The University of Melbourne has joined ANDHealth as a core partner in a move the organisations say will connect the University’s multidisciplinary research, clinical and technical expertise with ANDHealth’s specialist commercialisation programs.
The partnership aims to help Australian digital health companies to build evidence, products and capabilities needed to reach patients and health systems at scale.
Director of the Centre for Digital Transformation of Health and Associate Dean of Digital Health & Informatics at the University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences Professor Peter Steel said the partnership would integrate complementary research and commercialisation capabilities.
“Strong commercialisation in digital health depends on strong evidence. Companies need more than a promising technology – they need to demonstrate that it solves an important clinical problem, is safe and effective in real-world care, can be successfully implemented by health services and delivers measurable value for patients and health systems.”
BEYOND INNOVATION
“By combining our capability with ANDHealth’s commercialisation expertise and industry networks, we can help more Australian companies move beyond innovation to adoption, generating the evidence, implementation capability and clinical credibility needed to achieve national and international impact.”
Dean Faculty of Engineering and Information (FEIT) Professor Thas Nirmalathas said ANDHealth’s extensive industry networks and commercialisation experience would enhance opportunities for collaborative research, product development and real-world implementation.
“For medical engineers in FEIT, this partnership provides a robust pathway to translate innovative technologies into clinically validated healthcare solutions,” Prof Nirmalathas said.
“It offers a clear roadmap of the journey from impactful engineering ideas, through research and development to improved patient outcomes. Turning ideas into reality for the benefit of communities is what drives us.”
INFLUENCE
ANDHealth CEO Bronwyn Le Grice noted the University of Melbourne was an institution with “enormous influence” on the future of healthcare, research and workforce capability in Australia and globally.
“Together, we will strengthen the commercialisation pipeline for Australian digital and connected health SMEs, creating jobs, attracting investment and improving patient outcomes,” Ms Le Grice said.
“By joining our core partnership network, the University is signalling a clear commitment to ensuring that world-class research and innovation in digital and connected health, data and AI reaches patients and health systems at scale.”
Home to the Centre for Digital Transformation of Health, the University of Melbourne is ranked 22nd globally in the 2026 QS World University Rankings.
The Centre works across data, AI and other digital technologies in healthcare, with a focus on evaluating and responsibly translating innovation into clinical practice – supporting safe and equitable adoption, as well as developing a workforce capable of leading digital transformation.
Through its commercial collaboration and research programs, the Centre works with start-ups, scale-ups, health services and industry partners to “de-risk” digital health innovation.
Its capabilities include clinical problem validation, simulation-based evaluation, usability and workflow testing, consumer research, clinical evidence generation and AI implementation.
Meanwhile, ANDHealth supports a pipeline of more than 1,395 digital and connected health companies and has developed a suite of Australian accelerator and incubator programs across the entire commercialisation pathway, from “idea to exit”.
BENEFITS
As a core partner of ANDHealth, the University of Melbourne is set to gain access to ANDHealth’s proven programs, specialist advisory support, market insights and deep industry networks.
Companies within the ANDHealth ecosystem will have greater opportunities to engage with the University’s researchers, clinicians and technical specialists to validate clinical needs, strengthen product design, undertake rigorous evaluation and generate evidence for regulatory approval, procurement and adoption.
The partnership will also promote new pathways for capability building and closer connection between university-based innovators and proven, evidence-based commercialisation programs.
The University of Melbourne joins The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Monash University, Planet Innovation, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), Commercial Eyes, and Curve Tomorrow as a core partner of ANDHealth, along with a host of industry, program and ecosystem partners.
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