Medtech-iQ Aotearoa: uniting to tackle our major health problems

SECTOR UPDATE - Medtech-iQ Aotearoa

Apercure specialises in rapid prototyping, bridging the gap between the clinical environment and engineering experience.

Kitea Health has developed the most accurate implantable sensor for heart failure and hydrocephalus.

Luminoma created innovative laser technology that detects skin cancer reliably and non-invasively.

Tautoko Technology has developed a low-cost patch insulin pump by Māori, with Māori, in rural communities.

These four New Zealand MedTech companies have developed products that will improve patient outcomes, reduce dependency on health services, facilitate efficiencies and effectiveness in our health system, and give patients more resources to manage their health more effectively. 

They are examples of how Medtech-iQ Aotearoa, a new national medical devices and digital health innovation hub can drive innovation in our NZ$2.1 billion MedTech sector.  Medtech-iQ Aotearoa is hosted by the University of Auckland and its Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI) and led by the Consortium for Medical Device Technologies (CMDT), Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, Whānau Tahi, Moana Connect, ThinkAnalytic, Canterbury Health Precinct, Tātaki Auckland, Christchurch NZ and Dunedin NZ.

Each company benefitted from CMDT’s support along with funding from Te Tītoki Mataora | MedTech Research Translator, one of Medtech-iQ Aotearoa’s partner programmes, which was created to build New Zealand’s research translation capability and talent, and curate a pipeline of scalable MedTtch companies.

“We are leveraging New Zealand’s network of researchers, clinicians, companies, entrepreneurs, investors, communities and government agencies to meet those challenges as a united entity,” says Dr Diana Siew, Strategic Partnership Lead for the ABI and Chair of the Medtech-iQ Aotearoa Stewardship Group.

Medtech-iQ Aotearoa was founded on more than a decade of partnerships and successful programmes that accelerate start-ups to scale-ups. The founding organisations bring together a wide range of expertise to support MedTech innovation growth for New Zealand.

“We have four regional hubs centred on our main universities and hospitals in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, Waitaha Canterbury and Ōtepoti Dunedin.

“We link activities across our four regional hubs that are led locally to facilitate innovation between partners. These partners – innovation and economic agencies, investors and communities – work together to coordinate and provide specific expertise into the national ecosystem, so there is accelerated knowledge sharing and momentum achieved at scale,” says Dr Siew.

Medtech-iQ Aotearoa also has economic and productivity goals. Dr Siew says they offer a unique opportunity to grow a vibrant high-value high-tech sector that will drive economic growth, create high-skilled jobs, and increase productivity while addressing health, social and equity outcomes. 

Website: www.medtechiq.co.nz

 Source: Medtech-iQ Aotearoa media release

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