- Published:
- Tuesday 1 September 2026
Labor is backing a Melbourne startup to develop a needle-free IVF treatment to transform patient care globally.
Minister for Economic Development Anthony Carbines today announced a $1 million investment in GonGlobal through Innovation Victoria's $100 million University Innovation Platform.
Innovation Victoria and RMIT University are each investing $500,000 to support GonGlobal's development of Ovulair™ – a new IVF drug delivery system that allows medicines to be inhaled rather than injected.
The partnership brings together RMIT's engineering expertise with GonGlobal's innovation.
For people experiencing infertility, IVF is physically and emotionally demanding – requiring many patients to endure hundreds of self-administered injections across multiple treatment cycles.
Australia has one of the world's highest rates of IVF use, with more than 100,000 cycles performed each year.
The company was co-founded by Dr Igor Gonda and his daughter Ellen after her experience undergoing IVF left her feeling like "a human pin cushion" – inspiring them to develop a needle-free alternative.
Victoria is home to more than 4,400 startups valued at $139 billion.
Melbourne ranks third globally for startup creation – overtaking Sydney, Singapore and Berlin.
The partnership will create high-skilled jobs in Victoria's innovation economy – adding to the close to 70,000 workers already employed across our startup sector.
Jess Wilson's Liberals will cut $40 billion from Victoria – undoing years of Labor support for business and innovation.
Only Labor backs Victorian entrepreneurs to compete and win on the world stage.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Anthony Carbines
"This innovation shows what Victoria can do – taking world-class research and turning it into a global breakthrough that can changes lives."
"We're backing Victoria's brightest innovators to scale faster, attract global investment and prove that the world's best ideas come from right here in Melbourne."
Quote attributable to Innovation Victoria CEO Rod Bristow
“GonGlobal is a great example of how the right support at the right time can help a groundbreaking idea become not just a globally competitive business, but one that has substantial positive impact.
Quote attributable to GonGlobal Co-Founder and CEO Ellen Gonda
"Our mission is simple – to radically improve the IVF patient experience and success rates by making treatments less painful, more precise and far more joyful."
Quote attributable to RMIT University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation Distinguished Professor Calum Drummond AO
“Transformative research doesn’t happen in isolation – it happens when universities, industry and government bring their complementary strengths together.”