Posted: 6 August 2024
ANDHealth has today announced the extension of the Victorian Connected Health Innovation and Commercialisation Centre (CHICC) initiative for a further 12 months, off the back of the substantial growth in the local industry over the past five years.
CHICC is a collaborative partnership between ANDHealth, the Australian MedTech Manufacturing Centre (AMMC) and the Victorian Government Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR).
ANDHealth data shows the digital health ecosystem in Victoria has boomed over the past five years, recording 64% compound annual growth. Victoria’s startup ecosystem is now worth more than $100 billion and ’Health’ is the joint largest sub-sector – the first time in five years Health has ranked as the top industry in Victoria, according to the State’s startup agency LaunchVic.
Victorian Acting Minister for Jobs and Industry, Colin Brooks, said: “This centre backs our local healthtech companies and supports local jobs and skills in the sector so we can continue to drive innovation – cementing Victoria’s status as a global leader in health innovation.”
ANDHealth CEO, Bronwyn Le Grice, said: “CHICC has delivered a tremendous boost to the digital health ecosystem in Victoria, through training, workshops and one-to-one coaching for some of Victoria’s most promising digital health innovators.”
“Thanks to our generous partners, we’ve already supported hundreds of Victorian SMEs to scale their impact through access to critical resources and expertise. We’re proud to be supporting Victoria’s digital and connected health businesses as they continue to thrive,” Ms Le Grice said.
Since opening its doors in December 2022, CHICC has delivered promising outcomes:
• Welcomed more than 1300 visitors into our collaborative space
• Upskilled over 500 participants through Expert Workshops
• Provided access to tailored advice through 156 ‘Office Hours’ sessions
• Supported 127 co-working members with free resources &support
• Built knowledge and connections with 63 guest speakers across more than 30 events
The growth of the Victorian sector wouldn’t be possible without CHICC’s community, supporters, partners, staff, and their collective efforts to drive better health outcomes for Australians.
Testimonials from business users of the centre, speak to the benefits the centre has provided:
“ANDHealth provides access to insights and speakers to the things that really matter in refining our approach into the digital health markets. They are a great balance of insight, experience and ‘reality’ on getting stuff done.”
“The CHICC workshops are an essential resource for those in cross-functional roles in innovative digital health companies, guided by subject matter experts who start with the basics before taking you along for a highly interactive deeper dive.”
“If you are in health and want to go digital or in digital and want to know about the realities of local and global markets there is no better education, insight and value than with the ANDHealth team and their events.”
“CHICC has not only provided us with a brilliant space to work- with tech-enabled hot desks, meeting rooms and a great kitchen. It has also allowed us to meet other people working in the health tech start-up space. Sharing experiences, stories and networks has been helpful and makes us feel part of something bigger than what we are working on day to day.”
