August Edition 2026

Message from the CEO

Good afternoon,

China's ascent as a life science and biotech powerhouse is no longer a forecast — it's underway. An end of 2025 report by the U.S. National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology imagined a scenario “where the cutting edge of biopharmaceutical innovation no longer runs through San Francisco or Boston, but through Beijing and Shanghai.” It notes that while the US has historically been the dominant global player, China is now in “prime position” to challenge that leadership. 

Given the scale of collaboration opportunities, we are expanding our international program into China.

AUScelerate’s BioGateway China initiative is underpinned by a new, three-year partnership agreement with the Shanghai Center of Biomedicine Development. Its purpose is to build lasting collaborative links with China and unlock new market opportunities for Australian life science companies.

The agreement, signed at our Melbourne headquarters, was witnessed by the Chairman of the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Dr Luo Dajin.

We’ll be working together on collaborative programs and events including a talent exchange program, sci-tech exhibitions, roadshows and business matchmaking events. Missions between Australia and Shanghai/China will also be supported.

And we’re delighted to launch the first of these – a mission to Shanghai and Suzhou from 23-27 November this year which will be supported by our MoU partners. More on the details and the registration below.

If you're already active in China, or curious about the opportunities there, I'd encourage you to consider joining the delegation – it’s a unique business opportunity to join a structured pathway to better understand China’s life sciences landscape, build meaningful connections and identify opportunities for growth.

In other international news, we have locked-in an exciting program around Boston’s ecosystem for our curated Australian delegation to The Medtech Conference in October.

With a top-notch site visit program, an added stop in New York for a pitch session to US investors, and co-exhibitor status on the Australian Pavilion for your company branding with support from AUScelerate’s on-the-ground concierge service, this is the five-star way to explore the US medtech market - designed for medtech startups, service providers, SMEs, researchers, tech transfer professionals and entrepreneurs looking to explore new business opportunities.

What we are hearing from delegates who took part in previous missions to the US is that our delegations do more than make introductions; we help you create strategic relationships and build a network that supports your future growth and success. By connecting you with the right people and networks, we create opportunities that you can continue to leverage long after the trade mission has ended.

In our podcast this month, you will hear Chelsea Cornelius from Stratos Medtech explain what she gained from joining our US delegation as she worked to commercialise her Pericoach innovation for pelvic health in the US market. It’s a stark reminder that building a company as a startup can be hard going and this type of support makes the difference.

Register by 4 September to join us in Boston.

Thank you for continuing to connect with us and you’ll find more details below about exciting events and opportunities coming up over the next few months.

Kind regards,

Stuart Dignam
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director 

AUScelerate & Industry News

Building a Gateway to China
AUScelerate and the Shanghai Center of Biomedicine Development today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build collaborative links and open-up new market opportunities for Australian life science companies. And we’re wasting no time in putting the MoU to work – AUScelerate’s first mission under its new BioGateway China initiative will be to Shanghai and Suzhou and we’re delighted to be working with our MoU partners to make it a success. Registrations are now open. 

BioGateway China program: China Life Sciences Ecosystem Immersion
Shanghai & Suzhou, 23-27 November 2026

AUScelerate's trade mission to the 2026 Medtech Conference in Boston

Closing soon! Join us for a curated site visit project program, investor pitch session, Australian Pavilion showcase, and lots more in Boston! Register your place by 4 September 2026.

WAGES Commercialisation Grant Development Workshop
Registrations now open for the next workshop to be held on 24 September, 9am - 4pm at Centre for Entrepreneurial Research and Innovation (CERI), Perth. This in-person workshop is designed to help innovators and start-ups maximise their chance of success in national commercialisation grant opportunities. Workshop participants will have the additional opportunity to take part in a one‑on‑one session providing tailored strategic advice on their bids. Registrations close 16 September. 

And coming soon: WAGES, in partnership with Mind Your Way, is launching a new online workshop series for WA researchers intending to apply for an NHMRC Ideas Grant in 2027. This intensive program commencing in October 2026 will provide practical support to strengthen the Innovation and Creativity, Significance, and Capability sections of an application, which are critical to overall competitiveness. Participants will work up their own draft content throughout the workshops, receiving expert guidance, practical examples and opportunities for peer learning and feedback. Expressions of interest will open soon - so stay in the loop and sign up to the WAGES newsletter.

Our WA Grant Excellence Service is seeking experienced researchers to join the program as Expert Peer Reviewers - register your interest!

On the AUScelerate Podcast this month, we speak to biomedical engineer and CEO of Stratos MedTech, Chelsea Cornelius, about PeriCoach, a clinically-backed pelvic floor training system for women. She shares the challenges and rewards of her medtech start-up journey in Australia, expansion into the US market and her insights into why she has joined AUScelerate international trade missions to The MedTech Conference in the US and how her experiences as part of a delegation have been so beneficial. Listen

As partner of the Australian Medtech Manufacturing Alliance (AMMA), AUScelerate is pleased to share the launch of the 2026 Medtech Action Plan focusing on four priority areas that create a pathway from promising medical technology to health-system adoption. Read on to find out more on the plan and roadmap for turning Australia’s existing medtech capability into stronger health, industry and manufacturing outcomes.

Read our new report Vital Signs: Boosting Australian Innovation in Heart and Diabetes Health revealing how AUScelerate’s inaugural Targeted Translation Research Accelerator (TTRA) program has unlocked $220 million in investment, established two new research centres and supercharged the translation of 80 new heart and diabetes products and solutions towards clinical and community impact.

👏Congratulations to TTRA awardee Endo Axiom. Its nanoparticle oral insulin platform has moved out of the research lab and into a released, clinical-grade GMP supply with the material now at site, ready for trials, after working with AbInitio. Read more 

Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Regional Meeting-Australia & New Zealand

Calling all researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders! The inaugural Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Regional Meeting-Australia & New Zealand is coming to Perth in November.

📅 25–27 November 2026
📍 The Ritz-Carlton Perth, WA

Early bird registrations close 15 September 2026. Follow the conference on LinkedIn

Sector Opportunities

• Horizon Europe Roadshow is coming to Australia, crossing eight state and territory capitals. Australia is now undertaking its domestic treaty processes and Australian entities will be able to apply for Horizon Europe Pillar II funding calls under the 2027 work program from 1 January 2027. Register, free of charge, in your state.
   

• AUScelerate is proud to support BrainTech 2026 – convening researchers, clinicians, founders, investors and policymakers for a day of bold thinking – in Melbourne on 15 October 2026.Happening on 15 October in Melbourne. Use our exclusive promo code BT26-FRIENDS and get 20% off the ticket price
   

• Grab your tickets for Cicada x Tech23, Australia's biggest deep tech festival coming up soon on 9 September 2026.
   

• MAITRI, an Australia–India Innovation & Investment Initiative led by the Deakin Small-to-Medium Enterprise Research Centre, is welcoming registrations for its upcoming online workshops, designed to support Australian SMEs in exploring market opportunities, partnerships, and investment pathways in India's fast-growing innovation ecosystem with a focus on AI, robotics, health technology, pharmaceuticals, and related innovation sectors. Learn more and register
   

• The National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation (NFMRI) has announced a new milestone grant to celebrate its 50th anniversary. NFMRI will award a single grant of up to $1 million over a period of up to three years to an Australian Publicly Funded Research Organisation (PFRO) (e.g. University, MRI) with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status. This grant round opens 3 August 2026 and closes 29 October 2026.

• AMGC has launched a new co-investment program, the SME Industrial Decarbonisation Fund, supporting SME manufacturers to transition from fossil fuel-powered processes to electrified alternatives - find out more 

• 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​

• 9 September 2026 - Cicada x Tech23 2026 Deep Tech Festival, (Sydney)
• 24 September 2026 - WAGES Commercialisation Grant Development Workshop, (Perth)
• 15 October 2026 - Braintech 2026 (Melbourne)
• 14–21 October 2026 - The MedTech Conference (AdvaMed) (Boston)
• 19 - 23 Oct 2026 - AusBiotech International Conference, AusBiotech (Gold Coast)
• 11–18 November 2026 - HLTH Conference & US Delegation, ANDHealth (San Francisco & Las Vegas)
• 23–27 November 2026 - AUScelerate BioGateway China (Shanghai, Suzhou)
• 25–27 November 2026 - Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Regional Meeting-Australia & NZ, (Perth)
• 6–9 December 2026 - Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association (APSA) 2026 Annual Conference, RMIT University (City Campus, Melbourne)
• 14–16 December 2026 - Bio Middle East (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
• 2–3 March 2027 - MTAA MedTech Conference 2027, MTAA (Sydney)
• 27–28 May 2027 - Women's Health Medtech Summit, MTAA (Sydney)
• 19–23 October 2027 - AusBiotech Conferences, AusBiotech (Gold Coast)

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

Case Study Showcase

Pioneering Brain Monitoring Technology for Detection of Stroke and its Recurrence

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, both in Australia and worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation, 12 million people experience a stroke each year. The financial impact of stroke is immense...

The heavy reliance on CT scanning technology in the diagnosis and monitoring of stroke can not only delay initial treatment but can also delay the response to stroke recurrence contributing to higher rates of death and disability. This is especially true in rural and resource-limited areas.

Seeking to reduce the impact of stroke is Wavewise Analytics (formerly Cyban) – a Melbourne-based medical device company that is developing a next-generation Optical Brain Pulse Monitor (OBPM). The device provides a non-invasive and continuous method for monitoring microvascular cerebral blood flow in patients with brain injuries using red and infrared light to capture brain pulse waveforms and offers a potential breakthrough by enabling real-time, point-of-care monitoring and detection of stroke and stroke recurrence.

Supported by funding from AUScelerate’s Targeted Translation Research Accelerator (TTRA) program –and experts at AUScelerate and TTRA partner, the Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP), Wavewise Analytics set out to explore whether the device could be used as a continuous non-invasive tool to detect and monitor stroke, with the ultimate goal to enable earlier detection and faster treatment. Read on...