New program enables clinicians to develop entrepreneurial skills

A new program to support healthcare professionals develop key entrepreneurial skills and networks has been launched in Australia.

The national pilot of the Australian Clinical Entrepreneur Program (AUSCEP) will be led by experienced clinical entrepreneurs and administered by The University of Western Australia and University of Melbourne, in partnership with a range of leading industry and healthcare organisations.

The program is part of the Researcher Exchange and Development within Industry initiative and is delivered by MTPConnect, Australia's Growth Centre for the medical technologies, biotechnologies and pharmaceuticals sector, funded by the Commonwealth Medical Research Future Fund. 

In WA, access to the program has been made possible by co-funding from the Future Health Research and Innovation Fund, enabling participants to benefit from a series of workshops and networking opportunities, as well as access to national and international mentors and industry leaders.

Professor Kevin Pfleger, Director Biomedical and Health Innovation at UWA and one of the program’s Executive Sponsors, said the AUSCEP had brought together a leadership team of exceptional clinical entrepreneurs, supported by a delivery team with a demonstrated track record of providing highly-successful entrepreneurial training programs, such as Biodesign and the Innovation Acceleration Program.

“The participants will benefit from the highly-experienced core program team and more than a hundred subject matter experts who will be available to provide support and mentorship tailored to the needs of each particular entrepreneur and their innovation,” Professor Pfleger said.

The program has been designed to equip healthcare professionals with better skills to transform their ideas and innovations into tangible solutions within the health system and is based on a UK National Health Service program.

Any Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency registered clinician in Western Australia, Victoria or New South Wales (public or private provider) who has an innovative idea, product or service at any stage of development can apply.

There will be two 12-month cohorts of the program, the first of these is now open for applications with a deadline of Monday 8 August, 2022.  Further details and webinar registration are available on the website.