The popular Researcher Exchange and Development within Industry (REDI) Fellowship program, ran by MTPConnect, has called upon industry sponsors to apply as the final round reopens.
The program provides grants of up to $250,000 to secure fellowships in the medical technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical (MTO) sectors.
More specifically, it allows industry to select a researcher, academic, clinical or technology transfer professional to collaborate on medical research projects that involve discover, translation and commercialisation.
The four-year program is a $32 million initiative that is funded by the Medical Research Future Fund.
The uptake from industry exceeded expectation, meaning the program’s budget was committed far earlier than expected. However, new funding from the Federal Government means it can be re-opened for one final round.
Stuart Dignam, MTPConnect Chief Executive Officer, said he is delighted the program is continuing.
“With 32 fellows already selected to work with the likes of Cochlear, Telix Pharmaceuticals, Leica Biosystems, Stryker, SpeeDx, Paige.AI, Pharmaxis and Synopsys, the REDI Fellowship Program has been an outstanding success,” Mr Dignam said.
It helps build engagement between researchers and industry, drive projects towards commercial outcomes and provide fellows with real-world entrepreneurial experiences within research-intensive industry settings.
Stuart Dignam, MTPConnect CEO
Mr Dignam noted that along with fellows benefitting from working in industry, they can return to their home institution for a period that is at least equal to the term of their placement.
“In this way, we’re ensuring they share their industry experiences within the research sector, contributing to a commercialisation-focused culture change and helping to address the ‘brain drain’ of researcher talent into companies.
“After being oversubscribed we had to pause the program earlier in the year, but we always said we’d reopen it if we could and that’s what we’ve been able to do.
“It’s now over to industry to seize the opportunities provided by our REDI Fellowships and get an application submitted as part of this final round.”
The process for the applications is industry-led. An eligible industry sponsor – a company or organisation – is required to submit an application that identifies a fellow, and match it with a specific research and development project.
Both domestic and international fellowships will be considered, although this is subject to Covid-19 restrictions.
Applications are now open, with the cut-off date being Wednesday, 27 July 2022 at 23:59 AEST.
