Health research grant on offer

Grow Wellington has offered a $50,000 research grant to the winner of its Innovating for Health Challenge.

The challenge is aimed matching innovations emerging from the biomedical sector with entrepreneurs and investment funding.

Grow Wellington biomedical centre of excellence manager Adrian Gregory said the region’s biomedical industry was at an early stage but there was an abundance of scienceoriented companies, research and clinical expertise.

‘‘A key goal of the challenge is for this unrealised potential to be connected with business expertise, to enable research and innovations to be brought to life.’’

The biomedical sector’s role in New Zealand is growing with advancing medical technology and the population is ageing, providing growing opportunities for the development of innovative healthcare products, Mr Gregory said.

Submissions for the challenge opened in January 2012 and will close at the end of March.

All ideas will be given support with regard to their commercialisation and potential pathways to market.

The leading innovation will be announced in mid- July and will receive $ 50,000 in development funding.

A showcase event will be held at the Wellington Regional Hospital on March 5 to help accelerate connections between biomedical research and healthcare markets.

A range of speakers will provide insight into turning research and clinically- based innovations into commercial realities.