Thursday, November 10, 2011

The Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP) has this evening won the Business / Higher Education Round Table (BHERT) award for Best Research and Development Collaboration. Judged on five criteria, including innovation, strength of the relationships established, outreach inclusion, wider outcomes and cultural inclusion, the MDPP was judged an outstanding contribution to research and development collaboration.

The MDPP was established in July 2008, and since then has brought together a network of stakeholders, facilitated new, targeted partnerships between research organisations and companies, and has provided practical assistance in taking ideas closer to the market. Assisting over 100 companies since its inception, and bridging the gap between industry and research, the program is quite unique in Australia. This recognition is a true testament to MDPP Director, Professor Karen Reynolds and her team.

The program is led by Flinders University and supported by partners: Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology, Office for the Ageing (now Disability, Ageing and Carers), Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy, Adelaide University, University of South Australia, Novita Children's Services, Innovate SA, Australian Institute for Commercialisation, Flinders Partners, Playford Capital, Entech Group, Manufacturing Focus, Southern Adelaide Economic Development Board, Office for the Southern Suburbs and the City of Marion.

The highly successful initiative won the TIA Service to Industry Award in 2010.