New Zealand has an impressive heritage when it comes to healthtech innovation, and today healthtech firms rank among some of our most globally successful businesses.
The sector shows significant growth potential. In the 2020-21 financial year, healthtech firms generated an estimated $2.85 billion in revenue, demonstrating a seven-year compound annual growth rate of 13%.
While device makers currently lead the charge, other healthtech categories are showing promise. For example, digital health, as well as diagnostics and therapeutics (including pharmaceuticals), are expanding significantly.
And New Zealand’s ecosystem of more than 120 healthtech companies is providing a rich pipeline of early-stage innovation and investment opportunities.
Healthtech innovation springs from many different sources in Aotearoa – from research scientists and start-ups to mature firms with established markets, and even entrepreneurs with a great idea but limited health industry background.
The HealthTech Activator understands what the journey looks like for a wide range of entrepreneurs and businesses, and what support they will need at the different stages of their respective journeys.
This allows us to tailor a pathway to help you develop your innovation, and wrap services and support around that pathway as required.
Get in touch to learn more about how we can help.
New Zealand’s healthtech ecosystem is diverse and growing, and there is a wide range of organisations and networks that healthtech innovators can tap into for funding and support – from government agencies like Callaghan Innovation and MBIE, to member-based organisations like the Royal Society and CMDT, to not-for-profits.
It can be challenging, however, to know what support is out there, and whether you’re eligible to access it.
Here is a snapshot of some of the bodies that offer funding, and the grants, funds and other opportunities currently available to healthtech innovators.
You can learn more about what each organisation offers via the links in the diagram.
A number of other funds available that may be applicable – see MBIE website for details.
A number of other RFPs and funding options are periodically available – see HRC website for detailed funding calendar.
A number of other funds and awards available – see the Royal Society website for eligibility details.
One key platform to sign up with is Scale-Up NZ. Run by Callaghan Innovation, Scale-Up NZ is a virtual networking platform designed to connect the New Zealand innovation ecosystem. Through the platform businesses can find other companies with the expertise, skills and equipment they may need, as well as potential investors.
Recently Scale-Up NZ added a ‘coronavirus’ tag so businesses on the platform are able to identify themselves as having COVID-19 response capability, making it easy for users to search and find them.
The type of support you need for your health tech innovation will vary depending on whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur, an established business or an innovator new to the field. To help you pinpoint the specific support you need to launch and grow your health tech innovation, we’ve rounded up a series of reports, articles and resources geared at a range of business types and stages.
Browse more resources on our Articles & Reports page:
Several other organisations offer other types of support, such as training, investment guidance and connections to researchers and other experts. Some useful sites to explore include:
