QUT and Medical Technologies and Pharmaceutical Growth Centre (MTPConnect), together with a consortium of 14 partners including global pharmaceutical companies, venture capitalists, universities and industry associations, will officially launch The Bridge Program at an event at Fishburners in Sydney on Thursday (June 8), with opening address provided by The Honourable Lucy Wicks, Member for Robertson.
The Bridge Program, which will be funded for two years, will aid in commercialising Australian bioscience and pharmaceutical research, by training participants in how to develop their research and translate this into the marketplace.
The program will equip participants with the knowledge and skills to navigate the complex regulatory, financial, scientific and intellectual property issues involved in bringing new medicines to market.
Bio-entrepreneurs, research scientists, patent attorneys and business development managers are among the 100 participants who have signed up for the program, and will be exposed to global experts sourced from industry.
QUT Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Executive Director and Director of the Bridge Program, Professor Lyn Griffiths said The Bridge Program would serve as a key launching pad for researchers, entrepreneurs, academics and other industry professionals in the bioscience and pharmaceutical spheres.
“We had a fantastic response and have selected 100 participants with a diverse range of experience, skills and innovative ideas, who share the goal of translating Australian science into products that help everyday people,” she said.
“Participants will have the invaluable opportunity to learn from global experts sourced from across the industry on how to understand and navigate the complex regulatory, financial, scientific and intellectual property issues involved in bringing new medicines to market.”
The launch event starts at 6pm and includes a keynote speech from Bio-Entrepreneur Andrew Wilks.
The Bridge Program will be implemented by QUT and supported by MTPConnect, a not-for-profit organisation which aims to accelerate the rate of growth of the medical technologies, biotechnologies and pharmaceuticals sector to achieve greater commercialisation and establish Australia as an Asia-Pacific hub for MTP companies. It was formed in November 2015 as part of the Federal Government’s $250 million Industry Growth Centres Initiative.
For more information, visit www.qut.edu.au/health/bridge-program or contact bridge.program@qut.edu.au
Media contact:
Rob Kidd or Rose Trapnell, QUT Media, 07 3138 2361 media@qut.edu.au
Kate Regnault, The Bridge Program, 07 3138 5808, Katherine.regnault@qut.edu.au
