Message from the CEO

Just a few weeks ago, we were making connections and opening-up opportunities for Australian life science companies at Bio Korea, now we are gearing up for the big Team Australia mission to BIO 2025.

It’s going to be a big eight days or so in Boston, with MTPConnect hosting the dazzling Team Australia pavilion (Booth #335) showcasing Australia’s outstanding medical research, clinical trials and advanced manufacturing capabilities to the world. 

MTPConnect’s two-day site visit program is sold out, we’re promoting Australia’s clinical trials capabilities with partners Biocom California and Korea Health Industry Development Institute, we have two fabulous speakers - Kate Liebelt and Prof Christine Allen - for our Women in Leadership breakfast. And on top of that, we can’t wait to bring the whole sector together for the Australian Business and Networking Welcome Reception, with major sponsor Moderna, on Sunday 15 June at the Museum of Science.

Our thanks to fabulous event partners, the state governments of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia, the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, Austrade, CSIRO and AusBiotech. And we’re delighted to have the generous support of Moderna, along with Arrotex Pharmaceuticals, CSL, Cytiva, Global Pharma Solutions, Novartis, Nutromics and Sanofi for our program of high profile, value-add activities.  

And for those of you joining the BIO mission, check out our Pre-Departure BIO Briefing webinar with updates from US representatives from Austrade, the Australian Embassy and Biocom California on doing business in the US and getting the most out of your visit to Boston.

Back home and it was great to be in Adelaide for the Adelaide Economic Development Agency Business Summit 25, where it was announced that MTPConnect will deliver the three-year Adelaide Life Science Gateway program. In partnership with AEDA, we’ll be working to position the City of Adelaide as a global hub for medical technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical innovation and help to accelerate the city’s economic activity – and those global connections are already being made as we prepare for the BIO mission.

This month we launched our Pathway to Market - Medtech Capability Uplift Program, in partnership with BioMelbourne Network as part of the Australian Medtech Manufacturing Alliance (AMMA). The five-month program is designed to help Victorian SME medtech manufacturers position themselves competitively for local health procurement opportunities. Purchase orders can make all the difference and while applications have closed today, we are holding a Pathway to Market Masterclass in Melbourne on 3 July, open to all – more information on that soon!

This month on the MTPConnect podcast we have introduced some of the passionate health professionals taking part in our Australian Clinical Entrepreneurs Program (AUSCEP) delivered with ASME. With applications now open in Victoria for the new 2025-2026 cohort, if you are interested in applying, I recommend you download episode 193 with Elleesha King from Pulsatile Innovations and episode 194 with Dr Yagiz Aksoy from EosGene Therapeutics to hear about their positive AUSCEP experiences.

Today some of the MTPConnect team are in Brisbane supporting Queensland Health to deliver a mega Poster Session at the Queensland Research Excellence Showcase. We are looking forward to highlighting some of this translation-ready research on the MTPConnect Podcast next month.

Speaking of announcements, thanks to everyone who’s applied for funding through our Targeted Translation Research Accelerator, supporting cardiovascular disease and diabetes drug and device innovations. Such amazing translational work being done across Australia on products that can reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease and complications of diabetes for patients, carers, families and community. We’ll soon be announcing the successful applicants so watch this space.

We hope you continue to enjoy our regular newsletter and stay connected to opportunities, events and more.

Kind regards,

Stuart Dignam
Chief Executive Officer 

MTPConnect & Industry News

MTPConnect Awarded Adelaide Economic Development Agency Grant for New Gateway Program
MTPConnect will deliver its Adelaide Life Science Gateway program for the Adelaide Economic Development Agency (AEDA) after it was awarded a Strategic Partnerships Program grant announced at the AEDA Business Summit 25 in Adelaide. The three-year Gateway program has been designed to position the City of Adelaide as a global hub for medical technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical innovation and help to accelerate the city’s economic activity. Read on...

Watch: MTPConnect Pre-Departure Briefing for BIO 2025!
Missed MTPConnect's pre-departure briefing webinar for Australian delegates attending BIO 2025 in Boston in June? Find out about the opportunities at the world’s largest biotech convention, doing business in the US in the current environment and Australia’s presence and key activities during the convention. Watch the on-demand video with key speakers from Austrade and Biocom California – to help you prepare to get the most out of the experience!

Pre-BIO25 Event: Conducting Clinical Trials in Australia
Austrade in partnership with MTPConnect, is hosting a lunch for industry professionals to  network and discover more about conducting clinical trials in Australia. ​The event is being hosted at MassChallenge, a global startup accelerator based in Boston. On Friday 13 June 12:00 - 14:00 GMT-4 at MassChallenge, Boston. Details. 

Australian Women in Life Sciences Leadership Forum During BIO 2025
MTPConnect is delighted to be hosting the 3rd 'Australian Women in Life Sciences Leadership Forum’, proudly sponsored by Global Pharma Solutions during BIO 2025. MTPConnect Chair Hon Jaala Pulford will lead the discussion and a fireside chat. This will be an engaging conversation covering the opportunities and challenges leading women face in the life sciences industry. We will be revealing the speakers very soon. Stay tuned! On 17 June, 7:30am – 9:30am (EDT) in Boston. Numbers are strictly limited - please register early! 

BIO 2025 Networking Event with MassBio
During BIO 2025, MassBio is celebrating 40 years of innovation and community at a special evening event on Tuesday 17 June in the Seaport District . This will be a great way to connect with Boston's biotech ecosystem with 1,000+ attendees expected. Find out more.

New AUSCEP Program Closes Soon - Victorians Apply Now!
The Australian Clinical Entrepreneur Program (AUSCEP) is a 12-month industry-leading innovation program designed to advance clinician-led transformation across Australia's healthcare workforce. Victorian applications for the 2025 / 2026 cohort close 20 June 2025. See auscep.au for more details.

MTPConnect Podcast Showcases Clinical Entrepreneurs
This month, in a special series dedicated to the Australian Clinical Entrepreneur Program (AUSCEP) we introduce you to some of the passionate health professionals taking part in the program to develop their innovative ideas into products and enterprises. We kick off with Elleesha King, founder of Pulsatile Innovations, a start-up developing a pulse detection device to reduce delays to CPR and defibrillation. We also chat to Dr Yagiz Aksoy, co-founder of EosGene Therapeutics, a start-up developing a platform that uses light to deliver gene therapy for diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration – removing the need for painful eye injections. Check it out!

Save the Date for Pathway to Market Masterclass in July 
Join us for an expert-led Masterclass providing deep insights for medtech companies on local procurement pathways. Delivered as part of MTPConnect’s Pathway to Market – Medtech Capability Uplift Program. Save the date – 3 July 2025, in Melbourne. More details to follow… email Dr Amelia Vom for more information. 

Register your interest for the Australia Biotech Mission to BIO Asia-Taiwan
This leading Asian biotech event taking place 23-27 July 2025, is where Australian companies have been highly effective in unlocking business opportunities and connecting with key industry players. Register to join Austrade’s pre-conference activities and make the most of the Australian pavilion, supported by MTPConnect. Plus, save the date for Australia-Taiwan Biotech Collaboration Forum and Networking Reception on 23 July 2025.

Join SA Insights for Lab to Launch with Seonix Bio
Join the MTPConnect Adelaide Intermediary Program’s next SA Insights event and meet Seonix Bio’s co-founder Professor Jamie Craig, internationally recognised ophthalmic geneticist and South Australian Scientist of the Year 2024, and Seonix BioCEO Nick Haan. On 5 June 2025, 5.30pm – 7.30pm ACST, followed by networking. Register now.

SA Tackles Innovation in Antimicrobial Resistance
Join our Adelaide Intermediary Program for a special event, Global Minds, Local Breakthroughs: Fuelling Innovation in Antimicrobial Resistance | Bridging global expertise with South Australia’s ingenuity to tackle antimicrobial resistance and hear from leading experts from MTPConnect's AARMNet, CARB-X and GSK, focusing on efforts to translate AMR research to fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). On 14 July, 12pm–2pm at SAHMRI, Adelaide. 

Join our US Medtech Conference Site Visit Program
The MedTech Conference is a can’t-miss event for the industry’s prominent and promising companies. MTPConnect is adding value with a two-day site visit program on 2–3 October 2025, so plan to be in San Diego early so you can be part of the Australian delegation. Register your interest now. More information to come in early June.

WA Workshop: Build a Compelling Pitch for Medtech Investors 
Designed for start-ups looking to sharpen their investor proposition and improve engagement outcomes, join this hands-on workshop led by Trinity Life Sciences' David Uffer to unpack what investors are really looking for—from strategic alignment and risk mitigation to storytelling that resonates. This event is presented by Veintech as part of the Entrepreneur in Residence Scheme from the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, supported by the WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub. On 5 June, 8.30am–11am AWST, Perth. 

AusMedtech is Coming to Perth, WA in May 2026 - Why You Should Attend!
Read the blog post by our Dr Tracey Wilkinson on why you should fly west to attend AusMedtech in May 2026!

WA Hub Workshop Navigates IP Challenges
Are you a start-up or spinout facing IP challenges? Learn how to deploy IP for licensing or company creation with the workshop, Protect, Partner, Profit, hosted by WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub in conjunction with Springboard Medical Manufacturing Alliance. The half-day workshop with Dr Peytee Grusche and Andrew Chalet from Thomson Geer Lawyers will undertake a deep dive of how to protect and leverage IP for your commercialisation journey. On 13 August 2025, 9 am–12:15pm AWST. Register!

Congratulations to Navi Medical Technologies (a medtech start-up backed by MTPConnect's accelerator program CTCM) for taking out the award for Research Commercialisation at Cooperative Research Australia's 2025 Awards for Excellence in Innovation!

MTPConnect is supporting international conference delegations and events in 2025!

Tickets on sale now

Mark your calendars for these other international conference events! 

Sector Opportunities

• Applications are now open for the WILD Leadership Circles Program. The program is a strengths-based, peer coaching and connection program designed for STEM leaders ready to unleash their potential and forge impactful, rewarding careers. Apply before 16 June 2025.

• Expressions of Interest are now open for round two of the CUREator+ Dementia & Cognitive Decline incubator program, a partnership between ANDHealth, Brandon BioCatalyst and Dementia Australia. Submit an EOI before 10 July 2025.

• Genesys Electronics Design have launched their 2025 Genesys MedTech Grant. It offers Genesys’ leading-edge MedTech product development capabilities to start-ups and scaleups, with the successful applicants receiving $20,000 in value of engineering services. Closes 11 July 2025.

• Applications are now open for the 63rd Australian Export Awards! This year there are 14 national award categories. Apply before Friday 13 June 2025.

• Nominations for the 2025 Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards are now open, recognising the achievements of exceptional manufacturers across the state in both individual and company categories.  Nominations close at 11.59pm on 2 June 2025.

• The WA Government is seeking EOIs from Western Australian biomedical companies to activate CSIRO's Floreat site as part of a new biomedical precinct.
   
• Calling all biotech and AI/machine learning R&D start-ups! In Boston, MassBio’s annual early-stage and funder partnering conference, Align Summit is accepting applications for Seed to Series B companies. If your company is pushing the boundaries of science and technology, they want to hear from you. Apply by 20 June 2025. Visit MassBio to find out more!
   
• Applications are now open for the ACADI 2025 Health Tech Innovation Challenge. Seeking innovations that prevent, diagnose, monitor or manage diabetes and its complications with a total of $50,000 in seed funding available to help bring projects to life. Applications close 26 August at 12pm AEST.
   

• Register to receive the latest news from Australia’s Cell & Gene Catalyst, powered by AusBiotech and Medicines Australia, to propel Australia’s cell and gene industry forward by fostering collaboration and aligning advocacy efforts to achieve transformative outcomes.

• Breakthrough Victoria's Breakthrough Fellowship program ignites research entrepreneurship across Victoria, addressing critical market gaps and aiming to cultivate the next generation of start-up founders from Victorian universities. Up to $150,000 is available to start-ups.

• Digital Health innovators looking for a place to work in the Melbourne CBD need to check out CHICC, a free community hub for digital & connected health innovators powered by ANDHealth and supported by the Victorian Government. Access free resources, workshops, hot desks, meeting rooms and more while connecting and collaborating with industry peers. 

• Start-ups and entrepreneurs in the Northern Territory - apply now for the Business Innovation Program and receive government grant funding, advisory services from a pre-approved advisor, and expenses incurred in commercialising your innovation. Closing 30 June 2025.
   
• CSIRO Kick-Start is a year-round initiative providing matched funding support for innovative Australian start-ups and small businesses, with access to CSIRO’s research expertise and capabilities to help grow and develop their business.
   
• Take your research project to the next level with CSIRO’s ON Prime program – applications will re-open mid 2025.To be notified of all future rounds and other ON Program opportunities, please subscribe to the mailing list.
   
• The Industry Growth Program provides support for innovative SMEs to commercialise and grow their business within the National Reconstruction Fund priority areas, such as medical science. Get connected to an Industry Growth Program adviser who will provide tailored advice to support your commercialisation and/or growth project.
   

Events​

• 2 June–13 July 2025 - Practical Use of AI in Healthcare,  University of Melbourne (online 6 week course)
• 3–5 June 2025 - 2025 ARCS Australia Annual Conference, ARCS (Sydney)
• 5 June 2025 - Building a Compelling Pitch for Medtech Investors, WA Hub (Perth)
• 5 June 2025 - From Lab to Launch with Seonix Bio, Adelaide Intermediary Program (Adelaide)
• 9 June 2025 - MedTech Without Borders: Harnessing Global Talent & Infrastructure for Commercial Wins (Houston, Texas - USA)
• 12 June 2025 - MedTech Without Borders: Harnessing Global Talent & Infrastructure for Commercial Wins, (St Paul, Minnesota - USA)
• 13 June 2025 - Pre-BIO25 Event: Conducting Clinical Trials in Australia (Boston, US)
• 16–19 June 2025 - BIO Convention, Biotechnology Innovation Organisation (Boston, US)
• 16–19 June 2025 - HLTH Europe (Amsterdam, NL)
• 17 June 2025 - Clinical Trials in Australia, Korea and California (Boston, US)
• 3 July 2025 - Pathway to Market Masterclass, MTPConnect (Melbourne)
• 14 July 2025 - Global Minds, Local Breakthroughs: Fuelling Innovation in Antimicrobial Resistance, AAMRNet, CARB-X, MTPConnect (Adelaide)
• 17 July 2025 - SA Insights - Life Sciences in Space, Adelaide Intermediary Program (Adelaide)
• 17–18 July 2025 - Australia Regulatory Device Summit, MTAA (Sydney)
• 23–27 July 2025 - Australia Biotech Mission to BIO Asia-Taiwan, Austrade (Taiwan)
• 13 August 2025 - Workshop: Protect, Partner, Profit, WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub & Springboard Medical Manufacturing Alliance (Perth)
• 5–8 October 2025 - The MedTech Conference, AdvaMed (San Diego, US)
• 8–10 October 2025 - BioJapan, (Yokohama, Japan)
• 19–22 October 2025 - HLTH Conference (Las Vegas, US)
• 22–23 October 2025 - MTAA Medtech Conference MTAA (Sydney) 
• 21–24 October 2025 - AusBiotech International Conference 2025, AusBiotech (Melbourne)
• 27–29 October 2025 - EIS: Evidence & Implementation Summit 2025, Centre for Evidence and Implementation and the Implementation Science Health Conference Australia  (Melbourne)

To see what events are coming up in 2025, visit our events page.
 

Case Study Showcase | LISTEN – A New Telehealth Approach to Address Mental Health Challenges of Living With Diabetes

For people living with diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD), managing their health and lives is not only about the physical symptoms and possible complications; these conditions can also affect their mental health. With support from MTPConnect's accelerator program TTRA, a trial of a new telehealth approach to address the mental health challenges of living with diabetes has shown positive results. Find out more about the program, developed by researchers at the Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes (ACBRD), a partnership between Deakin University and Diabetes Victoria. And watch the video!