MTPConnect has launched applications for its 2026 Pathway to Market – Medtech Capability Uplift Program, a Victorian initiative designed to help local medtech manufacturers secure procurement opportunities with hospitals and health services.
The program, now in its second year, aims to bridge a longstanding gap in Australia’s innovation pipeline, turning home-grown medical technologies into products that are not only invented locally, but made and adopted within the national health system.
Developed by the Australian Medtech Manufacturing Alliance (AMMA), delivered by MTPConnect in partnership with BioMelbourne Network, and supported by the Victorian Government, the program focuses on strengthening sovereign manufacturing capability by helping local SMEs meet the rigorous requirements of hospital procurement.
MTPConnect CEO Stuart Dignam said the initiative is designed to help Victorian companies navigate procurement systems that are often complex and difficult to access.
“Hospital and health service procurement requirements and processes are complex and can be challenging for local medtech manufacturers to deal with,” he said. “Our program addresses a key gap in our ecosystem, helping to equip local medtech SMEs with the capabilities needed to navigate procurement pathways and ultimately secure contracts. With this program, we want to make sure medtech innovations are not only invented here, but truly made and sold in Australia—generating local jobs and strengthening sovereign capability.”
Successful applicants will undertake a capability assessment before entering a tailored series of practical workshops designed to prepare them for commercial engagement with hospitals. The program will culminate in a Victorian Medtech Showcase in May, where participating companies will present their products to major health service buyers and clinical leaders. A specialist Masterclass on procurement pathways will also form part of the curriculum, offering deep guidance on how companies can align their products with hospital purchasing needs.
Eligibility is limited to Australian-based, for-profit medtech companies operating in Victoria that are developing near-market or market-ready medical devices (TRL 6–9). Although currently piloted in Victoria, the initiative is intended to lay the groundwork for a national-scale program to strengthen Australia’s medtech manufacturing sector.
Applications are now open on MTPConnect’s website and close on 20 January 2026, with successful applicants to be notified in early February.