Message from the CEO

Dear , 

The Australian clinical trials ecosystem has been brought to the fore this past month with the release of our report ‘Clinical Trials in Australia: the economic profile and competitive position of the sector’, the first comprehensive overview of the entire clinical trials landscape in Australia. We should all be proud of the picture that this report paints, showcasing the incredible strengths and of the landscape and internationally competitive position of Australia, as well as the significant contribution that their conduct makes to the Australian economy. 

This report not only highlights just how Australia is punching above its weight in terms of clinical trials, but also identifies a number of priority areas for the future that will support the growth of the sector and strengthen Australia’s competitive position. It is now up to all of us to pursue these opportunities, track our progress, and ensure we maintain and improve our position as a world-leading clinical trial destination.

In welcome news to the sector, the Australian Government has restored a number of roles to the skilled migration visa list. Skills gaps are still a reality in the Australian MTP sector, and we worked hard behind the scenes advocating for the sector directly with the government to assist in driving these changes, critical for our ongoing growth and success. We will continue to work with both government and the sector on any future changes. 

Expressions of interest for the second round of our Project Fund Program are now officially invited for submission. We have received an outstanding amount of interest so far and are very excited by the ideas already being shared. If you have an idea for a collaborative, national project with visions to boost the sector, be sure to take advantage of one-on-one meetings with our team across Australia and watch our webinar recording highlighting key points to strengthen your application as well as learnings from last year. 

Read on for a wrap-up of recent updates from the 2016 Project Fund Program recipients, government, and the wider sector, as well as a number of exciting funding opportunities and events. 

Kind regards,
Sue MacLeman

CEO and Managing Director of MTPConnect

MTPConnect and industry news

Picture: Understanding the ANDHealth+ Program

ANDHealth+ Applications now open
ANDHealth, a national initiative advancing the commercialisation of clinically validated digital health technologies, has launched the ANDHealth+ Program in support of Australia’s growing ecosystem of innovative digital health companies.

ANDHealth+ provides critical financial and strategic input into mid-stage digital health companies looking to raise growth capital or enter international healthcare markets. Successful applicants will receive up to $60,000 funding to access specialist third party services and activities, and up to $100,000 of in-kind support from ANDHealth’s commercial members and broader network. Learn more about the program. 

$5 million Biotech Horizons program announced to support health breakthroughs
The Australian Government has announced $5.2 million to support multi-disciplinary research teams and SMEs to deliver innovative health and medical breakthroughs – a program that has been welcomed by MTPConnect.

The announcement by Health Minister Greg Hunt, at the Translational Research Institute in Brisbane, sees $5 million funding from the Medical Research Future Fund to be used for a Biotech Horizons program – a new program aiming to boost Australia’s ability to move cutting edge ideas and breakthrough discoveries towards proof-of-concept, overcoming the first of the two acknowledged ‘valleys of death’ in the sector. Read more.

Australian Business Week in India: Innovation – Life Sciences and Digital Health
The Hon Steven Ciobo, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment is leading the Australian Business Week in India business mission from 28 Aug to 1 Sep to promote Australian capabilities and expand Australia’s trade, investment and education relationships with India. Austrade is calling for Australian life sciences and digital health companies who wish to explore business opportunities in India and meet with leading Indian firms and government regulators driving the Indian healthcare agenda. Austrade will facilitate roundtables, meetings and networking events with selected Indian firms who have an interest in partnering and licensing Australian digital health solutions and medical innovation for integration into their service offerings. 

The mission to New Delhi and Bangalore will run over four days in the week commencing 28 August. View the program and register online by 4 August via the Austrade website. Contact Denise on 0412 180 828 or Denise.Eaton@austrade.gov.au with any questions.

Sector Snapshot

• How do we remain clinically competitive in Australia? Read this great interview with our CEO SueMacLeman in Lab Online. 

• Our GMs Dr Sandhya Tewari and Dr Mel Thomson went to 2017 BIO in San Diego  - catch up on Sandhya's insights and tips on how you can get the most out of the valuable (and slightly overwhelming!) experience.

• And GM Dr Alfredo Martinez-Coll headed to the Texas Medical Centre to learn more about the precinct's model and connect with institutions and researchers on their innovative developments, read his blog. 

• Good at Innovation, bad at communicating: see why with highlights from the CEDA panel discussion at State of the Nation with Sue MacLeman.  
• The new TGA 'SME Assist' tool will provide targeted programs to engage & support SMEs in navigating regulation and legislation in Australia.
• Great news for the sector - 24 Australian businesses receive $11.2m in Entrepreneur Programme grants to get their innovations to market MTP businesses including a new drink to manage dementia.
• Outcomes of the 3rd selection round of the CRC-P short term industry-led collaborations grants have been announced, including a project looking at next-gen dried blood spot pathology testing using LC-MS.
• According to IBISWorld, medical device production in Australia has grown by 1.3% annually since 2012, now valued at AU$3b. 

Video: The Medical Device Commercialisation Training Program

Opportunities

• The Medical Device Commercialisation Training Program is an initiative of NSW Health, delivered by technology incubator Cicada Innovations, and is designed to accelerate commercialisation of medical technologies in NSW. Applications are open now.  
• The Bristol-Myers Squibb 2017 Golden Ticket Program is a contest providing one year of underwritten lab bench space at LabCentral (Cambridge, MA), including all resident benefits, for a promising life science start-up. Applications are open until 21 July.
• Registrations now open for Science meets Policymakers—bringing together researchers, practitioners & policymakers to make connections and examine the intersection between the evidence base and policy development.

Picture: Imaging to Innovate event at UNSW

Events

12 July 2017 - The new MedDevices Regulation (MDR), In Vitro Diagnostic MedDevices Regulation (IVDR) and Brexit — what these will mean for Life Sciences companies, Online 
13 July 2017 - 3D Bioprinting - Printing Parts for Bodies, Melbourne, Australia
19 July 2017 - Imaging to Innovate @ UNSW, Sydney
19 July 2017 - Can Australia lead the world in precision medicine?, Melbourne, Australia
21-22 July 2017 - 2017 Bioshares Biotech Summit, Queenstown, New Zealand
26-28 July 2017 - CSIRO Protein Expression Workshop, Melbourne, Australia
31 July 2017 - Webinar Series: Cyber Security for your Business, Online

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

Case Study Showcase: Compliance solutions to benefit the Australian biotech sector

The Australian Government and AusIndustry have developed key initiatives that have been implemented to attract R&D investment in Australia by both domestic and offshore companies. While significant incentives exist (e.g. the R&D Tax Incentive), there is a web of compliance activities which must be undertaken by inbound companies which can pose a significant barrier to entry for a lean, cash conscious biotechnology company.

CoSecConsulting aims to build the Australian Biotech and Tech industry through providing compliance solutions in a 'one-stop-shop' format. CoSec works collaboratively with CROs and biotech industry associations, facilitating foreign investment into the Australian biotech industry.

Learn more about CoSec's offering and how they have worked with the sector. 

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

Sector profile: MasterControl

MasterControl Inc. was founded in 1993 as a document control solution provider. Since that time, the company has grown significantly, and has opened a Technical Support and Sales office in Bundoora, Victoria to support the APAC region. 

Today, MasterControl provides a full line of industry-specific quality and compliance software solutions and services to hundreds of satisfied customers worldwide. Our offerings enable regulated companies to accelerate compliance and get to market faster while reducing costs and improving efficiency.

Learn more in our Sector Directory.  

List your organisation on the MTPConnect Sector Directory.

mtpconnect.org.au

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