Media Release
12 August 2020
A new funding partnership between the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute’s (AMSI) APR.Intern program and MedTech and Pharma Growth Centre (MTPConnect) will increase workforce capabilities and strengthen research translation within Australia’s medtech, biotech and pharmaceutical sector.
Under the agreement, MTPConnect’s REDI initiative will provide 20 businesses in the medtech, biotech and pharmaceutical sector with the opportunity to take on a PhD student through a short-term research placement and benefit from an additional $10,000 subsidy to ease the cost.
Facilitated by APR.Intern, the PhD research placements enable innovative businesses to engage with Australia’s brightest emerging research talent. For universities, the placements support the development of an industry-ready PhD workforce.
The partnership falls under MTPConnect’s $32 million Research Exchange and Development within Industry (REDI) initiative made possible by the Medical Research Future Fund, providing industry experiences and skills development for early and mid-career researchers, clinicians and innovators to develop an industry ready workforce keeping pace with the demands of a rapidly changing sector.
APR.Intern National Program Manager, Lisa Farrar, welcomed the opportunity to partner with MTPConnect and open doors for PhD students to develop industry skills and drive real-world innovation.
“APR.Intern is excited to partner with MTPConnect under the REDI initiative and provide the sector with access to Australia’s brightest STEM PhD students. The partnership enables us to support 20 companies in the medtech, biotech and pharmaceutical sector to take on a talented PhD student in a short-term subsidised industry placement,” said Farrar.
“These cost-effective research projects have transformative impact, ensuring PhD students are trained with the essential skills needed to drive commercial R&D,” Farrar added.
MTPConnect Managing Director and CEO, Dr Dan Grant, also welcomed the partnership and the opportunity for industry to benefit from Australia’s brightest minds.
“Now, more than ever, we need to focus on securing jobs in our sector and make sure we are supporting the development of our future workforce. APR.Intern and our other REDI partners, are best placed to help us deliver this integrated program and we are excited to see the power of this collaboration unfold,” said Grant.
In addition to the MTPConnect subsidy, businesses in the medtech, biotech and pharmaceutical sector can benefit from the Australian Government’s National Research Internship Program (NRIP)* that offers businesses a 50 per cent APR.Intern rebate. Together with the $10,000 MTPConnect REDI subsidy, this covers the entire net cost of a full-time 3-month APR.Intern research project.
Businesses are encouraged to contact APR.Intern if they are interested in a placement and can learn more about MTPConnect’s REDI subsidy online: https://aprintern.org.au/business-info/costs-rebates/partnerships-mtpconnect/.
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About MTPConnect
Established in 2015 as an independent, not-for-profit organisation, MTPConnect is Australia’s Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals Industry Growth Centre, championing the growth of Australia’s vibrant MTP ecosystem.
About APR.Intern
Australian Postgraduate Research Intern (APR.Intern) is Australia’s only national all-sector all-discipline PhD internship program. The not-for-profit program connects PhD students with industry through short-term research projects, empowering students to thrive in a practical research environment. For businesses, APR.Intern is a platform to access some of Australia’s brightest PhD-level research talent and tap into new worlds of innovation.
More Information
- MTPConnect’s REDI Partnership: https://aprintern.org.au/business-info/costs-rebates/partnerships-mtpconnect/
- Australian Government 50% Rebate: https://aprintern.org.au/business-info/costs-rebates/govrebate/
*Eligible internships are supported by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training, through the ‘Supporting more women in STEM careers: Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) – National Research Internship Program’.
For Interview
- Lisa Farrar, National Program Manager, APR.Intern
- Dr Dan Grant, Managing Director & CEO, MTPConnect
Media Contact
Jo Piltz
E: j.piltz@aprintern.org.au
P: 03 9035 8237
