Market Validation Program
The Health MVP provides $1.6 M in R&D funding for Victorian SME Health solutions providers.
About the Health Market Validation Program
The Health Market Validation Program (Health MVP) is a $15 million competitive grants program that encourages innovation in healthcare. Through the Health Market Validation Program, the Victorian Government is seeking solutions to healthcare challenges in order to achieve better health outcomes, improve healthcare service delivery and deliver economic benefits for Victoria.
The aim of the Health Market Validation Program
The Health Market Validation Program (MVP) supports the pre-commercial development of innovative healthcare-related products, processes or services by Victorian small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs). It links those in the public health sector who have identified a need with innovative Victorian SMEs that can develop technology solutions.
The Health Market Validation Program builds on an earlier pilot program with refinements, developed in consultation with the health industry sector, to effectively target health services.
What will the program deliver?
The Health Market Validation Program will provide innovative SMEs with opportunities to develop new health technology related products, processes or services to a validation point where they are ready for final-stage investment to reach the market.
These purpose-developed technologies will have the potential to deliver:
- improved healthcare and more productive healthcare service delivery (e.g. faster treatment times, reduced cost of treatment, reduced hospital stays)
- economic benefit for the State through supporting SMEs to bring products to market.
Who benefits?
For Victorian public health sector organisations, the Health Market Validation Program provides support to collaborate with industry to develop solutions that will improve health or healthcare service delivery and reduce costs.
For SMEs, the Health Market Validation Program provides a new source of funding to develop products, processes or services and the opportunity to develop and validate new technology in response to a real customer demand. In so doing, it offers a sound position from which to secure further investment and commercial opportunities.
The Victorian community will benefit from improved public sector health service delivery and productivity, early access to new and innovative technologies with the capacity to improve the health and wellbeing of Victorians and more focused private sector R&D, leading to new business ventures and economic benefits.
Which health-sector agencies are eligible?
All Victorian health-service focused public sector entities are eligible to apply for the Health Market Validation Program when the call for Technology Requirement Specifications is announced.
Eligible entities can include hospitals, health services, aged care providers, community health providers, ambulance services, and similar agencies.
Lead agencies, or a collaborating partner, must have an established clinical research governance mechanism and the capacity to trial the product or process during or after the funding period.
Which SMEs can apply?
Victorian-based SMEs may apply when the Call for Proposals is announced. Larger companies operating in Victoria or with R&D facilities located in Victoria may participate as non-leading collaborative partners. At least 80% of the R&D work must be undertaken in Victoria for the duration of the project.
Program Stages
The Health Market Validation Program involves a three-stage process.
November 2011: Technology Requirement Specifications
Victoria’s public health sector agencies are invited to identify specific problems that, if solved, are likely to result in significant improvement in the cost or delivery of healthcare services. During this stage, agencies can submit a Technology Requirement Specification (TRS) outlining the specific health sector problem and the anticipated benefits from addressing the need.
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Health Market Validation Program TRS Guidelines (DOC 90Kb) |
| Health Market Validation Program (HMVP) Technology Requirement Specifications (TRS) guidelines November 2011 |
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Health Market Validation program TRS Application form (DOC 150Kb) |
| Complete the application form by the 31 January 2012 to be eligible. |
Early 2012: Call for Proposal
At the second stage, the Victorian Government will invite the SME market to propose new technology solutions to meet the need described in the TRS.
From late 2012: Feasibility Study and Validation
In stage three, SMEs that submit successful proposals will receive a grant of up to $100,000 to undertake a feasibility study, for up to 4 months. Successful feasibility studies may then be eligible for further funding of up to $1.5 million over two years in a validation phase to undertake the project R&D (including clinical trials) to progress towards market. Requests for funding above the levels specified may be considered on a case by case basis.
MVP Track Record
Our track record for the MVP program is:
- Round 1 - Three successful applicants for funding of $4.8m- (Only a total of 9 approved)
- Round 2 - Three successful applicants through to the feasibility stage. (Next stage pending late Oct)
Total funding raised is $5.1m for this program.
We are experts and assisting organisations get grants. Call us on 03 9005 6789 to discuss your project and see how we can assist you secure $1.6 M in funding.
Health MVP Information Sessions
SMEs interested in finding out more about the Health MVP program are invited to attend any of these 2012 information sessions.
| Melbourne | Wednesday 14 March 10-11.30am |
Level 46, 55 Collins Street |
|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | Thursday 15 March 2-3.30pm |
Level 46, 55 Collins Street |
| Ballarat | Tuesday 20 March 9-10.00am |
Ballarat Technology Park 1 University Drive Mt Helen |
| Geelong | Friday April 20 8.45-10.15am |
Skilled Stadium 370 Moorabool Street |
Previous Recipients
- Absorbable rib prosthesis – Ingeneus will work with Alfred Health to investigate a rib fixation prosthesis as well as the instruments needed for use in chest trauma surgery.
- Portable body movement sensor – Procept will work with Austin Health to investigate a movement analysis device for the management of patients with complex movement disorders from neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease and traumatic brain injury.
- Antibiotic delivery system – Osprey Medical will work with Melbourne Health’s Diabetic Foot Unit to investigate a means of delivering an infusion of antibiotics to the tree of the leg with minimal escape of the drug into the patient’s circulation system.
- Pharmacogenomic decision support system – Genes FX will work with Melbourne Health’s Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics to investigate a personalised drug safety system that can be integrated into current hospital practices.
- Beneficial re-use of biosolids – Earth Systems will work with Melbourne Water to investigate sustainable and beneficial uses of biosolids including recovery of valuable products, reduced volumes of waste, reduced operational costs through on-site energy generation and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
- Algae biomass to biogas - Algae Enterprises will work with Melbourne Water to investigate the production of biogas from algae biomass grown in wastewater for renewable energy generation.
- Smart sensors for large diameter water pipes - Hawk Measurement will work with Melbourne Water to investigate low-cost, reliable and durable methods of attaching existing sensor technology to large diameter pressure water pipes, and connecting fibre optic sensors between pipelines to form a network of fibre sensors that will provide early warning of faults or defects.
- Infant feeding teat – APS Innovations will work with the Royal Children’s Hospital to investigate cost-effective prototypes of a range of infant feeding teats designed to meet the specific requirements of both healthy and difficult feeders.
- Ophthalmic Outreach Diagnostic Platform - Ingeneus will work with the Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital to investigate an easy-to-use slit lamp and tonometer for the assessment of eye health by a GP, in particular the diagnosis of glaucoma.
- Vehicle On-board Unit Auditing Station - Cohda Wireless will work with VicRoads to investigate a freight on-board unit auditing and monitoring station that operates with both the Intelligent Access Program and existing tag technology.
- Interactive Patient Journey Board - Alcidion will work with Western Health to investigate a product that gives real-time information on the current status of all patients within the health service.
- Passive Stormwater Treatment Technology – Enviro Stream Solutions will work with Yarra Valley Water to investigate a practical water treatment product that allows pathogens to be removed from stormwater, which can then be used for non-drinking purposes such as garden, laundry and toilet flushing.
