Welcome to the January edition of the HealthTech Activator (HTA) Monthly Wrap!
We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year and that 2025 is off to a positive start for you and your team. As we enter this new year, we do so amidst significant change, with a shared commitment to innovation and progress.
As you may be aware, the Government has announced the disestablishment of Callaghan Innovation as part of its reform of the science, innovation, and technology system. This marks a period of considerable uncertainty, and we want to acknowledge the impact this news may have on our customers, partners, and the wider healthtech community.
The road ahead is not yet clear for the HTA, which operates as part of Callaghan Innovation. It will take time to work through the government’s decisions, including understanding which of our functions may continue under other entities and which may change, and how this will shape our role in supporting New Zealand’s healthtech sector.
While we know this uncertainty can feel unsettling, we want to assure you that our commitment to you, our healthtech community, remains steadfast. We are dedicated to fostering innovation, advancing solutions, and supporting the growth of this thriving sector.
There is so much to look forward to in the healthtech ecosystem as it grows and evolves. Exciting workshops and events are coming to equip you with the tools and knowledge to succeed. Covering critical topics such as commercial strategy and market validation, these workshops are tailored to help your health tech business thrive in a competitive landscape. See more below!
In addition to these events, the HTA website provides a wealth of resources to support your journey. From Capital Education to Clinical Validation, and other tools addressing the unique needs of New Zealand’s health tech sector, these resources help you navigate your path to success.
We are deeply grateful for your ongoing support, and we will keep you informed as soon as we have more clarity about the future direction. Thank you for continuing to stand with us as we move into this next chapter. Together, we look forward to another year of progress, innovation, and meaningful impact.
Navigating health tech supply chains is challenging. This workshop equips you with essential commercial planning and strategy insights to chart your journey to success. Led by Dan Hansen, director of consulting firm Apagie, and CEO of Avert Group, this workshop is ideal for early-stage companies planning for their future market entry.
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 Avert Group.
The HTA are looking forward to bringing you more workshops and webinars in 2025 covering topics including Capital Education, Market Validation, Clinical Validation, Regulatory Pathway, and Reimbursement Strategy, to express your interest in future events, complete this form.
Here’s a look at some of the most exciting developments in New Zealand’s healthtech sector.
Kitea Health, an HTA-associated company, is at the forefront of a groundbreaking project—a brain implant designed to monitor brain pressure in individuals living with hydrocephalus, offering new hope for those battling this serious condition.
In other news, cancer vaccine research is rapidly advancing, with 2025 poised to be a key year for mRNA-based treatments. Significant progress in menopause treatment is also improving the quality of life for many women. At the same time, a marae-based study into psychoactive mushrooms for methamphetamine addiction has just completed its first phase of trials. These stories highlight the continued growth and innovation shaping New Zealand's healthcare future. Read more below.
