Message from the MD & CEO

As the MTP sector continues to rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic, it faces the ongoing challenge of developing, attracting and retaining world-class talent. The sector is also facing a period of transformation as it develops new research and manufacturing efforts to drive economic growth.

This month we released the 'MTPConnect REDI Program Skills Gap Analysis Interim Report’ - the first of three medical technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector workforce reports we’re delivering as part of the Researcher Exchange and Development within Industry (REDI) program. In partnership with L.E.K. Consulting, we engaged widely across the sector to identify areas of workforce shortage, strength and competitive advantage.

With nearly 1,300 companies and 68,000 jobs, the sector is a major contributor to the Australian economy - but the report identifies some high priority skills gaps which need urgent attention if we are to create a future ready workforce today.

Not only have we identified the gaps, around clinical development, research translation and commercialisation, but we’ve also launched the REDI Contestable program of new education and training initiatives to help plug those gaps. This focus is expected to unlock significant value for the MTP sector within the next 12–18 months, so we can take advantage of the post-pandemic growth opportunities.

We also welcomed a new REDI partner, GSK Australia, who’ve established a new industry placement program for PhD graduates. The program’s objective is to facilitate the cross pollination of scientific, academic research expertise with real-world experiences in a research-intensive pharmaceutical company. A very timely, workforce enhancing initiative. Applications close on 2 December for the first cohort in 2021, so don’t miss out.

And we will soon launch REDI’s Industry Fellowships program to increase collaboration between academia and industry through the deployment of funding for fellowships/ internships with industry sponsors. Look out for further information about an Information Session to be held in December.

With an eye on recovery and rebuilding, MTPConnect is rolling out some more funding opportunities and another industry-led catalyst, this time for genomics. MTPConnect has backed the establishment of the Industry Genomics Network Alliance (InGeNA), a consortium of 13 founding members led by the Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH). We’ve established InGeNA as part of our Growth Centre project fund, to unlock the potential of Australia’s genomics and precision medicine sector and build a stronger and more diverse industry that can contribute internationally.

For our $47 million Targeted Translation Research Accelerator (TTRA) program for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, the team has been preparing to call for expressions of interest to establish two research centres and open the first round of research project funding in mid-December. Part of this process involved holding a series of roundtable meetings with key stakeholders, to determine research funding priorities. Look out for details about Information Sessions running in December on our website.

If you’re interested in securing commercialisation funding, check out our November Seminar Series webinar ‘Show Me the Money: Tips for Preparing Successful Commercialisation Funding Applications’, available as an episode of the MTPConnect podcast series or as a video on-demand. I shared my insights from writing and reviewing funding applications, along with advice from our guest experts, which I’m sure will prove helpful in this competitive research environment.

I also enjoyed delivering a keynote at MTAA’s Cyber Security Forum promoting awareness about the cyber security issues affecting medical devices and the medtech sector. The digital evolution is transforming our sector and cyber security should be at the heart of everything we do because lives depend on it. If you couldn’t make the event, the presentation will soon be available as another MTPConnect podcast episode.

Our team has grown again this month, with Dr Mana Liao joining us as Director of the TTRA program based in Sydney and Dr Amelia Vom as BTB Project Manager based in Melbourne. Starting a new role during COVID-19 workplace restrictions isn’t easy and we look forward to the time when we can meet as a team again, face to face. In the meantime, we will continue to stay connected to our colleagues and the sector with the help of technology until the time is right.

As we move toward the end of this extraordinary year, take care and keep in touch.

Kind regards,

Dr Dan Grant
Managing Director & CEO

MTPConnect & Industry News

GSK Joins REDI with new PhD Graduate Innovation Program
This month, MTPConnect announced that GSK Australia have joined the REDI initiative as a partner to provide a PhD Graduate Program to facilitate the cross pollination of scientific, academic research expertise with that of the pharmaceutical industry. The ‘GSK PhD Graduate Innovation Program’ (GPGIP) provides selected PhD Postgraduates with a 12-month placement assigning them to lead on core projects in areas such as early product development, medical affairs and regulatory affairs. Applications close on 2 December 2020.

Call for Proposals Opens for REDI Contestable Program
Round One of the REDI Contestable program is now open and calling for suitably qualified organisations to submit proposals for new training courses/programs to address two specific priority skills gaps identified in the REDI Skills Gaps Analysis Interim Report. Visit the Current Opportunities page for more information, the opportunity closes 15 December 2020.

Australia’s First Industry-Led Genomics Alliance Established
The Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH) was awarded $300,000 in funding from MTPConnect’s Industry Growth Centre Project Fund Program to establish the Industry Genomics Network Alliance (InGeNA). The new Alliance aims to unlock the potential of Australia’s genomics and precision medicine sector. The 13 founding member companies bring matched funds and represent a ‘who’s who’ of the genomics and precision medicine industry.

Sector Snapshot

As our TTRA initiative rolls out its diabetes & CVD research program plans, we announced partnerships with ANDHealth, MDPP & UniQuest, to provide advice & mentoring for future funding recipients.
The Australian Government announced over $40 million from the Biomedical Translation Fund for a number of Australian biotechnology companies, Ena Respiratory, Kira Biotech, Closed Loop Medical, Adherium and Polyactiva
The latest round of the Australian Government's Accelerating Commercialisation grants totalled $240 million with grants for MTP sector companies Nimblic, Ker Ker and Microbio
InnovationAus covered the news that the Victorian Government will launch a $25 million venture growth fund in an effort to keep start-ups in the state
Check out the list of the 2020 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes winners
Visit the InGeNA website to learn more about the new Genomics Industry Alliance
Watch our REDI Information Session: Call for Proposals for Skills Gap Training Programs
Researchers from The University of Queensland, The University of Melbourne and Griffith University have discovered that an experimental Alzheimer's disease treatment is proving effective at treating some of the most persistent, life-threatening antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Download ATSE's IMNIS 2020 Impact Report
Watch our webinar: Show Me The Money: Preparing Successful Commercialisation Funding Applications
Check out Dimerix featured in Stockhead, as the company's lead drug candidate DMX-200 is selected for a global study as a potential COVID-19 treatment.
University of Sydney researchers have been awarded $1.12 million in IMCRC funding to undertake independent clinical research studies into Vaxxas needle-free vaccine delivery for at-risk groups of influenza or SARS-COV-2
Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute has established a unique, community-based research facility in the new HeartWest cardiology service at Heaths Road, Hoppers Crossing, in Melbourne’s outer west conducting clinical studies in high risk and disadvantaged communities
Watch the University of Melbourne's Conversations on COVID-19, featuring Doherty Institute Prof Sharon Lewin and global infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci
Download the OUTBREAK Report, which revealed the threat of antibiotic resistance in UTIs
This month, marked World Antimicrobial Awareness Week and the OUTBREAK Project released findings on antibiotic resistance in UTIs in The Conversation
Download BioMelbourne Network's 2020 Annual Report
Connect with our new TTRA Director, Dr Mana Liao
Connect with our new BTB Project Manager, Dr Amelia Vom
SpeeDx CEO Colin Denver has been been named in the Top 25 Healthcare Technology CEOs of Asia for 2020
Visit the BTB page to view the projects funded in Rounds 1, 2 and 3
Download our 'MTPConnect REDI Program Skills Gap Analysis Interim Report'
A Monash University research team will harness the power of technology to help diagnose, treat and prevent antimicrobial resistance — one of the globe’s most pressing health concerns
A new Australian product designed to make kidney dialysis more broadly available at low cost has won first prize in a global health innovations competition. Sydney-based Ellen Medical in partnership with The George Institute for Global Health beat more than 500 entries from 22 countries with the innovation

Sector Opportunities

Apply to GSK Australia's PhD Graduate Innovation Program by 2 December 2020, which is supported by our REDI initiative
Round One of the REDI Contestable program is open until 15 December 2020 for proposals to deliver priority skills gap training courses/programs for the MTP workforce
Apply to MedTech Actuator's Origin Challenge, supported by our REDI initiative
Nominations for the 2021 BioMelbourne Network Women in Leadership Awards are open
Under the REDI initiative, APR.Intern is providing a subsidy to businesses in the medtech, biotech & pharma sector with the opportunity to take on a PhD student through a short-term research placement in 2020
Apply to MedTech Actuator's 2021 Menzies Scholarship Fellowship that will educate junior scientists and researchers in Australia in entrepreneurship and commercialisation.
Enter the Department of Health's Heart Disease and Stroke – Early Detection grant
Apply to the Department of Health's Heart Disease and Stroke – Support for Recovery grant
Apply to MRFF 2021 Frontier Health and Medical Research Initiative
Apply to MRFF 2020 COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Research Grant opportunity
Apply to the MRFF – Million Minds Mission - 2020 Mental Health Research grant opportunity
Apply to the MRFF – Million Minds Mission
List your organisation on MDPP's online Capability Directory
If your company exports health services, take DFAT's Born Global Survey
Apply to NHMRC's 2020 COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Research Grant
Partner with Cicada Innovations

Events

30 November - 4 December 2020 - ACTA Summit 2020
1 December 2020 - BioForum, BioMelbourne Network
1 December 2020 - EMERGE Tech & STEM Careers Expo 'Ask Me Anything', Cicada Innovations
2 December 2020 - BiotechTalks: Industry and Victorian Budget Update, AusBiotech
2 December 2020 - EMERGE Tech & STEM Careers Expo 'Ask Me Anything', Cicada Innovations
2 December 2020 - WestTechFest
3 December 2020 - EMERGE Tech & STEM Careers Expo 'Ask Me Anything', Cicada Innovations
3 December 2020 - National Commercialisation Bootcamp, MedTech Actuator
8 December 2020 - EMERGE Tech & STEM Careers Expo 'Ask Me Anything', Cicada Innovations
9 - 11 December 2020 - 2020 AAMRI Convention
9 December 2020 - A Virtual Coffee Catch Up With.. MTAA
9 December 2020 - EMERGE Tech & STEM Careers Expo 'Ask Me Anything', Cicada Innovations
10 December 2020 - Cohort 5 Demo Day, MedTech Actuator
10 December 2020 - EMERGE Tech & STEM Careers Expo 'Ask Me Anything', Cicada Innovations
17 December 2020 - EMERGE 2020 STEM Tech & Careers Showcase | Cicada Showcase

To see what industry events are happening near you in 2020, visit our events page.

Pictured: The Anatomics team at the launch of their 3D printing polymer laboratory at the MAKE Incubator in Melbourne in 2019.

Case Study Showcase: Driving Australia's Medtech Manufacturing for Patients Recovering from Brain Surgery

In 2019, Anatomics saw an opportunity to turn an abandoned car manufacturing facility in Melbourne into an expansive 3D bioprinting warehouse. This facility would allow the research team to advance its state-of-the-art craniofacial implant manufacturing, leveraging 3D printing to drive innovation, whilst reducing process complexity, turnaround time and costs. Read more.

Want to showcase your great work? Email media@mtpconnect.org.au to submit a case study.

Sector Profile: Qure Ventures

Qure Ventures manages a globally focused venture fund (US$50mn in size) that invests in clinically relevant digital health solutions and is a strategic innovation partner for leading healthcare organisations. To leverage its returns potential, Qure has signed strategic partnership agreements that provide Qure and its portfolio companies with strong validation and clinical and commercial support. Learn more in our Sector Directory.

List your organisation on the MTPConnect Sector Directory.