Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis today congratulated STAT Innovations on taking out the top prize in the 2015 MedTech’s Got Talent entrepreneurship challenge, hosted by The Small Technologies Cluster (STC).
The coveted $40,000 cash prize will help STAT Innovations fast-track its Eyenaemia screening tool – a tool that enables a ‘selfie’ to detect the risk of anaemia, a condition that affects around two billion people worldwide.
The tech company, co-founded by Monash graduate and Alfred Health’s Dr Jennifer Tangand and Monash medical student Jarrel Seah, can use any camera-enabled smart device to take a photo of the inner lining of the eyelid and use a cloud-based algorithm to rapidly determine the risk of anaemia.
Mr Dalidakis said that STAT Innovations’ simple, non-invasive and easily accessible solution is a perfect example of what promising entrepreneurs can achieve with mentoring, training and access to seed funding.
The Andrews Labor Government has committed to support start-ups and entrepreneurs through its $60 million start-up initiative, helping Victorian companies gain the tools and skills needed to make their ideas a commercial reality.
The Victorian Government was a major sponsor of the Medtech’s Got Talent challenge, showcasing the world-class research occurring at universities and institutes around the state and strengthening support for Victoria’s growing medtech industry.
Victoria is home to about a quarter of Australia’s medtech companies. With strong global growth predicted, medical technology has been identified as one of six key sectors to be targeted by the Labor Government’s Back to Work Plan, which will drive economic growth and create 100,000 new jobs.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis
“Medical technology is one of six key growth sectors in the Andrews Labor Government’s Back to Work Plan, and will be targeted to drive growth and create jobs.”
“We know how valuable start-up initiatives are to our economy, and will provide whatever support is needed for our best and brightest entrepreneurs to develop innovative new products and services.”
“We’re home to a quarter of Australia’s med-tech companies. Through focused investment in the industry, we will make it a pillar to grow Victoria’s economy now and into the future.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020