- Cook Government opens Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) Innovation Hub
- A cutting-edge initiative designed to develop innovation and foster collaboration
- Facilities for workshops, networking events and industry collaborations to connect innovators with the resources they need to bring their ideas to life
The Cook Government today officially opened an innovation hub at Royal Perth Hospital to help Western Australian clinicians connect, collaborate and innovate.
Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson said the RPH Innovation Hub was another groundbreaking opportunity to link the talented pool of WA clinicians in a high-tech workspace to focus on improving health outcomes for Western Australians.
The RPH Innovation Hub offers dedicated spaces for 3D-printing of high-fidelity prototypes, supported by biomedical engineering. The new facility embraces an emerging landscape of digital healthcare, allowing clinicians to explore virtual reality applications within health services in the new RPH Virtual Reality Lounge.
Other services offered at the RPH Innovation Hub include:
- a comprehensive idea capture and management program underpinned by project management support to ensure staff with game-changing health ideas are supported to turn their ideas into a trial and then translate them into the new normal in our WA hospitals; and
- a calendar of staff professional development and industry networking events that bring together the clinical expertise of the hospital with the problem-solving drivers in WA industry.
With a central location off Wellington Street, the RPH Innovation Hub is designed to be easily accessible for clinicians, encouraging innovation as a core component of healthcare delivery in WA.
The project was influenced by leading US innovation hubs, including Stanford University in California, which strives to have a broad impact on scientific knowledge and healthcare worldwide.
The establishment of the RPH Innovation Hub complements Perth's growing biomedical research, innovation and manufacturing capability, including the development of the QEII precinct, the revitalisation of CSIRO's Floreat site, and the recently announced construction of the Murray Street Innovation Hub.
Comments attributed to Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson:
"This facility will provide the tools, resources and support to transform groundbreaking ideas into reality, improving health outcomes for all Western Australians.
"The Cook Government has committed substantial funding to this initiative, further emphasising its dedication to making Western Australia a leader in health innovation.
"A special feature of the RPH Innovation Hub is the new Maker's Space which is equipped with 3D printing capabilities to support the development of early-stage prototypes of novel medical devices.
"This facility will be supported by an innovation technical lead who will act as an 'Engineer in Residence' and support the design and development of novel devices through a fractional appointment dedicated to the Hub Maker's Space."
