Message from the CEO

Good afternoon,

The cadence of the year has kicked up a notch in February, as MTPConnect continues taking action to support Australia’s life science innovators. We have opened a new funding round for medtech innovators, delivered investor and innovation events around Australia, taken the stage at global health forums and been involved in international trade delegations to US and the Middle East.

I’ve been in the US meeting our MoU partner Medical Alley in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a rich medtech ecosystem, to find new ways and more initiatives to strengthen our links and create opportunities for our start-ups to thrive.

We’ve also visited San Diego and La Jolla hosting a delegation of innovative companies who we support through our inaugural Targeted Translation Research Accelerator initiative that are developing new solutions for heart disease and diabetes. This group - Endo Axio, Inosi Therapeutics, Lorikeet Therapeutics and Nanomedx – have been with us in California to attend the sold-out 16^th annual ‘Biocom Global Partnering & Investor Conference‘ through our MoU partner Biocom California. It’s a fantastic opportunity for these emerging Australian companies to showcase their innovations at this investor forum and make funding and partnership connections with leading biotech and pharmaceutical companies, academic and research institutions.

Locally, our new Targeted Translation Research Accelerator initiative for medtech innovators in heart disease and diabetes has just opened a second funding round - it’s an exciting opportunity to apply for up to $1 million in non-dilutive investment for medical devices. Our TTRA initiative is already investing in 34 projects, providing proven acceleration support. Find out more at our webinar on 4 March, and apply by 30 March 2026.

To assist more Australian companies with their capital raising requirements, we wrapped up our Investor Ready Program partnering with Wholesale Investor, holding the inaugural Life Sciences Investor Day at Emergence 2026 in Sydney. There was definitely a buzz in the room at this sold-out premier investment conference for high-net-worth, family offices and professional investors. With around 39 investment-ready companies taking the stage, and 1,000 investors joining the conference, it was great to bring founders together with potential investors. Watch the livestream replay to tap into the highlights.

Through our recently signed MoU with the Saudi Ministry of Health - we’re working to help life science companies find new business and investment opportunities there. We are looking forward to welcoming a delegation from the Kingdom to both Adelaide and Melbourne at the end of March, to continue building those connections ahead of BIO Middle East in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (May).

We were also delighted to take part in the World Health Expo 2026 in Dubai as an industry partner with Austrade, continuing to help showcase Australia’s leading health and medtech capabilities globally and build connections across the Middle East and the United Arab Emirates.

Our 2026 program of international engagement is ramping up. Join us for the major BIO conference in Boston (June), and curated site visit programs ahead of BIO Middle East (May) and our delegation to the MedTech Conference in San Diego (October). Register your interest now.

We’ve had the pleasure of sharing Jeff Gibbs’ US regulatory expertise with invite-only audiences at events in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, through our support program for the Australian Government’s Industry Growth Program. With updates on the latest FDA developments and a practical workshop on the pre-sub process to help innovators better prepare for and manage FDA interactions, the sessions have been invaluable to companies looking to accelerate their US market pathway for medical devices.

You can hear more insights from Jeff on navigating FDA pathways for medical devices in the first episode of the MTPConnect Podcast for Season 8 – out today!

For medtech companies looking to understand how local health procurement really works, we’re holding our Medtech Selling to Health Masterclass in Melbourne next week (4 March), and places are nearly sold out for this in-person event. It’s part of our Pathways to Market: Medtech Capability Uplift Program.

We have stepped up our advocacy for more urgent action on tackling antimicrobial resistance, through our AAMRNet initiative. We’re calling for the Government to support a subscription fund to help Australians access new antimicrobials and to incentivise their development and were delighted to share our insights in the print media and on ABC radio. There is a lot of interest in this idea and a push for action on other solutions with the AMR Summit being held in Sydney recently, co-convened by the CSIRO and the Fleming Initiative. MTPConnect's Andrew Bowskill, AAMRNet co-chair, was at the Summit and led a panel conversation with AMR leaders from GSK, AMR Action Fund and the UK Special Envoy on AMR Dame Sally Davies.

We have some more compelling events coming up next month and beyond in Perth and Adelaide and you’ll find the details below.

We look forward to connecting with you throughout year as we support the development of cutting-edge medical innovation to bring new medical devices and therapeutics to market – and ultimately to patients to improve health and wellbeing.

Kind regards,

Stuart Dignam
Chief Executive Officer 

MTPConnect & Industry News

MTPConnect Opens New Funding Round for Medtech Innovators in Heart Disease and Diabetes
Providing up to $1 million through our new TTRA initiative to help eligible Australian start-ups and SMEs develop innovative devices for cardiovascular disease and diabetes (type 1 and type 2). Applications close 30 March 2026. Join the information session webinar on 4 March 2026 at 13:00 AEDT.

Join our Medtech Selling to Health Masterclass
Join our face-to-face Masterclass for medtech companies looking to understand how local health procurement really works. On 4 March 2026 at Victorian Heart Hospital, Clayton VIC. Register now. Also, AMMA released its Future Solutions Roundtables Report, capturing practical actions and opportunities identified by health services, industry, and government during the AMMA Medtech Showcase in October 2025. 

Join our Program of International Conference Delegations in 2026 
MTPConnect has developed a program of international conference delegations, site visits and activities for 2026 to help you and your company access international markets and global supply chains. Register your EOI now. And this month, our Director Partnerships, Jarrod Belcher joined World Health Expo 2026 in Dubai, making connections at the Australian Pavilion. 

WAGES New Commercialisation Grant Development Workshop
EOIs open soon for the Commercialisation Grant Development Workshop to be held on Wednesday 22 April 2026 at Curtin University. Designed to help innovators and start-ups turn their great ideas into funded ventures. Sign up to the WAGES mailing list to get updates, and follow WAGES on its new LinkedIn page. 

WA Grant Excellence Service Calls for Expert Peer Reviewers
MTPConnect, in partnership with Synergy Health Solutions, is inviting Expressions of Interest from experienced researchers to join our WA Grant Excellence Service (WAGES) as an expert reviewer. EOIs open now

More Action Needed on Superbugs
AAMRNet's call for the Australian Government to support a subscription fund to help Australians access new antimicrobials and to incentivise their development, was covered in a story in The Sydney Morning Herald, and on national radio. AAMRNet's co-chair, MTPConnect's Andrew Bowskill took part in the AMR  Summit connecting with key national and international stakeholders from industry, research, clinicians, patients and government.

MTPConnect and Wholesale Investor’s Life Sciences Investor Day Hits the Mark
We are delighted to have wrapped up our inaugural Life Sciences Investor Day at Emergence 2026 in partnership with Wholesale Investor - showcasing 30+ life science companies to investors. Check out the on-demand video to see the presentations and pitches.

New Year, New Season of the MTPConnect Podcast!
We kick off the podcast in 2026 by catching up again with US FDA Expert and lawyer, Jeff Gibbs about navigating regulatory pathways in the US. Top tips and advice on the medical device review process including pre-submissions and how best to engage with the agency. 

TTRA Delegation Hits San Diego To Make Connections for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Innovations
MTPConnect was in San Diego hosting a delegation of innovative Australian biotech companies supported through our inaugural Targeted Translation Research Accelerator initiative - Inosi Therapeutics, Endo Axiom, Lorikeet Therapeutics and Nanomedx. The group took in an ecosystem tour to key US life sciences companies before heading to the ‘Biocom Global Partnering & Investor Conference to attend keynote sessions, schedule partnering meetings, make presentations and gather connections! 

TTRA Drugs and Devices Cohort Come Together for Commercialisation Intensive
Twelve breakthrough companies came together as part of MTPConnect's Targeted Translation Research Accelerator (TTRA) Drugs & Devices cohort for two days in Sydney, a valuable opportunity to share insights, challenges, and lessons on the realities of translation and commercialisation.

Watch Innovation to Impact Stories from MTPConnect Programs
Let us introduce some of the remarkable companies and organisations developing innovative products and solutions for better health – backed by our highly sought after commercialisation support programs like Targeted Translation and Research Accelerator (TTRA) and the Clinical Translation Commercialisation Medtech program (CTCM).

The State of Australian Startup Funding 2025 report was launched recently. Find the report here.

Brisbane company Proseek Bio secured bronze at the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge during J.P. Morgan Healthcare Week in San Francisco.

Congratulations to CTCM awardee VividWhite on sharing early clinical data on its new glaucoma implant at the annual congress of the Australian & New Zealand Glaucoma Society in Sydney.

Congratulations to CTCM awardee OncoRes Medical raising $27 million in a private funding round to advance its breast cancer surgery technology

Sector Opportunities

• Applications are open for for mentors and mentees from across the ACADI network — and across Australia — to participate in the 2026 ACADI Mentoring Program, proudly supported by Boehringer Ingelheim. Closing 15 March 2026. Apply to be a mentor. Apply to be a mentee.
   

• Medical Alley has created two Market Access Accelerator offerings, designed to address the majority of questions they receive in a format that also allows personalised advisory from our leading content experts. These experts provide guidance on FDA regulatory pathways, reimbursement, compliance, clinical trials, commercialisation, market plan validation and venture capital. Learn more about 2026 enrolment
   

• Join the NSW Health Commercialisation Training program - Medtech Specialisation courses led by Cicada Innovations and funded by NSW Health - running March to May 2026. Apply today
   

• Proto Axiom, Australia’s leading biotech incubator, and St Vincent’s Curran Foundation unite to host Challenger Pitch for Health, the nation’s largest medical and biotech pitch event, in partnership with AusBiotech. Find out more and RSVP
   
• Applications are now open for the 2026 Australian Technologies Competition. Must be an Australian SME with evident traction and an MVP established in Australia. Closing 10 May 2026.

• ANDHealth says applications are now open for the 2026 intake of its ACTIVATE scale-up program, designed to supercharge Victorian digital and connected health startup companies with significant growth potential that are ready to scale. Apply by 22 March 2026 - the program runs from May to December 2026.
   
• The Diabetes Australia Grand Innovation Challenge is now open, backing bold ideas that can improve the lives of more than 1.5 million Australians living with diabetes. Startups, entrepreneurs, private sector businesses, research teams, and healthcare providers are encouraged to apply for six research grants from a total pool of $500,000. To apply, find out more
   

• Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) is seeking applications for novel chemistry plans against known antimicrobial resistance (AMR) targets, during its 2026 Funding Round, which opens in April 2026. The aim is to unlock innovative starting points for therapeutics to address dangerous, drug-resistant bacterial infections. More information here
   

• Here is a tip - subscribe to gemaker's monthly newsletter to stay up to date on commercialisation, innovation and research news, plus jobs, funding, awards, events and more

Events​

• 4 March 2026 - TTRA Information Session – Funding call for Devices addressing cardiovascular disease and complications of diabetes, MTPConnect (Online)
• 4 March 2026 - Medtech Selling to Health Masterclass 2026, MTPConnect (Melbourne)
• 10 March 2026 - WA Spotlight on Biomedical Careers: Talent, Transition & Transformation (Perth)
• 11-13 March 2026 - BioInnovation Festival (Perth) 
• 18 March 2026 - Reimbursement Ready Webinar, MTAA (Online)
• 26 March 2026 - WA Grant Excellence Service Workshop, MTPConnect (Perth)
• 23-25 March 2026 - BIO-Europe Spring, (Lisbon, Portugal)
• 26 March 2026 - SA Insights: How Infrastructure and Research Facilities Help Transform Your R&D, MTPConnect (Adelaide)
• 22 April 2026 - WAGES Commercialisation Grant Development Workshop (Perth)
• 29 April – 1 May 2026 - BIO KOREA Conference, (Seoul)
• 10-13 May 2026 - BIO Middle East, (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
• 19–26 May 2026 - AusMedtech 2026, AusBiotech (Perth)
• 8-18 June 2026 - HLTH Europe & ANDHealth Delegation to UK & EU Markets, ANDHealth (UK & Amsterdam)
• 22 - 25 June 2026 - BIO Conference, (San Diego) 
• 16-19 July 2026 - BIO ASIA Taiwan Conference (Taipei)
• 18–21 October 2026 - The MedTech Conference (AdvaMed) (Boston)
• 11 – 18 November 2026 - HLTH Conference & US Delegation, ANDHealth (San Francisco & Las Vegas)

To see what events are coming up in 2026, visit our news webpage and events webpage.
 

Case Study Showcase | VividWhite set to transform surgical glaucoma management and vision care

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases affecting more than 300,000 Australians, yet over half remain undiagnosed. This can lead to impaired vision and vision loss, reduced quality of life, a higher risk of injury and increased patient isolation and psychological distress. Traditional treatments such as eye drops and laser therapy are often limited by poor patient compliance or may not be sufficient or suitable for everyone.

Investment of $1 million from MTPConnect’s Clinical Translation and Commercialisation Medtech (CTCM) program has helped propel Melbourne-based VividWhite’s novel surgical implant, VividFlo, towards becoming an improved long-term treatment option for people with glaucoma. A debilitating and progressive eye disease, glaucoma diminishes vision and requires ongoing management to slow its progression. Read on...