Funding Elevates WA Medical Life Sciences Skills

• Cook Government drives capacity building in WA's health and medical life sciences sector
• $170,000 to enable 19 local businesses to upskill and develop international profiles
• Opportunities delivered through the Accelerator Program Access Grants, the Entrepreneur in Residence scheme and the Market Access Grant Scheme

More than $170,000 is being invested by the Cook Government to support 19 companies to hone their business and international marketing skills.

Science Minister Stephen Dawson said the funding would bring international expertise to assist local companies enhance their global profiles. It also supports opportunities to attend international business improvement programs, such as the Texas Medical Centre Innovation incubator program.

The Government has invested more than $11 million into implementing Western Australia's Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy and supporting the local ecosystem. The $170,000 funding is being delivered through three programs including the Market Access Grant Scheme (MAGS) and two new initiatives including the Accelerator Program Access Grants (APAG) and the Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) scheme.

Under the APAG program, there is up to $20,000 per business to enable their senior management to upskill by offsetting costs of flights, accommodation, and registration to international business programs. Funding has been made available to support nine senior/executive employees to attend internships or incubator/accelerator programs.

Under the EIR, up to $10,000 in sponsorship is available to WA businesses, to host a short-term interstate or international entrepreneur in residence. While in WA, the resident entrepreneurs will contribute to a program, event, or schedule of activities that delivers sector-wide benefits.

The APAG and EIR were launched last year to assist local businesses and organisations develop skills and attracting talent to further grow WA's health and medical life sciences industry ecosystem.

Under MAGS, there are grants of up to $5,000 to support local companies travel to major industry conferences or business events.

For more information see: Grants awarded to advance skills in Health and Medical Life Sciences.

As stated by Science Minister Stephen Dawson:

"The Cook Government is committed to strengthening our local health and medical life sciences sector and propel them into the global marketplace.

"Congratulations to all our recipients and I look forward to seeing the changes that I am sure each of these businesses will deliver to enhance our local sector.

"Our Government delivered both the APAG and EIR funding programs through the Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy to develop skills and attract further talent to our State.

"These programs are another step in how our Government is building WA's health and medical life sciences sector to be more competitive in the international arena."

Accelerator Program Access Grants recipients

Entrepreneur in Residence recipients

Market Access Grant Scheme recipients