Welcome to the February edition of the HealthTech Activator (HTA) Monthly Wrap!
As we kick off 2025, New Zealand’s healthtech sector is buzzing with new opportunities and exciting challenges. While Callaghan Innovation is being disestablished, HealthTech Activator is still running as usual and supporting healthtech innovation growth nationwide. Our mission remains the same – providing the resources, guidance, and connections to help you succeed.
In this month’s edition, you’ll find everything from expert insights to essential events to help you take your healthtech venture to the next level. Whether you’re fine-tuning your commercial strategy, validating your market approach, or looking for the latest trends, we have the tools and knowledge to support you.
Stay up to date with the latest insights, events, and resources in New Zealand’s healthtech sector by following HealthTech Activator on LinkedIn. Join the conversation and connect with a growing network of innovators, researchers, and industry experts. Our posts cover everything from clinical engagement and regulatory pathways to reimbursement strategies, case studies, and workshops designed to support healthtech companies on their commercialisation journey.
Streamline Your HealthTech Innovation with Regulatory Pathway Resources Navigating the regulatory landscape is a critical step in bringing your healthtech innovations to market. The HTA offers valuable resources to guide you through this complex process. Whether you’re developing a pharmaceutical, medical device, digital health solution, or any other healthtech innovation, understanding the global regulatory requirements is essential.
The HTA's Regulatory Resources provide access to key resources for New Zealand, Australia, the FDA, the European Union, and other major international markets. With everything from quality management systems and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) to country-specific regulatory bodies, HTA helps innovators navigate the complexities of compliance across regions. These resources are designed to ensure your product meets safety, efficacy, and approval standards globally, speeding up your path to market success.
Do you have questions or want to chat about how HTA can support your journey? We’re always here to help – don’t hesitate to reach out, email us at hta@callaghaninnovation.govt.nz.
Now, let’s dive into what’s coming up this month and how you can make the most of these exciting opportunities!
Upcoming HTA workshops
Know Your Customer, Know Your Market 18 March, 9am - 4.30pm, Auckland
A lack of robust market validation is one of the most common weaknesses of healthtech businesses searching for investment. This workshop is aimed at early-stage healthtech companies, or healthtech companies that would like to have a fresh look at their market and how they have validated it to date. Led by Dan Hansen, director of consulting firm Apagie and CEO of AVRT Group, this workshop will utilise Dan’s cross-industry and first-hand experience to give companies the right processes for successfully commercialising and growing their health technology products and services.
Demystifying Quality and Regulatory - Medical Devices 20 March, 9am - 3:30pm, Auckland
Need some help understanding the quality and regulatory aspects of medical device development? Join us for the Demystifying Quality and Regulatory Workshop. This interactive workshop delves into the crucial quality and regulatory aspects of medical device development, providing insights for navigating the complexities of your commercialisation journey. Aimed at pre-spinout research groups and early-stage startups, considering the commercialisation of a medical device. Brought to you by Te Tītoki Mataora (MedTech Research Translator) and the HealthTech Activator and led by Yaara Yarmut, Chief Regulatory Officer at Alimetry and Natalia Lopez, Chief Operations Officer at Kitea Health.
Health Economics Workshop 10 April, 9am - 3pm, Auckland
Understand the drivers and processes used to determine economic value and a health system’s willingness to pay for a healthcare product. This highly interactive workshop is intended for decision-makers and organisations wanting to systematically compare technologies, access new markets, and secure reimbursement strategies across several healthcare environments and systems. The workshop is co-produced with Te Tītoki Mataora and led by Abbas Al-Murrani - Managing Director & Founder, Health Economics Consulting NZ.
HealthTech Week is Aotearoa's national conference for the health technology industry and research, featuring two streams with sessions for every stage of health technology development. Both streams will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Auckland and includes the MTANZ Conference from 30th June to 1st July 2025 and the Te Tītoki Mataora Forum from 2nd to 4th July 2025.
This month, key voices in New Zealand’s health sector explore groundbreaking innovations shaping the future of healthcare. Professor Kjesten Wiig shares her vision for advancing cancer treatments at the Malaghan Institute, Associate Professor Kelly Burrowes discusses how FemTech is addressing the gender health gap, and Dr. John Hirdes highlights the potential of AI to transform healthcare for older adults. These discussions shed light on the evolving landscape of healthtech in Aotearoa.
This month, we’re highlighting AperCure Surgical, a research-driven company that has engaged with HTA services on its journey to commercialisation. In this featured video, Professor John Windsor discusses the development of the Limpet drainage device, designed to improve post-surgical care by reducing the discomfort and risks associated with traditional percutaneous drains.
From Concept to Clinic: Innovating Post-Surgical Recovery | Professor John Windsor | TTM Ep15
