In order to harness the benefits from medical research it is important to bring all key stakeholders together, including philanthropy, industry, government and academia.
NFMRI’s conference uniquely provides this opportunity, creating an interactive forum to discuss opportunities, issues and ideas. We encourage delegates to submit questions in advance and contribute to the conversation. The voice of those in the audience can be as important as those leading the conversation.
The future is coming.
The review and strategy development for the Medical Research Futures Fund (MRFF) is well underway. The MRFF is potentially the greatest change to funding Australian medical research in Australia that we will see in our life times.
The MRFF will not only affect funding, it will influence the entire medical research ecosystem including employment, culture, philanthropy, translation, commercialisation and the community more generally.
Together with the national agenda around innovation, the opportunity to discuss impact and how we support medical research is providing an opportunity for not only change but the opportunity to influence how new support may be best applied.
Where do you fit in the funding ecosystem today and tomorrow?
If you support medical research, as a donor, investor or as a foundation, the introduction of a new large funder of medical research will be front of mind.
Whilst the MRFF and a renewed NHMRC will provide new funding opportunities, gaps will remain.
It could be a disaster if the new funds from the MRFF simply replace philanthropic support that goes elsewhere. Foundations supporting medical research need to stay relevant and consider how their strategy fits within the funding ecosystem to fill gaps and help deliver community benefits from research.
Meet those at the interface and creating impact.
The 2016 Global Innovation Report has been released. The outcome won’t be unfamiliar to those that have read past reports.
Once again, Australia languishes in global rankings. Whilst in 2016 we rank 11th on innovation inputs and 27th on outputs we continue to rank poorly (73rd) on efficiency ratios. For medical research this may mean that our discoveries from our world-class medical researchers and institutions may whither on the vine. Community benefits could be lost.
Whilst the rankings tell one story, there are examples of success. Translation and impact requires collaboration and our conference provides a valuable opportunity to talk with researchers, industry, government and philanthropy to learn, scale, duplicate and avoid the pitfalls.
“Supporting Biomedical Innovations: Getting Innovations on the Right Track” is the opportunity to influence and learn. Come along and meet a fabulous line up of speakers and other delegates.
The program covers four key themes.
Theme 1 – Thinking differently and being bold (18 October)
With a new national innovation agenda identified as a priority for Australia, new programs and initiatives were introduced in 2016. This theme will explore how government, academia, social and financial investors have responded to the challenges of delivering impact from medical research.
Theme 2 – Leading by example (18 October)
Whilst Australia ranks well in academic research and biotechnology in international measures, the Global Innovation Index shows that Australia is not performing well with “research efficiency” measures (i.e. the ability to convert our research into impact). This theme will provide an opportunity to discuss success and opportunities to help others do this better.
Theme 3 – Building innovation in Australia (19 October)
Most opportunities arising from biomedical research are of global significance, providing access to new medicines, diagnostics, devices and vaccines far beyond Australian borders. The ability for medical research to also create new jobs, industries and investment opportunities in Australia is also important. This theme will explore the challenges and opportunities of how the R&D ecosystem can deliver greater impact at home as our medical innovation ecosystem matures.
Theme 4 – Partnerships and strategies for impact (19 October)
One of our favorite and recurring themes is to open up a conversation with investors (social and financial) to discuss not only why and what, but how they support, or don’t support medical research opportunities. Aligning expectations and discussing the great, good, bad and ugly can help other investors and those seeking investment or support.