Co-Lab’s remedy to dearth of SA MedTech
The new company’s mission is to produce and commercialise more innovative medical devices in South Australia, with its founding partner already creating world-leading surgical implants.
Gibran Maher co-founder of CoLab Tech, a space to boost opportunities for SA to make medical devices, at the company's official opening with Industry, Innovation and Science Minister Susan Close. Photo: Andrew Beveridge
Gibran Maher, the co-founder and chief executive of partnering surgical device company Additive Surgical, said the recently launched Kent Town collaborative would now draw together medical, engineering, business and science industry professionals.
Maher said the end-to-end facility would guide local medical device concepts from inception through to marketplace commercialisation.
Founding partner Additive Surgical creates surgical implants using a state-of-the-art titanium 3D printer, and Maher said the facility was designed to bring more medical device projects to market.
Maher said CoLab Tech addresses a critical deficiency in the state’s medical device and technology ecosystem along with working toward building Australia’s MedTech sovereign capabilities.
“Australia’s Economic Complexity ranking falls distressingly low on the global scale, positioned at 93 out of 133 countries, nestled between Uganda and Pakistan,” he said.
“The imperative becomes clear: a strategic pivot towards the production of high-value goods for worldwide export.
“The journey of ushering a medical marvel from conception to market launch encompasses a spectrum of proficiencies – proof of concept, design and development, quality and regulatory, and commercialisation.”
Gibran said the new innovation hub would bring the expertise together under one roof and unite industry professionals from around Australia.
