MTPConnect has opened applications for its new Pathway to Market – Medtech Capability Uplift Program, aimed at helping locally made medical technologies reach hospitals and health services in Australia.
The initiative is part of a broader push to strengthen local procurement and boost the growth of the Australian medtech manufacturing sector.
The program is an initiative of the recently established Australian Medtech Manufacturing Alliance (AMMA), led by BioMelbourne Network and seed-funded by the Victorian Government. MTPConnect is delivering the program in partnership with BioMelbourne Network.
MTPConnect CEO Stuart Dignam said the program is focused on building sovereign capability by enabling Australian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to better access and navigate the complex hospital procurement landscape.
“Hospital and health service procurement requirements and processes are complex and can be challenging for local medtech manufacturers to come to terms with,” Mr Dignam said.
“Our program will equip local SME medtech companies with the capabilities needed to navigate procurement pathways and, ultimately, help more companies to secure contracts to supply into hospitals and health services.”
Dignam added that the program is designed to ensure Australian innovation is not only developed locally but also manufactured and adopted within the country, contributing to job creation, long-term economic returns, and improved healthcare self-reliance.
Karen Parr, CEO of BioMelbourne Network, said the initiative reflects a collaborative approach involving government, industry, and healthcare to strengthen the commercialisation pathway for local medtech innovators.
“We’re helping bridge the gap between invention and implementation, ensuring great, local ideas become real solutions in our hospitals and health system,” Parr said.
“This program is about more than helping businesses navigate procurement. It’s about unlocking the full value of Australian innovation for our health system.”
The program will be piloted in Victoria and is intended to serve as a foundation for a future national rollout. Selected companies will participate in a structured process including capability assessments and practical workshops, with the goal of preparing them to align with health sector procurement processes and submit competitive bids.
The initiative will also include a focused Masterclass on procurement insights and conclude with an Open Day at the Victorian Medtech Showcase in October, giving participants an opportunity to present their products to major healthcare buyers and clinical leaders.
Eligible applicants must be for-profit businesses based in Victoria, with one or more near-market or market-ready medical devices (Technology Readiness Level 7–9).
Applications are open on MTPConnect’s website and will close at 5:00pm AEST on 30 May 2025.
Successful applicants will be notified in mid-June, with the program set to commence on 3 July 2025.
