[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Professor Lyn Griffiths, Executive Director of QUT’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) and Director of The BridgeTech Program, said 100 applicants will be selected from around Australia who want to bolster their knowledge of the scientific, legal, financial, clinical, regulatory and reimbursement disciplines related to taking developed medical technology to market.
The BridgeTech Program is open to mid-career entrepreneurs, researchers, business development professionals, IP lawyers, regulatory officers and others in the med-tech ecosystem.
Led by QUT, The BridgeTech Program involves a consortium of partners including medical technology companies, universities and industry associations: Flinders University, Siemens Healthcare, Cochlear, Hydrix, Magnetica, University of Newcastle, MTAA, University of Western Australia, AusBiotech, and many others.
The BridgeTech Program is also supported by MTPConnect – the Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals Industry Growth Centre – which is providing industry-matched funding to run the program.
Professor Griffiths said today’s launch, at Tonsley Innovation District in Adelaide, was held in conjunction with the 10-year anniversary of the Medical Device Partnering Program led by BridgeTech consortium partner Flinders University.
“This is an important partnership, linking research and technology development with entrepreneurship,” she said.
“Through its consortium of partners, The BridgeTech Program is unique in its ability to incorporate industry expertise, create key collaboration opportunities and draw on the breadth of knowledge needed to design an effective course.”
The BridgeTech Program launch was followed by a panel discussion on the MedTech entrepreneurship landscape in Australia with MTPConnect CEO Sue MacLeman, Ferronova CEO Stewart Bartlett and Managing Director of Micro-X Peter Rowland.
Professor Griffiths said The BridgeTech Program is structured to accommodate the busy researcher/entrepreneur as a self-paced online learning program incorporating a three-day workshop to consolidate learning and create key sector networks.
“Developing this important educational initiative in partnership with industry means that participants will be provided with relevant and specific commercialisation training, advice and networks to better assist the commercialisation of medical technology and medical devices in Australia,” she said.
Managing Director and CEO of MTPConnect Sue MacLeman said medical technology is the fastest growth area in the Australian med-tech, biotech and pharma sector.
“The BridgeTech Program will provide practical and important support to develop a more vibrant and impactful MTP sector ecosystem, contributing to the growth of our sector on the world stage,” Ms MacLeman said.
“As part of our mission, we are funding big, bold ideas that will deliver results on a national scale, have sector-wide impact, and are aligned with the Sector Growth Priorities identified in our 10- year Sector Competitiveness Plan. We are very proud to be supporting this truly collaborative initiative that brings together expertise from industry and research, building on the success of pharmaceutical-focused Bridge Program.”
Ian Burgess, CEO of the MTAA said as the peak industry body for medical devices we’re pleased to be supporting an initiative that will help develop those in their mid-career stage get to the next level.
“Global advances in medical technology over the past 20 years have resulted in a 56% reduction in hospital stays, 25% decline in disability rates, 16% decline in annual mortality and increased life expectancy of approximately 3.2 years.
“Technology allows patients to hear, to walk, to see, to live or to have a quality of life that they otherwise would not have.
“MTAA looks forwards to welcoming the first 100 applicants to Sydney for the three day residential prior to our Annual Conference on the 7-8 November.”
The BridgeTech Program is the sister program of The Bridge Program, which is now in its second successful year and focuses on the skills needed for research translation and the commercialisation of medicine in the pharmaceutical industry.
For information on The BridgeTech Program, contact bridgetech.program@qut.edu.au.
To submit an application please complete an EOI here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
