MTPConnect CEO and Managing Director Sue MacLeman (centre) at the AFR Innovation Summit this week with: Dr Alastair Hick, Monash Innovation; Kathy Connell, J&J Innovations; Professor John Mattick, Garvan Institute; Larry Lopez, CSIRO; and moderator Ben Potter, AFR.

Message from the CEO

Dear ,

International engagement is high on the agenda this month, as we gear up to showcase 27 Australian companies, industry bodies and research organisations as part of our delegation to The MedTech Conference in San Jose. Be sure to follow the conversations on Twitter as we highlight Australia’s unique capabilities to the US and international market, and share learnings from the event.

Earlier this month MTPConnect Chair Dr Bronwyn Evans took part in Australia Business Week in India, where we signed an MoU with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII, a not-for-profit, industry-led and industry-managed organisation playing a proactive role in India's development process) and showcased Australia’s capabilities as a panelist on the Digital Health Roundtable and Showcase.

We are also excited to announce that in 2018 we are leading an Australian MTP delegation to Israel with Dr Charlie Day of the Office of Innovation and Science and the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce. Expressions of interest are now open for the delegation, which will provide an excellent opportunity for the Australian MTP sector to engage with Israel’s renowned start-up community, make new B2B connections, meet with key sector leaders and peak bodies, and grow their market and investor readiness.

Back to the Australian sector, and there have been some positive announcements for the sector over the past month, with the government’s response to the IP Productivity Review, two new grant opportunities through the Medical Research Future Fund focusing on clinical trials and antimicrobial resistance, and $13.3 million of funding for three medical technology innovations through the Biomedical Translation Fund. We are also pleased to announce that we have signed an MoU with LSQ to further establish our relationship and collaborative commitment to boost the MTP sector.

October will see the release of the Office of Innovation and Science Australia national innovation strategy, and we wait with interest to see the recommendations put forth around the five policy imperatives for innovation, as announced by Bill Ferris at the AFR Innovation Summit this week. The six Industry Growth Centres came together as Platinum Sponsor for the event, which has sparked insightful and thought-provoking comment on innovation across Australia and in our respective sectors, including the roundtable 'Exploring pathways to accelerated commercialisation through R&D' on which I was a panelist.

And as a team, MTPConnect has been working through the exciting 2017 Project Fund Program applications – it has been excellent to see such a positive response from players from all parts of the sector coming together to collaborate on national projects that creatively address the Sector Growth Priorities identified in our Sector Competitiveness Plan. There have been some great developments from the 2016 round of projects, with the IMNIS program launching in Queensland, the announcement of the first ANDHealth+ accelerator cohort, release of the ‘Roadmap to Successful IPO’ from the Comprehensive Global Investment Program for the Australian Life Sciences Sector, and the upcoming three-day in-person training as part of The Bridge Program.

We look forward to sharing further developments from our current projects and announcing the next round at the AusBiotech Conference next month! Until then, join us at SINET61, BioNano Innovation and eyeforpharma.

Kind regards,
Sue MacLeman

CEO and Managing Director of MTPConnect

MTPConnect and industry news

INVITATION: Express Your Interest For The MTP Israel Delegation
MTPConnect invites you to visit Israel in May 2018. As part of our MTP Israel Delegation, in conjunction with the Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce the delegation is co-led by our CEO Sue MacLeman and Dr Charlie Day. The one week delegation will give participants the opportunity to make new B2B connections, engage with Israel's MTP sector leaders and peak bodies, and grow market and investor readiness. Lock in your spot now.

ANDHealth announces digital health companies to enter market-entry focused accelerator
ANDHealth—Australia’s industry led, national accelerator for digital health technologies and 2016 recipient of the MTPConnect Project Fund Program—has announced the first cohort of six companies that will enter the ANDHealth Program. The unique model, led by a consortium of industry leaders with proven track records in commercialising digital health technologies in global markets, and supported MTPConnect, is focused on mid-stage technologies which will benefit from support and assistance in clinical and commercial validation to enhance their ability to penetrate global markets and/or raise significant growth capital. Read more.

MTPConnect & LSQ Sign MoU
MTPConnect and LSQ have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), further establishing their relationship and collaborative commitment to boost the Queensland and broader Australian medical technologies, biotechnologies and pharmaceuticals sectors. Learn more.

MTPConnect & Confederation of India Industry (CII) Sign MoU
MTPConnect in conjunction with CII has signed a MoU during the Australia-India Business Week. Our Chair Dr Bronwyn Evans and Ms Amita Sarkar, Deputy Director General signed the MoU, which will bring the two organisations together to support activities such as inbound and outbound missions, exchanging key information on issues and trends, introductions and in-market support in both countries, and joint events and projects. Read more.

Biomedical Translation Fund (BTF) Disburses $13.3M
Exciting news for many Australians facing severe disabilities and crippling chronic back pain, as the Government has announced funding disbursements from the $500 million BTF. Australia is a world leader in the development of medical technology and the funded innovations are set to transform the lives of Australians and people across the globe. More details here.

M2 Precinct Launch
The Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Senator Arthur Sinodinos has launched the ‘M2’ precinct, a joint project between CSIRO, Monash University and Monash Health Translation Precinct. This facility also includes CSIRO’s new Biomedical Materials Translation Facility (BMTF). Learn more.

Sector Snapshot

Watch Sue MacLeman's interview with Ticky Fullerton, discussing the strengths of innovative growth in the medtech, biotech and pharma sector in Australia.
Sue MacLeman spoke about collaboration in the medtech, biotech and pharma sectors in Australia in Healthcare IT.
The Future Is In Our Hands: Sue MacLeman on knowledge translation and the importance of mentors for the IMNIS Program.
EVENT: ANDHealth Digital Health Series - This seminar will take place in Adelaide, where you are invited to network with the medtech and digital health community.
The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science has announced that consultations are open for a Digital Economy Strategy, to be released by the Australian Government early 2018.
Congratulations to the winners of Eureka Awards and the Australian Falling Walls Lab! Our CEO Sue MacLeman provided sector guidance as a judge on both panels.
The Government is helping Australian businesses innovate by piloting a new user-focused approach to simplify the language and advice provided to ICT users of the R&D Tax Incentive.
11 Australian businesses will share in $6.6M in Government grants to help launch their innovative products, processes and services into domestic and international markets.
18 Australian researchers and 11 SMEs will share in $1.4 million in government grants to meet and collaborate with global partners to progress their ideas.

Opportunities

Expressions of interest are now open for the second round of the MTPConnect Project Fund Program Bridge Program!
Join our CEO Sue MacLeman and Dr Charlie Day for our MTP Israel Delegation in May 2018.
The Department of Health Experimental Products Section are providing opportunity for the sector to comment on an update to the TGA clinical trial guidance documents. This inlcudes access to unapproved therapeutic goods, clinical trials in Australia, Clinical Trial Handbook; and Human Research Ethics Committees and the therapeutic goods legislation. If you are interested please contact clinical.trials@health.gov.au.
The J&J WiSTEM2D Scholars Award Program will help develop female leaders and support innovation in the STEM2D disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Manufacturing, Design) by funding six women at critical points in their research careers through a Scholar’s Award.
BioBank is looking for partners to collaborate across NSW to store and access a wide range of samples to advance health and medical research programs.
Two grant opportunities are now open through the MRFF, focusing on clinical trials and antimicrobial resistance.
Applications are open for 100 young future biotech leaders to attend GapSummit 2018 a global and inter-generational leadership summit in biotechnology, in Cambridge, UK.

Events

26-27 September 2017 - SINET61 2017, Sydney, Australia
4 October 2017 - Medtech Pharma Series, Brisbane, Australia
4 October 2017 - Pre Clinical Workshop, Sydney, Australia
5 October 2017 - ANDHealth Digital Health Series, Adelaide Australia
10 October 2017 - Pre Clinical Workshop, Brisbane, Australia
10-11 October 2017 - eyeforpharma, Sydney, Australia
16 October 2017 - Commercialising Research, Sydney, Australia
20 October 2017 - Overcoming Regulatory Hurdles For Devices, Adelaide, Australia

To see what industry events are happening near you right through to 2018, check out our events page.

Are you are hosting an event? Share your events with the MTP sector by emailing: news@mtpconnect.org.au

The Wound Innovations team

Case Study Showcase: Wound Innovations provides relief for chronic wound patients

An innovative new health service dedicated to wound care is set to improve access to specialist care for patients across the country, and is already having significant impact. Chronic wounds cost the Australian health system over $3 billion a year. Combined with an ageing population, patients can suffer in silence for years, even decades, with this costly chronic health problem leading to many avoidable amputations. One of the many causes of this silent epidemic is that patients must navigate a complicated, fragmented system where not all health professionals use routine best practice to get their wounds treated. Read more.

Want to showcase your good news story? Email news@mtpconnect.org.au to submit a case study.

Sector profile: Ellex Medical

Ellex Medical Lasers is an Australian-based company that is engaged in the business of designing, manufacturing and marketing a line of lasers used by opthalmologists. They manufacture and sell photodisruptors, photocoagulators and selective laser trabeculoplasty system for treating cataract, retina and glaucoma conditions. Learn more in our Sector Directory.

List your organisation on the MTPConnect Sector Directory.