Healthy growth: Victorian health tech sector to be represented in state government delegation to the US

Two emerging Victorian health tech and biotechnology companies and a NICTA research program will be part of a state government delegation travelling to the US for Chicago’s AdvaMed 2014 conference from October 6 to 8.

The 31 member delegation includes MedTech’s Got Talent challenge winner SmartStent, as well as dorsaVi, which is developing wearable sensor technology for use in clinical practice, elite sports and occupational health and safety.

The delegation also includes NICTA-funded Bionic Vision Australia, whose researchers are working on bionic eye devices and have recently successfully completed a two-year clinical trial of retinal implants.

Aside from attending AdvaMed 2014, the state government funded delegation will visit Minneapolis and Austin, which are emerging as leading hubs for the US health technology sector.

The trip comes at a time when interest in medical technology startups in Victoria is booming, with Melbourne’s StartUp HealthTech Meetup group amongst the fastest growing in the world and HealthHack hackathon events coming up later this month.

dorsaVi chief executive Andrew Ronchi told Private Media the trip is a big opportunity for his business, which recently listed on the ASX and counts AFL premiers Hawthorn, the NRL’s North Queensland Cowboys and Manchester United among its clients.

“We’ve been very fortunate with the Victorian government that they’ve supported our business with a number of grants, and now they’re helping us bring our innovation to the world,” Ronchi says.

“We recently set up an office in the US, and this will be a good opportunity to show the US companies what we can do.”

In a statement, State Minister for Technology Gordon Rich-Phillips said participants will have the opportunity to take part in business development, capital formation, showcasing innovative technology, educational opportunities and networking.

“The Victorian delegation represents our diverse medtech industry and includes representatives from medical devices, diagnostics development and manufacturing, patient monitoring and tracking technologies and technology commercialisation and advisory,” Minister Rich-Phillips said.

“Victoria is one of the most innovative, competitive and high-quality environments for research and commercialisation of medical technologies and AdvaMed presents a great opportunity for our local companies to explore global opportunities.”