MedTech Growth Grant VIC

Executive Summary

The AMMA Pathway to Market is a Victorian Government-supported program delivered by MTPConnect and BioMelbourne Network. It helps Victorian MedTech SMEs with market-ready devices (TRL 6-9) win local hospital procurement contracts through a focused 5-month capability uplift journey, culminating in a live Medtech Showcase before major health buyers.

AMMA Pathway to Market: At a Glance

Before you invest time in preparing your application, use this snapshot to assess whether this program aligns with your current stage, location, and commercial readiness.

Unsure of your eligibility? Check Your Eligibility Probability Here.

What Is the AMMA Pathway to Market Program?

The AMMA Pathway to Market is not a cash grant in the traditional sense. It is a structured, government-supported capability uplift program specifically designed to solve one of the most persistent problems in the Australian MedTech sector: brilliant locally-made medical devices that never make it onto hospital procurement lists.

The Australian Medtech Manufacturing Alliance (AMMA) established this program as a consortium in partnership with peak industry bodies. The Victorian Government supports it because local procurement of locally-made devices strengthens the Victorian health manufacturing economy and reduces reliance on offshore medical supply chains.

Think of it this way: you may have a Class IIa surgical instrument manufactured right here in Melbourne, with TGA clearance in hand and clinical evidence on file. But if the procurement officer at the Royal Melbourne Hospital does not know your company exists, or if your Value-Based Health Care pitch is not structured the way their committee expects, your device collects dust. This program fixes that.

For Victorian MedTech founders and commercial directors, the value proposition is significant. You receive:

• A formal capability assessment identifying exactly where your procurement readiness gaps are
• Tailored practical workshops navigating the Victorian Government procurement pathway
• Expert-led Medtech Procurement Masterclass sessions held face-to-face in Melbourne
• A direct, curated audience at the Victorian Medtech Showcase in May/June 2026, with over 150 health service representatives from more than 15 hospitals in attendance

The 2025 cohort featured 25 Victorian manufacturers spanning surgical care and diagnostics to hospital consumables and aged care equipment. Participating companies included Ventora Medical, Rhinomed, Dentalife, Sleeptite, and Certius Medical, each gaining direct exposure to clinical leaders and procurement decision-makers.

This is the second time the program has rolled out, with Victoria serving as the pilot state. Its success in driving a national agenda for local MedTech procurement makes it a highly competitive, in-demand program.

If you are building or distributing health technology in Victoria and have not yet cracked the hospital procurement code, this program is the most direct pathway available to you right now.

Unsure of your eligibility? Check Your Eligibility Probability Here.

The Hard Eligibility Filter: Must-Haves vs. Dealbreakers

This section is your pre-screening checklist. Work through it honestly before you invest any further time in your application preparation. The program is competitive and oversubscribed. Assessors are looking for specific signals.

Must-Have Criteria

✔    Your company must be a Victorian-based SME. This is non-negotiable. Businesses headquartered interstate cannot participate in this cohort.

✔    Your product must be a medical device at TRL 6 to TRL 9. This means your device is at demonstrable prototype through to full commercial deployment. Products still in early bench R&D (TRL 1-5) are explicitly excluded.

✔    Your company must be manufacturing or producing at least one medical device. Pure software health applications, digital health platforms without a device component, and diagnostic services without a physical device are unlikely to qualify.

✔    You must be market-ready. The program is about procurement positioning, not product development. If your device still requires clinical trials or TGA regulatory approval to reach market, you are likely too early.

✔    You must have genuine commercial intent to sell into Victorian hospitals and health services. This is a procurement-readiness program. If your primary market is export or retail direct-to-consumer, your application will score poorly.

✔    You must have the capacity to fully participate across the 5-month program. This includes attending workshops, the Masterclass, and the final Showcase event in Melbourne. Companies that cannot commit to in-person participation will be disadvantaged.

Dealbreakers: Do Not Apply If Any of These Apply

❌    Your business is not registered and primarily operating in Victoria. The program explicitly targets Victorian MedTech SMEs.

❌    Your device is below TRL 6. If you are still building your prototype, you are not yet eligible. Return when your device is fully demonstrable and pre-commercial or commercial.

❌    Your primary product is a pharmaceutical or therapeutic drug. The AMMA program is a medtech manufacturing alliance. Pharma-only companies are not the target cohort.

❌    Applications for the 2026 cohort have already closed. If you missed the window, you will need to register your interest for the 2027 cohort or explore adjacent programs now.

❌    You are a large enterprise. This program targets SMEs. Large corporations with substantial in-house procurement and sales infrastructure are not the intended beneficiaries.

If you ticked all the Must-Have boxes and none of the Dealbreakers apply, you are a strong candidate for the next available cohort. The key action now is to register your interest proactively so you are first in line.

Unsure of your eligibility? Check Your Eligibility Probability Here.

The Application Killer Section: 3 Non-Obvious Reasons Victorian MedTech Companies Get Rejected

Most applicants lose out not because their device is poor or their company is unqualified. They lose because they make specific, avoidable errors in how they frame their readiness. Here are three traps that kill otherwise strong applications.

1. The TRL Confusion Trap: Claiming TRL 9 When You Are Actually TRL 7

Technology Readiness Levels are not self-assessed decoration. Assessors at MTPConnect and BioMelbourne Network are experienced life sciences commercialisation professionals. They will probe your TRL claim.

Many Victorian MedTech SMEs genuinely believe they are at TRL 9 (fully commercially deployed system) because they have completed a clinical study and received their first purchase order. In reality, if that purchase order came from a research institution rather than a public hospital under a standing offer arrangement, you may still be TRL 7 or 8.

The practical consequence: if you overstate your TRL and it is exposed during capability assessment, your credibility with the entire cohort is damaged. Worse, the program’s workshops and support may be calibrated for companies further along the procurement journey than you actually are, leaving you unable to extract maximum value.

The fix: before applying, map your device specifically against the CSIRO’s formal TRL definitions. Be conservative. If you are between levels, claim the lower one and articulate what specific milestone will move you to the next.

2. The ‘We Just Need Distribution’ Framing Error

This is the most common strategic misstep in applications. A company writes something to the effect of: ‘We have a great product. We just need to get it in front of hospital procurement teams.’ That framing signals that you have not understood what the program is actually solving.

Victorian hospital procurement is not a distribution problem. It is a systems problem. Public health services are bound by complex tendering obligations under the Victorian Government Purchasing Board guidelines, Value-Based Health Care frameworks, and DH supply agreements. Simply ‘getting in front of’ a procurement officer is not the pathway to a purchase order.

The AMMA Pathway to Market program exists because procurement-ready does not mean procurement-successful. Successful applicants demonstrate they understand the difference between having a meeting with a clinician and having a product listed on a standing offer arrangement.

The fix: reframe your application narrative. Instead of describing your distribution challenge, describe your procurement positioning challenge. Use language like ‘health procurement alignment,’ ‘value-based procurement submission,’ and ‘hospital formulary inclusion.’ Show you understand the buyer’s process, not just the buyer’s problem.

3. The Showcase Commitment Underestimation

The Victorian Medtech Showcase is not a networking cocktail party. In 2025, it drew over 150 health service representatives from more than 15 hospitals. These are procurement managers, nursing unit managers, clinical leads, and CSSD coordinators with actual budgets and actual open procurement needs.

Applications that treat the Showcase as an optional bonus at the end of the program rather than the primary commercial objective consistently underperform in the selection assessment. Assessors want to see that your company has the commercial readiness, the sales infrastructure, and the internal resource commitment to capitalise on that exposure.

If you are a solo founder without commercial support staff, or if your company cannot spare a team member for the full Showcase day, your application will raise red flags about your ability to convert the opportunity into actual procurement outcomes.

The fix: in your application, explicitly address your Showcase preparation plan. Name the team members attending. Describe the product demonstration setup you will bring. Articulate what a successful Showcase outcome looks like in specific commercial terms, for example, ‘three expressions of interest from metropolitan health services for a pilot evaluation of our nasal swab device in paediatric wards.’

Unsure of your eligibility? Check Your Eligibility Probability Here.

Step-by-Step Submission and Participation Guide

Since the 2026 cohort applications have closed, the following guide prepares you to be in the strongest possible position for the next intake. This is also relevant if you are preparing your expression of interest to be placed on the notification list.

Step 1: Confirm Your TRL and Procurement Stage

Before anything else, conduct an honest internal audit. Document the following for each device in scope: TGA regulatory status, existing clinical evidence, current sales channels (direct vs. distributor), any existing relationships with Victorian public hospitals, and your current revenue from Victorian health services. This document becomes the backbone of your application narrative.

Step 2: Contact MTPConnect Directly

The program team actively engages with prospective participants before the formal application window opens. Reach out to Dr Amelia Vom at MTPConnect to register your interest and request pre-application guidance. Early engagement signals commitment and gives you insider intelligence on what the current cohort priorities are. Companies that engage early consistently outperform cold applicants.

Step 3: Attend the Medtech Selling to Health Masterclass

MTPConnect runs a standalone Medtech Selling to Health Masterclass open to the broader sector. The 2026 edition was held face-to-face in Melbourne in March 2026. Attendance at this Masterclass before applying for the full program gives you a significant advantage. You will understand the language assessors use, the procurement frameworks they reference, and the gaps they are looking to fill. If you missed the March session, look for future iterations and prioritise attendance.

Victorian MedTech companies serious about government-backed support should also explore [other Victorian business growth programs](https://www.australiangrants.org/business-growth-programs/) to ensure they are capturing every available opportunity aligned to their growth stage.

Step 4: Prepare Your Capability Assessment Documentation

When the next application window opens, you will need to be ready to submit a capability self-assessment. Based on program intelligence, you should prepare documentation covering: your device’s clinical evidence summary, TGA registration or clearance documentation, your target hospital segments within Victoria, your current procurement proposal or product dossier, and your key clinical champions or referees within the Victorian health system.

Step 5: Build Your Showcase Strategy in Advance

Do not wait until you are accepted into the program to begin thinking about your Showcase approach. Start now. Research which Victorian health services purchase products in your device category. Identify the procurement frameworks they operate under. Prepare a clinical value proposition specifically framed for health procurement audiences, not investor audiences. This preparation will also strengthen your application, because the program wants to see you are already thinking like a procurement-ready company.

Founders navigating complex government-supported programs for the first time may benefit from reviewing the Entrepreneurs Programs landscape to understand which federal and state programs complement the AMMA Pathway to Market.

Unsure of your eligibility? Check Your Eligibility Probability Here.

FAQ and Glossary: Everything Victorian MedTech Founders Need to Know

Is the AMMA Pathway to Market a cash grant?

No. It is a capability uplift and market access program, not a direct cash grant. The value is delivered through structured workshops, expert coaching, procurement masterclass sessions, and a curated Showcase event. The Victorian Government supports the program operationally and through enabling access to Victorian health procurement networks. If you are seeking direct funding or R&D co-investment grants, explore programs like the MedTech Growth Grant VIC category or AMMA’s associated programs through MTPConnect.

Is this program taxable?

Because the AMMA Pathway to Market delivers non-cash program services rather than a direct monetary grant, the standard grant taxability considerations do not apply in the same way. However, you should always consult your accountant regarding the tax treatment of any government-supported programs that reduce your costs of business development activities, as the ATO may treat the value of services received as assessable income in some circumstances. Do not rely on general guidance for your specific situation.

Can interstate companies apply if they have a Victorian office?

The program explicitly targets Victorian MedTech SMEs. If your company’s primary operations, manufacturing, and principal place of business are in Victoria, you are likely eligible. If your Victorian presence is a secondary office or a registered agent address only, you are unlikely to meet the spirit of the eligibility criteria. Contact MTPConnect directly to clarify your specific situation before investing time in an application.

What does TRL 6 to TRL 9 mean in practice?

Technology Readiness Level (TRL) is a framework used by CSIRO, Defence, and international space and health agencies to describe the maturity of a technology. For medical devices in this program’s context: TRL 6 means your prototype has been demonstrated in a relevant environment such as a simulated clinical setting; TRL 7 means it has been demonstrated in an operational environment; TRL 8 means it is complete and qualified; TRL 9 means it is fully commercially deployed in operational settings. For the AMMA program, TRL 6 through 9 captures devices that are ready to be used and sold, not devices still in laboratory development.

What happens at the Victorian Medtech Showcase?

The Showcase is the program’s culmination event. In 2025, it connected 25 Victorian medtech manufacturers with over 150 health service representatives from more than 15 hospitals. Participating companies exhibit their products, deliver presentations to clinical and procurement decision-makers, and engage in structured meetings with health service buyers. It is a curated, commercial event with direct procurement intent on both sides of the table. Past participants include companies in surgical care, diagnostics, hospital consumables, aged care equipment, and paediatric devices.

What is the AMMA?

AMMA stands for the Australian Medtech Manufacturing Alliance. It is a consortium established in partnership with peak industry bodies, focused on driving local procurement of Australian-made medical devices and growing the domestic medtech manufacturing sector. AMMA operates the Pathway to Market program through MTPConnect and BioMelbourne Network, with Victorian Government support.

I missed the 2026 intake. What should I do now?

First, contact Dr Amelia Vom at MTPConnect to register your interest for future cohorts. Second, attend any available sector events such as the Medtech Selling to Health Masterclass. Third, use the time between now and the next application window to close your capability gaps, which this article’s eligibility checklist and step-by-step guide will help you map. Fourth, explore complementary support available through Melbourne small business grants and Victorian business support programs to ensure your company remains resourced during the interim period.

Glossary of Key Terms

TRL (Technology Readiness Level): A scale from 1 to 9 measuring the maturity of a technology from basic research to full commercial deployment.

AMMA (Australian Medtech Manufacturing Alliance): The peak industry consortium behind the Pathway to Market program.

MTPConnect: Australia’s Life Sciences Innovation Accelerator and the program delivery body.

BioMelbourne Network: A peak body representing Victoria’s life sciences sector and co-delivery partner for the program.

VGPB (Victorian Government Purchasing Board): The body that sets procurement policy for Victorian Government entities including public hospitals.

Value-Based Health Care (VBHC): A framework aligning healthcare spending to patient outcomes rather than service volume. Many Victorian hospitals evaluate procurement proposals through a VBHC lens.

Standing Offer Arrangement: A pre-negotiated supply agreement between a government health service and a supplier, enabling repeat purchases without a full tender process.

SME (Small to Medium Enterprise): In the Australian context, generally a business with fewer than 200 employees. The AMMA program does not publish a specific employee threshold but targets smaller, growth-stage manufacturers.

Unsure of your eligibility? Check Your Eligibility Probability Here.

Related Resources for Victorian MedTech and Business Founders

Navigating the Victorian government support landscape requires a multi-program strategy. The AMMA Pathway to Market is one piece of the puzzle. Explore these related resources:

• Business Growth Programs: Understand the full landscape of Victorian and federal growth programs available to scaling businesses.
• Entrepreneurs Programs: Federal programs including the Accelerating Commercialisation component, which can directly complement your MedTech procurement readiness activities.
• Melbourne Small Business Grants: For Melbourne-based operators seeking additional support during program participation periods.