Health Minister Mark Butler has announced $100 million in funding to three organisations for emerging Australian biomedical and medical technology innovations.
The organisations are Brandon BioCatalyst for CUREator: Translating Research into Health Outcomes, ANDHealth for Accelerating Evidence-based Digital and Connected Health Technologies, and Biointelect for Biointelect Venturer.
Each will receive around $33 million for their incubators aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with promising medical innovations to be commercialised.
“We have world-class medical researchers right here in Australia whose ideas can bring better health outcomes for Australians and people around the world," said Mr Butler. “The MRFF Commercialisation Initiative is designed to ensure those great ideas stay in Australia, building our medical manufacturing sector.”
Biointelect said its Venturer will launch in early 2026, following stakeholder and community engagement, to make sure it aligns with public health priorities and delivers areas of high unmet need.
“Thank you to the Australian Government for entrusting Biointelect to support our scientists to bring advancements in vaccines, vaccine-related technologies, and immunotherapies to benefit the health of all Australians,” said Leah Goodman, CEO Biointelect. “The value in a local incubator is that essential support to researchers will be provided here, in Australia, which means the innovation stays and doesn’t go offshore to commercialise, therefore maximising the value to this nation.”
“This grant demonstrates the importance of translating science into tangible solutions. Australian researchers are globally recognised for groundbreaking early-stage research, however attracting investment to bring them to market and ultimately deliver solutions to patients remains challenging,” said Ms Goodman.
Jennifer Herz, the Founder and Executive Director of Biointelect, said, "The conference outcome demonstrated that overcoming challenges in vaccine development and commercialisation in Australia requires deeper collaboration between industry and academic research. The Biointelect Venturer will serve as the catalyst for this change, nurturing research into investment-ready solutions to improve the health of all Australians."
Biointelect has appointed Leanne Hobbs, a former vaccine biotechnology chief executive and multi-national senior executive, as General Manager to establish the incubator quickly. She has extensive experience in developing practical strategies to accelerate scientific translation and development locally and internationally
“We are pleased to welcome Leanne Hobbs to the Biointelect team. Leanne will lead the new incubator and collaborate closely with SMEs research organisations and institutions, as well as community-based entities already working to prevent and reduce impact of disease. Through these relationships Leanne will support Australian SMEs and foster local and international collaborations and investment,” added Ms Goodman.