Manufacturing Precinct, hailed the partnership as a catalyst for pioneering medical innovations with global impact, citing the potential for novel medical products and processes to benefit patients worldwide.

While the partnership builds upon existing collaborative efforts, RMIT revealed projects under this tripartite alliance are slated for announcement in the upcoming months.

Professor Peter Lee of the University of Melbourne’s Department of Biomedical Engineering emphasised the transformative potential of these projects in directly impacting patients’ lives.

“The advantages of working directly with implant manufacturers such as Signature Orthopaedics and with clinicians from hospitals at the early stages of the project are immense,” he said.

The professor elaborated, “It enables us to identify the project’s ‘pain points’ early and develop solutions to overcome them. Unlike the traditional idea of prototyping when technology is nearly finalised, this partnership will accelerate our research for clinical applications benefiting patients.”

Signature Orthopaedics, founded in Sydney in 2009, is Australia’s sole manufacturer of implantable orthopedic devices.

The company manufactures a wide range of products under its own brand and for device labels, encompassing hip and knee joint replacements, spinal implants, osseointegration devices, osteosynthesis equipment, and soft tissue repair implants.

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Australia’s national science agency CSIRO announced the commencement of its Innovate to Grow program, a free 10-week online initiative aimed at propelling innovation in digital health and medical technologies, specifically catering to start-ups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The program, designed to guide SMEs through the complexities of research and development (R&D), offers businesses operating in critical sectors an opportunity to advance their technological solutions and ideas, the agency said in a news release.

Professor Susie Nilsson, Biomedical Manufacturing Research Director at CSIRO, emphasised the program’s significance in fostering meaningful collaboration between research organisations and SMEs.

“Developing a sustainable product in the digital health and medical technology sectors is a challenging and often underestimated process,” the professor noted.

The program, set to kick off on 14 March 2024, provides participants with a chance to collaborate with mentors from CSIRO or universities, addressing both technical and business challenges.

Participants will gain valuable insights into navigating stringent testing and product development processes, learning how R&D collaboration can transform a research idea into a tangible opportunity.

Liz Crompton, SME Connect Program Advisor, highlighted the success of Innovate to Grow, noting, “To date, Innovate to Grow has equipped over 500 businesses with the knowledge and tools to advance their ideas, with many program alumni initiating R&D projects with research organisations like CSIRO within 12 months of completing the program.”

The program is open to a limited number of SMEs working in digital health sub-sectors such as therapeutics and care, health system analytics, biomedical informatics, and data modeling, among others.

Additionally, medical technology sub-sectors including diagnostics, biosensors, biomedical devices, drug discovery, and vaccines and biologic therapeutics are considered.

Applications for CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow: Digital Health and Medical Technology program will close on Sunday, February 18, 2024.

The program also opens doors to potential dollar-matched R&D funding through the CSIRO Kick-Start program.

Applications for CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow: Digital Health and Medical Technology program close on Sunday, 18 February 2024.

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BioMelbourne Network, an industry-led coalition of organisations in the Victorian biotechnology sector, has partnered with the state government’s Australian Medtech Manufacturing Centre to deliver a four-part seminar series dedicated to the Victorian medtech manufacturing sector. 

Seminar Three of the Medtech Manufacturing 2023 Series will be held on 24 August and will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions, and network functions that will showcase the capabilities of the Victorian manufacturing sector and explore the industry’s impact on the local economy. 

Titled “Scaling Medtech: Empowering Prototypes for Manufacturing Readiness,” Seminar Three will offer a primer on medtech prototyping and product development, ranging from design to working odes and large-scale manufacturing.

The hybrid event will zero in on considerations in terms of prototype manufacturing infrastructure, product development, local manufacturing, and accelerator and incubator support.

The event’s speakers include representatives from the medtech manufacturing sector, namely Hitesh Mehta, COO and co-founder of Nutromics; Paul Carboon, business development manager for Outerspace Design; Erika Hughes, commercial director for Integra Systems; and Camille Shanahan, general manager for Jumar Bioincubator.

The series seeks to convene manufacturers, supply chain partners, small to medium enterprises, startups, and industry service providers. 

Medical technology executives developing and/or manufacturing products for the market and health services professionals are also invited to attend and hear about the latest updates from industry experts and engage in in-person networking with peers. 

For more event information and to register, visit biomelbourne.org. 

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The Victorian government has backed a new medical technology hub for skills and device development in a bid to cement Victoria’s position as a global leader in the industry. 

Minister for Industry and Innovation Ben Carroll today led the launch of the Victorian Medtech Skills and Device Hub, which received $5.75 million in funding from the Victorian Labor Government. 

The Australian-first facility will host collaborations with local businesses, universities, and education providers to create life-saving medical technology and train local workers for innovative careers in the sector. 

The hub will offer more than 1,000 industry training places and is expected to generate up to a dozen startups that are ready for investment every year. 

Located at the Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery at Melbourne’s St. Vincent’s Hospital, the new hub will be led by the University of Melbourne in collaboration with RMIT University, Swinburne University of Technology, and the Aikenhead Centre. 

It will also support the growth of local companies, such as Neo-Bionica and Synchron, expanding onshore manufacturing of their medtech products and helping them become significant players in the multibillion-dollar global market. 

“Neo-Bionica recognises the need for training initiatives that develop an industry-ready workforce, so we’re delighted to support the launch of the Victorian Medtech Skills and Device Hub,” said Neo-Bionica CEO Ludovic Labat. 

The Medtech industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Victoria, with over 650 medtech-related companies employing approximately 6,000 people and generating $1.4 billion in value. 

In its Budget for 2023/2, the Victorian government has allocated $12.3 million for the delivery of major sovereign mRNA manufacturing facilities, along with a $15 million boost to incentivise local businesses pursuing R&D. 

“Victoria’s medtech sector is a significant player in a booming global market – this Australian-first hub will boost local production, attract investment to Victoria and train the innovative staff the sector needs for its strong future,” Minister Carroll said. 

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The Federal government has allocated $392.4 million in funding for the establishment of a new Industry Growth Program that would boost the development of priority sectors, such as medtech, biotech, and pharma. 

MTPConnect Chair Jaala Pulford commended the government’s commitment to the initiative, noting that it will help accelerate the commercialisation of medical science startups and small to medium enterprises (SMEs). 

“In a tough budget environment, it’s a welcome commitment to the potential of the MTP sector to deliver new, high-paying jobs and economic growth, through the development and commercialisation of new medicines and medical devices,” Pulford said. 

Since MTPConnect’s conception eight years ago, Pulford said the organisation has delivered six funding programs for DISR and the Medical Research Fund, generating $140 million within the sector and contributing to the $1.3 billion Australian medical products industry. 

The organisation has also been directly involved in 184 commercially focused projects and worked with others across the country to understand their needs, gaps, and business aspirations. 

“Through our national network of 40 staff, we understand the importance of carefully curated industry connections and on-the-ground insights to support the growth of emerging companies,” Pulford noted. 

The MTPConnect chair said the Industry Growth Program can serve as a hand-in-glove with the National Reconstruction Fund, providing integrated support throughout a company’s commercial lifecycle. 

“MTPConnect looks forward to engaging with government on the design and delivery of the Industry Growth Program and working to ensure its ongoing success,” Pulford concluded.

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Monash University has partnered with Israel-based Sheba Medical Centre to create more equitable healthcare models and medtech manufacturing opportunities in Victoria. 

Minister for Industry and Innovation Ben Carroll joined leaders from the two organisations over the weekend as they signed a memorandum of understanding for the research and development partnership. 

The Victorian government and Monash University’s Victorian Heart Institute will invest $200,000 to procure the latest technology and enable faster adoption of new treatments for cardiovascular diseases. 

The partnership aims to enhance Victoria’s healthcare delivery and create new jobs in medtech research, manufacturing, and export. 

“We welcome this new partnership between Monash and Sheba, as it will help drive increased investment in Victoria’s medtech sector and improve healthcare for Victorians,” Minister Carroll said. 

Monash University is Australia’s largest university and was internationally recognised as the world’s best Pharmacy and Pharmacology in 2022— the first Australian institution to receive the recognition. 

Meanwhile, Tel Aviv-based Sheba Medical Centre is one of the world’s leading hospitals specialising in artificial intelligence, robotic surgery, digital imaging, and telemedicine, developed through its in-house innovation hub.

“Together, we will promote economic growth as we advance healthcare and in doing so shift the paradigm of the future of medicine to one that emphasizes prevention,” said Sheba Medical Center Director General Professor Yitshak Kreiss. 

Victoria’s involvement in the MOU marks the government’s latest investment and follows support for several major medtech projects, including the establishment of the $20 million Australian Medtech Manufacturing Centre, mRNA Victoria, and investments into medtech startups through LaunchVic and the Breakthrough Victoria Fund. 

“This is an excellent opportunity for Victoria to partner with one of the top hospitals in the world, which is also a leader in digital health innovation,” said Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas. 

Victoria’s medtech industry contributes over $21.4 billion in revenue and $3.5 billion in exports to the state’s economy and supports around 31,400 jobs. 

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The Victorian government has established a $260,000 medtech innovation partnership with the University of Melbourne and Bendigo Health. 

The new acceleration program is intended to help accelerate the development of medtech products in Bendigo and marks the first time the initiative expanded to regional Victoria. 

The program, supported by the state government’s Australian Medtech Manufacturing Centre, will convene clinicians, researchers, engineers, and manufacturers to support medtech projects across the hospital. 

Bendigo Health will fully operate the program after 12 months, the Victorian state government said in its announcement. 

“We will continue to back Victoria to become a global centre for medtech innovation and are proud to be expanding this fantastic program to Bendigo,” said Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Ben Carroll. 

“Our regional clinicians understand the unmet health needs of our community and this collaboration offers the chance to translate their ideas into practical care solutions,” said Dr Angela Crombie, director of research and innovation at Bendigo Health. 

“It’s important that regional communities like Bendigo share the benefits of our investments in medtech innovation that are creating jobs and improving the lives of people worldwide,” Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards said. 

This latest rendition of the program for Bendigo follows the previously established partnerships with the University of Melbourne, Western Health, and the Royal Melbourne Hospital. 

The program led to the creation of the McMonty by MediHood, a personal ventilator hood for hospital beds and the Stroke Rapid Diagnostic Test, which allows paramedics and clinicians to quickly determine the cause of a stroke and help them decide whether to administer life-saving treatment.  

The Australian Medtech Manufacturing Centre is a $20 million government initiative designed to support the growth of medical technology manufacturing in the state. 

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The Victorian government has announced $2.4 million in funding to establish the Victorian Connected Health Innovation and Commercialisation Centre in Melbourne’s central business district. 

Made possible through the state’s Australian Medtech Manufacturing Centre and Biotechnology Fund, the latest investment is aimed at giving local medtech manufacturers and innovators an edge to compete in the global market. 

The funding also seeks to create local high-skilled jobs in one of Victoria’s fastest-growing industries, the state government said in a statement. 

Operated by ANDHealth, the new centre is expected to support up to 500 local companies per year, connecting them with healthcare professionals and innovators and investors to accelerate the development of new digital health products. 

“This new Centre will strengthen Victoria’s nation-leading advanced manufacturing capabilities and our status as a growing hub for medtech production,” said Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Ben Carroll. “We’ll continue to support local medtech manufacturers to create thousands of high-skilled jobs across our state.”

The medtech industry is one of Victoria’s fastest-growing sectors, contributing over $21.4 billion in revenue to the economy and supporting more than 31,000 workers. 

More than 6,000 individuals are employed at Victoria’s 18 medical research institutes, who generate the scientific breakthroughs that inform product development. 

“Our medical researchers and innovators are leaders in their field, regularly bringing world-first medtech products and devices to market that will change the lives of Victorians and people around the world,” said Jaala Pulford, minister for innovation, medical research and the digital economy. 

The latest investment follows a $3.2 million government investment in 12 Victorian medtech businesses through the Medtech Manufacturing Capability Program that will create more than 90 new jobs across the state. 

“This is a significant investment by the Government to establish the first physical presence for Victoria’s world-class life sciences and medical technology capabilities,” ANDHealth CEO and Managing Director Bronwyn Le Grice said. 

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