This article outlines the official launch of the Australian Medtech Manufacturing Alliance (AMMA)’s strategic plan, and captures the key themes of the inaugural AMMA virtual forum – procurement barriers, policy alignment, workforce capability, and sector collaboration – while introducing AMMA’s three-pillar approach to strengthening the Australian medtech manufacturing ecosystem. (5 – 6 mins read)
Uniting the sector and improving procurement pathways
The Australian Medtech Manufacturing Alliance (AMMA) officially launched its strategic vision and new national platform during its first virtual forum ‘Building the foundation for Better Health Made Here.’ The session brought together more than 140 policymakers, industry leaders, and health professionals from across Australia to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Australia’s medtech manufacturers and to introduce AMMA’s strategic vision to unite the sector, improve procurement pathways, and elevate local innovation.
AMMA is a national initiative dedicated to addressing the critical challenges facing local small-to-medium (SME) medtech manufacturers. With a strong focus on enhancing procurement pathways and increasing the share of locally-made medical technology in Australia’s healthcare system, AMMA was launched in October 2024 under the leadership of BioMelbourne Network.
Victoria serves as the pilot state
It represents a partnership of industry organisations and is supported by seed funding from the Victorian Government’s Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions. Victoria serves as the pilot state for this ambitious, solutions-driven program, which is designed to lay the groundwork for a national agenda in medtech innovation and manufacturing.
A united voice for a stronger sector
After Karen Parr, CEO of BioMelbourne Network, the organisation leading AMMA, opened the virtual forum, Victorian government representative Connie Crisafi, Executive Director, Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, Victorian Government, acknowledged the Alliance’s significance: “Our vision is that the Alliance will shine a light on Victoria’s health technology innovators and support local manufacturers to tackle barriers to growth, including health procurement.”
Health technology remains one of Victoria’s fastest-growing sectors, generating $3.8 billion in exports and supporting over 51,000 jobs. With continued government investment totalling $1.3 billion since 2014, Connie Crisafi noted that the health and medical research sector is a priority sector for the Victorian Government as noted in the Economic Growth Statement, citing AMMA as a key initiative.
Why AMMA matters now
Dr Sarah King-Smith, AMMA’s Strategic Lead, contextualised the launch with a powerful image: “Think about the last time you or someone you know received medical care: PPE, hospital beds, surgical equipment. Now ask yourself: how much of that critical technology was made in Australia? The answer is less than 5%.”
She described this as a missed opportunity – not only for our health services, but for economic growth, local job creation, and supply chain resilience. Australia ranks 105 out of 145 on the Harvard Index of Economic Complexity and has the lowest manufacturing self-sufficiency in the OECD. The result? A system heavily dependent on imported goods, while our companies are left to face headwinds alone.
Building on this, Dr King-Smith said that our companies are confident that “If we had more procurement opportunities here we would make more here.” That’s where AMMA comes in.
Better Health made here: AMMA’s strategic vision
AMMA’s vision – “Better Health made here” – is underpinned by three strategic pillars:
1. Supporting health to leverage local industry: AMMA is working to improve awareness and access for local medtech companies within Australia’s health systems. This includes roundtables, local supplier directories, and joint campaigns that promote the value of buying local. An industry action plan is currently under development and will prioritise solutions to key procurement challenges.
2. Building local medtech manufacturing capability: Many medtech companies struggle to understand or navigate the complex health procurement landscape. AMMA aims to change that through a capability-building program, delivered by MTPConnect, the new ‘Pathway to Market’ initiative. It includes masterclasses, clinical engagement, and one-on-one support to help SMEs craft competitive tenders and access procurement panels.
3. Strengthening the AMMA voice to advocate for change: By aligning eight peak industry bodies and companies, AMMA is uniquely positioned to build a unified voice to advocate for systemic reform. With a growing network of champions and partners, AMMA is committed to influencing policy to support the sector’s long-term success.
Understanding procurement requirements
The role of programs like the ‘Pathway to market medtech capability uplift program’
Stuart Dignam, MTPConnect CEO, reinforced the need for action: “We know local procurement can be challenging but we’ve been admiring the problem for too long – now it’s time for practical solutions to back local companies.” He highlighted that companies directly supported through MTPConnect’s accelerator programs are creating world-leading technologies and they, and many others in the ecosystem, have enormous potential to provide medical products to local hospitals and health services: “Purchase orders are as good as, or in some cases better than grant funding and can make all the difference to companies seeking to grow their business.”
Dr Amelia Vom, MTPConnect’s Director Stakeholder Engagement Victoria & Health and Biosecurity, outlined its practical approach: a five-month journey combining workshops, expert guidance, and networking, culminating in an open day at the Victorian Medtech showcase. “We’re creating space for companies to get their products in front of health decision-makers,” she said.
A call to action
At the end of the virtual forum, Karen Parr and Dr King-Smith strongly invited everyone to actively engage. With support from government, industry and health, and a clear roadmap for progress, AMMA is calling on health leaders, and manufacturers to join the Alliance.
To stay informed, contribute, and take part in future initiatives, visit AMMA’s new website that was launched on the day of the virtual forum, join the growing community advocating for better health made here, and actively participate in activities that aim to shift the dial on this complex topic.
