Message from the CEO

Good afternoon,

Following a successful mission to The Medtech Conference in California to showcase 11 innovative Australian medtech companies, MTPConnect’s efforts to explore new market opportunities have ramped up again with our inaugural life sciences delegation to Saudi Arabia kicking off this week.

We’ve been excited to host a delegation of 14 companies and organisations at the Global Health Exhibition in Riyadh providing rare access to one of the world’s fastest-growing healthcare markets and offering a true first-mover opportunity to build new international connections.

I’ve been joined in Riyadh by our Partnerships Director Jarrod Belcher and Dana Bell as part of the Adelaide Life Sciences Gateway, supported by AEDA’s strategic partnerships program, and we have had a packed week building connections and introducing our delegation to key organisations like the Pubic Investment Fund, the National Unified Procurement Company, Lifera, NEOM and Lean Business Services, as well as the Saudi NIH.

And after visiting the Saudi Ministry of Health (MoH), I was delighted to join Deputy Minister Dr Khalid Alburikan for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between our two organisations. It is clear we share mutual industry interests to support and invest in innovation, fuel medical product discovery and advance human health - and now we have a cooperation agreement in place through which we can deliver tangible outcomes and real impact.

Another opportunity launched this month for life science companies looking to raise capital is the MTPConnect Investor Ready program with Wholesale Investor. It’s a dedicated capital engagement program connecting companies directly with Wholesale Investor's network of over 45,000 private investors. We are offering a package of activities commencing in November, that culminates in a high-profile showcase event at the Life Sciences Investor Day at the Emergence 2026 Conference in February 2026, in Sydney. Register your interest now and get in early for one of the 20 discounted packages available – and you can find out more from our Info Session webinar recorded earlier this month.

Back in Melbourne we held the Australian Medtech Manufacturing Alliance (AMMA) Medtech Showcase in Melbourne with a curated exhibition of Victorian-made products and innovations from 25 local manufacturers spanning surgical care and diagnostics to everyday consumables and equipment. With keynotes from Monash University’s Professor Ian Meredith (and MTPConnect board member) and HealthShare Victoria’s Susan Delroi, it was all about ‘Better Health Made Here’ – getting more homegrown medtech products purchased and used by local hospital and health services. Thanks to BioMelbourne Network and AMMA for the teamwork in delivering this important initiative to tackle the procurement conundrum.

The event also marked the finale of the first cohort of our Pathway to Market - Medtech Capability Uplift Program, led by MTPConnect’s Dr Amelia Vom, which aims to help Victorian Medtech manufacturing companies understand what health buyers need and to navigate public procurement pathways. Congratulations to the ten companies participating in this inaugural 2025 cohort including, Certius Medical, DentaLife, Lumos, Rhinomed, Sleeptite, Ventora Medical, AIKangaroo, VorOtek, ZiP Diagnostics and Optiscan. The good news is that we will be running the program again in 2026 with applications due to open later this year.

Check out our podcast episode recorded with a selection of innovative medtech companies exhibiting at the AMMA Medtech Showcase – it extends this important conversation about sovereign capability, local procurement and what is being done to support Australian industry.

I would also like to welcome new staff to our MTPConnect team. Dr Bahareh Badrian has been appointed as Head of Grant Excellence WA where she will lead the development and delivery of MTPConnect’s new WA Grant Excellence Service (WAGES) from our Perth office. Jane Zheng has also joined us as Events and Operations Coordinator for Targeted Translation Research Accelerator (TTRA) program, based in Melbourne.

We hope you continue to enjoy our regular newsletter and stay connected to opportunities, events and more as we work together to back Australian life science innovation.

Kind regards,

Stuart Dignam
Chief Executive Officer 

MTPConnect & Industry News

MTPConnect Inks Cooperation Agreement with Saudi Ministry of Health
MTPConnect and The Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have committed to working closely together to support the growth of life sciences companies, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at the Global Health Exhibition 2025 in Riyadh. Check out the MTPConnect-led delegation traveling to Saudi Arabia for Saudi Arabia's dynamic healthcare market and site visits. 

New MTPConnect Investor Ready Program - Register your interest!
MTPConnect and Wholesale Investor announced a strategic partnership to accelerate investment in Australia's life sciences sector, launching the MTPConnect Investor Ready Program - giving life sciences companies the tools and access they need to succeed in securing funding and investment. Watch the Information Session: Raising Capital in 2026 here. This curated program includes a package of activities commencing during November, to assist companies with capital raising requirements and culminates in the opportunity to showcase your company at the Life Sciences Investor Day at Emergence 2026 Conference in February 2026, in Sydney. Register your interest to secure one of 20 packages.

US Medtech Mission Wraps for 2025
Our medtech mission with 11 Australian companies heading to the global medtech hub of San Diego has been a resounding success – find out what Team Australia got up to!

Victorian Medtech Innovations Shine at the AMMA Medtech Showcase
The recent AMMA Medtech Showcase 2025 and Pathway to Market finale featured and exhibition of 25 Victorian medtech manufacturers looking to connect with over 150 health service representatives from more than 15 hospitals alongside ecosystem leaders and HealthShare Victoria. Find out more about the event's program and keynotes and watch our highlight reel!

New Podcast Showcasing Victoria’s Innovative Medtech Manufacturers
The MTPConnect Podcast was on the ground at the AMMA Medtech Showcase and spoke to companies taking part in our Pathway to Market program including Ventora Medical’s Edward Buijs, Rhinomed’s Michael Johnson, Dentalife Australia's Tom Stray, Sleeptite’s Cameron van den Dungen, Certius Medical’s Tim Stewart, as well as local leaders Care Essentials' Helen Skazas and Lindo’s Robert Gangi. Listen now for some fascinating conversations about the local procurement challenges they are facing in our healthcare and hospital services and how the Pathway to Market has . 

Joining the BioConnect: Australia-Taiwan Biotech Forum
The Taiwan life sciences industry joined the ‘BioConnect: Australia-Taiwan Biotech Forum’ in Melbourne to explore partnerships and collaborations with the Australian life sciences sector. MTPConnect has identified Taiwan as a priority market for collaboration and our Director Partnerships Jarrod Belcher was delighted to present to the group about the Australian life sciences ecosystem and help to facilitate introductions.

BiVACOR Innovation Story Shared in National Press Club Address
Congratulations to Dr Daniel Timms – BiVACOR founder and inventor of the Total Artificial Heart – for his captivating and honest address to the National Press Club of Australia about his 20-year medtech innovation journey that has taken him around the world seeking collaboration to solve medicines’ holy grail and make sure heart failure is no longer a death sentence. In 2022, MTPConnect’s Targeted Translation Research Accelerator (TTRA) program provided funding to help progress the device’s development, MTPConnect representatives were there at the Press Club event in Canberra, with Lisa Dubé, Andrew Bowskill and Lauren Kelly catching up with Daniel after his speech to offer their congratulations.

A Night to Remember at the 2025 Startup Daily Best in Tech Awards Gala Dinner! MTPConnect was honoured to attend the 2025 Startup Daily Best in Tech Awards Gala Dinner as a finalist in the 'Getting Stuff Done' (GSD) category. Congratulations to Press Play Ventures for winning the category, to Relevance AI for being crowned Startup of the Year and to all the other winners and fellow finalists. Massive thanks to the Startup Daily team and sponsors for an unforgettable evening and for celebrating the energy and ambition of Australia’s tech ecosystem.

Translating Science to Success: IGP Brisbane Networking Event  
We gathered in Brisbane this week to host a networking and information event as part of our support for Industry Growth Program (IGP), in collaboration with the Translational Research Institute (TRI), shining a light on Queensland’s thriving medtech, biotech and pharmaceutical ecosystem. Thanks to Jeremy Barker, Queensland IGP Advisor, and UQs Professor Avril Robertson and MTPConnect’s representatives Lisa Dubé and Andrew Bowskill for sharing some fascinating insights into research translation and real-world impact.

WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub Spotlight Celebrates 7 years of Impact
The WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub is celebrating 7 years of impact with a special Spotlight event in Perth, hosted by our partners MTPConnect, The University of Western Australia, and the Government of Western Australia. Please join us along with Hon Stephen Dawson, Minister for Medical Research; Science and Innovation, to mark this milestone. On Wednesday 5 November, 10am – 11am, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research (North), Nedlands. Book your spot! 

WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub's End of Year Event Shines a Spotlight on 2025
Join the waitlist for the WA event of the year with a special evening celebrating the incredible growth, innovation, and collaboration across Western Australia’s vibrant life sciences community. Hosted by the WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub, Life Sciences WA, and AusBiotech, this event brings together industry leaders, researchers, and innovators to reflect on a remarkable year — and look ahead to an exciting 2026! WA’s Minister for Science & Innovation and Medical Research Hon Stephen Dawson will also join in the proceedings. Thanks to sponsors Linear Clinical Research, ProGenis Pharmaceuticals and Radium Capital for making this celebration possible. On Wednesday 26 November, 5:30–8:30pm AWST,  Kings Park WA. General tickets are sold out, but you can still join the waitlist! 

Celebrate SA's Achievements with APPLAUSE25
Come and celebrate South Australia's 2025 achievements in the health and medical innovation sector with APPLAUSE25. An opportunity to connect and inspire the local healthtech community, and share the excitement for 2026 and beyond. With guest speakers, the 2025 Celebration Reel and more, get ready to cheer for South Australia’s achievements. On 20 November 2025, 5.30pm-9:00pm ACST at North Terrace, Adelaide. Early bird tickets have been extended until Monday 3 November. Reserve your ticket! 

Marking the 4th Australian Stroke and Heart Research Accelerator Partnering Summit Backed by TTRA Program
ASHRA and MTPConnect co-hosted the 4th Annual Australian Stroke and Heart Research Accelerator (ASHRA) Partnering Summit at the Victorian Heart Hospital, bringing together Australia’s leading heart disease and stroke researchers, clinicians, community members and industry partners showcasing how ASHRA is accelerating the translation of research into real-world outcomes.

MTAA Report on Funding Pathways for Digital Health Supporting Remote Healthcare
The Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) has released a report, Enabling Remote Care: Funding Pathways for Digital Therapeutics and Remote Patient Monitoring. The report was developed in partnership with MTPConnect, AndHealth, and the Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association (APACMed).

Congratulations to Roam Technologies who have been named the 2025 Australian Technologies Competition MedTech & Pharma Award winner!

Congratulations to Navi Medical  winning two honours at the Good Design Awards for its Neonav® ECG Tip Location System which is setting a new standard in neonatal and pediatric vascular access: Best In Class (Medical & Scientific Design) and Gold Winner (Medical & Scientific Design). The device is backed by MTPConnect's CTCM accelerator program.

Sector Opportunities

• Check out the latest Uplift Training Programs from CBE, a series of short courses covering the technical aspects of translating assets from research to commercial by giving you the tools and technical knowledge to take your understanding to the next level. Q4 courses starting now! Visit the website to find out more and enrol.

• The Biointelect Venturer - Australia’s National incubator for vaccine and infectious disease innovation - will open for EOIs on 17 November 2025 and close 19 December 2025 . Apply for the first cohort with awarded projects to receive up to $5 million in tranched funding. Please register HERE for further information.

• Aquillius is hosting the Innovation in Women's Health Pitch Showcase in San Francisco during JPM Week on Monday 12 January 2026. Apply to pitch at the event with 10 start-up companies to be selected - get your entries in by 1 December 2025. Sponsorship packages are also available. Contact MyPhuong Le to find out more.

• Expressions of interest are open for Boson’s China Innovation Tour during the week of 17 November. Meet leading tech companies, investors and policy stakeholders across key hubs. Focus areas: Deep Tech, Biotech, Climate Tech. Places are limited. Register your expression of interest

• CUREator in partnership with CSIRO has opened $33 million funding round to accelerate the development of early-stage therapeutics addressing significant unmet medical needs across the drug discovery, preclinical and clinical development stages – details and funding guidelines here. Successful small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) will gain access to significant non-dilutive funding (up to $5 million per project). EOIs close on 4 December 2025.

• The Biocom California Global Partnering and Investor Conference is hosting its exclusive partnering and investor forum in February 2026 bringing together over 500 investors and senior executives, including CEOs and heads of business development, biotech, and research and development from leading pharmaceutical, biotech, and research organisations from over 20 countries. This prestigious conference features panel discussions, one-on-one partnering meetings, presentations from small companies and leading research institutions, and endless networking opportunities. Find out more

• AusBiotech are calling for session submissions from medtech leaders, researchers, clinicians, investors and policymakers actively shaping the future of the medtech sector for AusMedtech 2026. Submit your session proposal by 21 November 2025.

• Join SeerPharma’s upcoming Perth workshop, Quality Management Systems for Medical Devices, 24-27 November 2025. This course is highly subsidised by the WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub and is open to those in WA interested in learning more about the application of ISO 13485:2016 requirements and benefits of a quality management system for medical devices. A few subsidised places remain. Apply

• Do you have a MedTech idea that could change lives? The Innovation Catalyst Program is Tyree IHealthE’s flagship initiative, designed to build solid translational foundations for early-stage MedTech projects and turn bold ideas into patient-centred, cost-effective healthcare solutions. Each intake will consider up to 25 projects, or “Sparks,” with each provided tailored assessments from clinical and technical experts. Expressions of Interest close Friday 7 November 2025 (or earlier if full). Program runs December 2025 to March 2026 . Visit the website for more info and submit your EOI

• The Pathways to Antimicrobial Clinical Efficacy (PACE) 2025 Antibacterial Therapeutics funding round is now open! The focus of this round is on early-stage, novel, antibacterial therapeutics. Applications are being accepted from innovators worldwide, with no requirement for a UK-based partner. The funding round closes 5 November 2025 at 23:59 (UK, GMT).

• ANDHealth+ commercialisation acceleration program for innovative digital and connected health technologies is now open for applications – Intake 1 closes 16 January 2026. 

• Charles Sturt University, in collaboration with ANDHealth are inviting all Australian founders who have launched a digital health startup in the last ten years to participate in an online survey taking 10-15 minutes to complete. Your participation will help identify the factors that challenge and support digital health startups. Complete the survey

• Proto Axiom and St Vincent’s Curran Foundation are co-hosting Challenger Pitch for Health, Australia’s largest pitch day for translational research projects from Australian and New Zealand researchers and start-ups, with $500,000 in grants to be awarded. Find out more and apply to pitch in Sydney in March 2026 -  closes 10 November 2025.
   
• Nominations for BioMelbourne Network’s 2026 Women in Leadership Awards are open until 14 November 2025. Nominate a leader today.

Events​

• 5 November 2025 - Spotlight on the WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub, WA Hub (Perth)
• 12 November 2025 - Symposium - New approaches in oncology drug development: Innovation, translation & commercialisation, BioMelbourne Network (Melbourne)
• 13 November 2025 - Reimbursement Ready: What Every Medtech Innovator Needs to Know, VMH (Online)
• 13–14 November 2025 - ACADI 2025 Annual Partnering Summit (Melbourne & online)
• 10–14 November 2025 - MTAA Medical Device Regulatory Workshop - TGA led, MTAA (Sydney)
• 19 November 2025 - 2025 ARCS Clinical Summit (Melbourne)
• 20 November 2025 - APPLAUSE 2025, MTPConnect SA (Adelaide)
• 20 November 2025 - BioMelbourne Network AGM (Melbourne)
• 26 November 2025 - Spotlight on 2025, WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub, LSWA, AusBiotech (Perth)
• 25–26 November 2025 - BioDesign Innovation Bootcamp, VMH (Melbourne)
• 26–28 November 2025 - Masterclass - AI for impact: Workforce uplift, modelling 
  and R&D innovation, BioMelbourne Network (Melbourne)
• 2 December 2025 - ANDHealth Unfiltered: When Software and Hardware Collide (Melbourne)
• 1–5 December 2025 - MTAA Medical Device Regulatory Workshop - TGA led, MTAA (Melbourne)
• 2–3 December 2025 - MTPConnect Accelerator Showcase (Melbourne) 
• 18 February 2025 - Life Sciences Investor Day (Emergence 2026), Wholesale Investor/MTPConnect (Sydney)
• 24–26 February 2026 - Global Partnering and Investor Conference, Biocom California (La Jolla, California)
• 26–28 February 2026 - Australian Society for Antimicrobials 25th Annual Scientific Meeting (Adelaide)
• 19–26 May 2026 - AusMedtech 2026, AusBiotech (Perth)

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

Case Study Showcase | Making Childbirth Safer: Oli – the AI-Guided Maternity Sensor

Oli is a wearable sensor designed to show how safely pregnancy and labour is progressing. By translating the lived experience of mothers into hard data, it provides clinicians with insights they can act on.

The Australian Clinical Entrepreneur Program (AUSCEP) caught up with AUSCEP mentor and medtech commercialisation expert, Tara Croft from Baymatob, to learn about Oli – a groundbreaking new medical device that is aiming to make pregnancy and childbirth safer and better for women. Find out more...