NSW Health today announced Sydney-based technology incubator, ATP Innovations, will deliver the Medical Device Commercialisation Training Program (MDCTP) after it won a competitive tender.
The program develops the commercialisation and business skills of innovators of novel medical devices, to keep research talent in NSW and ultimately deliver better health and economic outcomes.
Now in its third year, the MDCTP will be delivered for the next four years by ATP Innovations, in partnership with the Office for Health and Medical Research (OHMR).
OMHR Director, Ms Anne O’Neill, said ATP Innovations was one of Australia's leading advanced-technology incubators with a strong track record in delivering this high quality training to NSW-based medical device researchers and clinicians.
“The quality of the training is such that the MDCTP has been awarded 12 credit points towards MBA Programs at the University of NSW and the University of Wollongong,” Ms O’Neill said.
“The newly expanded program will provide learning opportunities for up to 200 NSW-based medical device technologists, academics, and clinicians each year over the next four years.
“The MDCTP has been critical in developing the innovation ecosystem in NSW. Graduates of the program have launched companies, engaged industry partners and raised more than $9 million in grants and private investment, creating job opportunities in Australia and abroad,” Ms O’Neill said.
The program has been particularly successful at encouraging women as entrepreneurs.
Last year's top candidate, Professor Stephanie Watson, was awarded $50,000 in seed funding for her start-up Ocurep, which is developing a sutureless wound-sealing device for cataract surgery. Ocurep went on to raise a further $1.3 million from the NSW Medical Devices Fund (MDF).
Dr Ilana Feain, a 2014 alumnus, founded Nano-X, a novel cost-effective cancer therapy system, winning a number of start-up innovation awards, a $200,000 special grant from the MDF last year and $2.58 million from the MDF this year. Dr Dharmica Mistry, chief scientist and co-founder at BCAL Diagnostics, a start-up developing blood test to detect breast cancer, was named NSW Young Woman of the Year for 2016.
Post-doctoral researchers and clinicians, doctoral, PhD and masters candidates based in NSW and completing their degree program this year are encouraged to apply.
Applicants must have a demonstrated interest in medical device innovation and commercialisation. As part of the program, the skills developed include IP management, business model development, customer engagement, medical device design and prototyping, and regulatory affairs management.
For information about course eligibility and content, please visit ATP Innovations.
Program information sessions are to be held on 24 October and 14 November at ATP Innovations.