Australia’s largest medical device accelerator program, MedTech’s Got Talent, will receive a $500,000 grant through the Incubator Support initiative to help develop start-ups in the fields of medical devices, laboratory equipment, diagnostics, bionics and eHealth.

MedTech’s Got Talent is 6 week national challenge for budding student, researcher + clinical entrepreneurs in the medical device industry. The program supports emerging entrepreneurs to develop and refine skills from pitching a business concept, through developing their ideas to launching launching their product. 

The new funding will help to equip start-ups to build businesses that create jobs and compete in overseas markets.

The Incubator Support initiative is part of the Turnbull Government’s National Innovation and Science Agenda. Minister for Jobs and Innovation, Michaelia Cash said the Incubator Support initiative was encouraging incubators and accelerators like MedTech’s Got Talent to improve the prospects of Australian start-ups.

“The MedTech’s Got Talent program equips our scientists and researchers with the capability needed to transform ideas into viable businesses and access international markets faster than they otherwise would,” Minister Cash said.

Minister for Small and Family Business, the Workplace and Deregulation, Craig Laundy said the program provided many benefits for start-ups across the country.

“Programs like this level the playing field to allow start-ups to access the same resources as their multinational counterparts,” Minister Laundy said.

“The access to real talent, mentors, money, expertise and networks will put these start-ups in the best position for commercial success.”

MedTech’s Got Talent is a program of the Actuator, Australia’s National Medtech Accelerator. Founders of Victorian biomedical engineering startup Stelect, Fay Gibson, Elise Sutherland, Elizabeth Griffiths and Marc Stringer took out the top prize for the fourth cohort of MedTech’s Got Talent in March with their novel coronary stent size selection device.

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