The QUT-administered BridgeTech Program is one of five organisations in the new $19.75M Clinical Translation and Commercialisation – Medtech program (CTCM) funded by the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund through MTPConnect (Medtech and Pharma Growth Centre).
The CTCM program is a funding initiative to provide financial and educational support as well as infrastructure access to Australian small to medium-sized enterprises in medical device technology.
BridgeTech Program director QUT’s Distinguished Professor Lyn Griffiths said BridgeTech is a national professional development program that trains researchers and entrepreneurs to effectively navigate the medtech commercialisation journey.
“This partnership with CTCM symbolises strong endorsement in the future of Australian researchers and innovators,” Professor Griffiths said.
“We are excited to partner with MTPConnect through the CTCM program, and we’re looking forward to working with the other project partners to further commercialisation training skills in the medtech industry.
“Our program participants will take part in events, residential training, and online learning to develop a comprehensive understanding of the medtech commercialisation pathway.”
The BridgeTech Program contains online learning training modules as well as:
- Face-to-face networking opportunities around the country and seminars with key industry leaders
- A flagship residential training symposium held in collaboration with consortium partners international leaders, key experts and sector leaders
- A focus on Australian medtech to network and collaborate with industry consortia.
BridgeTech has been extended to two other programs – the Life Sciences Innovation Export Hub to facilitate export mentoring, partnering and training support to the Asia Pacific region for Queensland SMEs, and the REDI Industry Fellowships Program (which places BridgeTech alumni in industry for three to six weeks with a funded $10,000 fellowship) and its sister program Bridge Program (pharma-based commercialisation training)
The BridgeTech Program consortium includes: Cochlear, Bosch, Siemens, Stryker, Spruson & Ferguson, Vaxxas, University of Melbourne, University of Newcastle, University of WA, Australian National University, Life Sciences QLD, Medical Device Partnering Program, Australia Asia Technology Incubator, Biodesign Australia and Magnetica.
Members of the new CTCM program are: Medical Technology Association of Australia, the Medical Device Partnering Program, Cicada Innovations, Therapeutic Innovation Australia, and the BridgeTech Program.
