MELBOURNE, Australia -- Cutting edge science, innovative design and creative business models were a consistent theme in the sixteen semi-finalists that emerged from the Rapid Fire Round of ‘MedTech’s Got Talent (http://www.stcaustralia.org/entrepreneur-challenge/)’, a program designed by STC (the Small Technologies Cluster) and supported by the Victorian Government’s Department of State Development, Business and Innovation as an initiative of the Enabling Technologies Skills Strategy – Small Technologies.

30 applicants pitched their concepts to a panel of seasoned product development mentors representing Victoria’s world-class design houses. Each mentor chose two teams to mentor intensely leading up to The Finals to be held in December where industry executives will select five winners to receive $20,000 and entry into a 3-month accelerated technology roadmapping program.

The pitches included things like a novel x-ray free cardiovascular imaging device, a comfortable sleep apnea diagnostic, a minimally invasive bran machine interface for bionic limbs, a novel breast cancer diagnostic, a neonatal digital stethoscope, an epinephrine pen that is intuitive and reduces accidental injections, smart textiles for sports injury prevention, a less invasive seizure diagnostics platform, a remote monitoring platform for aged care, a medtech crowdfunding platform, an alternative to non-specific sports taping, a simple ultrasound, a robotic arm for people with limited upper mobility, a smart crutch, an artificial placenta for premature babies and much more.

The Service Sponsors of the challenge are providing valuable in kind support to challenge participants: Cochlear, Griffith Hack, SecondNature, Leadership Management Australasia and BioMelbourne Network. We are also working closely with marketing and media partners UniGateway, BioMelbourne Network, Startup Smart, MTAA, NICTA, ICT for Life Sciences, York Butter Factory, SEMIP and the Australian Centre for Health Innovation.

ABOUT STC:

STC promotes commercialisation and entrepreneurship around next-generation innovations with programs that grow new businesses. Many sectors, like biotechnology, medical devices, life science and information technology, are converging around this rapidly growing core of cutting edge innovation. STC seeds and catalyses new industry opportunities through the development and uptake of small and emerging technologies. STC provides the infrastructure to accelerate commercialization, links with key stakeholders across industry, government and academia necessary to nurture cross-fertilisation of innovation, and is the clear and consistent voice of those developing, integrating, or supporting emerging enabling technologies.


Contact
Laura Faulconer