Australian $200M medical research investment fund signs up university members
Three New Zealand research organisations have signed up to become members of the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund, Australia’s largest life science venture fund. Otago University, the Malaghan Institute, and Callaghan Innovation are joining the fund’s collaborative structure which includes more than 50 Australian medical research institutes and research hospitals, the Australian federal government and five […]
$24.9M New Zealand Start-up fund recipients announced
Start-up fund recipients announced Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce today announced the successful recipients of the 2016 PreSeed Accelerator Fund. “This fund supports the commercialisation of publicly funded research technologies to the point where new companies can be formed or the technology licensed or sold to existing businesses,” Mr Joyce says. “The successful applicants […]
Melbourne and Monash universities partner in new $80 million biomed fund
Melbourne and Monash universities have joined forces to create a fund worth up to $80 million to support early-stage biomedical research and bridge the commercialisation funding gap, with the help of the Victorian government. The initiative is a first for Australia and represents the increasing appetite from higher education institutions to spin out successful start-ups. The Victorian […]
Govt earmarks $15m towards commercialising hi-tech developments
The Government’s $15 million investment into initiatives supporting Kiwi start-ups is a step in the right direction but there’s still more to be done, a Massey University economist says. The Pre-Seed Accelerator fund is aimed at developing “cutting-edge” research into viable start-up businesses. Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce said hundreds of savvy hi-tech Kiwi […]
Venture capital funds, think tanks puzzle over start-up valley of death
Policy makers and start-up funders say Australia is one of the best at inventing new business ideas, but is the worst at actually turning them into businesses – and there are no quick fixes for this conundrum. And even if they do start a business successfully, they can still get lost in a funding “valley […]
Australian Government Establishes $1 Billion Clean Energy Innovation Fund
The Australian Government has established a $1 billion clean energy innovation fund, but has stripped its renewable energy agency’s funding in the process. Last week, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the creation of a $1 billion Clean Energy Innovation Fund that is intended to support emerging renewable energy technologies to “make the leap from […]
New $10m start-up fund launched in Australia
Signal Ventures is the brainchild of Melbourne start-up influencer Atlanta Daniel and US investor Niel Robertson, who will serve as general partners. The pair said Signal Ventures will focus on entrepreneur-friendly, early stage capital and will offer deep operational experience as well as They said the fund plans to be active in the Australian community, […]
Philanthropy to Help Shape Australian Medical Research Fund
Federal Parliament has passed legislation to establish the Abbott Government’s landmark Medical Research Future Fund with an amendment that requires a newly formed Advisory Board to have expertise in philanthropy. Federal Treasurer, Joe Hockey said the establishment of the fund would significantly strengthen Australia’s standing as one of the global leaders in the field of […]
Valley of death looms for Australian ideas
When Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis pounced on Australian biotech Spinifex Pharma for $US700 million ($915.69 million) this week, one fact stood out: without federal government funding, this Australian pain therapy innovator may never have made it out of the lab. Cash is still being thrown at research and development, but after the Abbott government axed […]
$200 million for Australian Medical Research Commercialisation Fund
Brandon Capital Partners, the manager of the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund (MRCF), has announced the closing of a $200 million life science venture capital fund. It is the third MCRF fund to be raised by the company and will be Australia’s largest ever life science venture fund. Over 50 medical research institutes and research hospitals […]