ANDHealth+ Eligibility

Entities must:

• Be an Australian SME i.e. a registered Australian corporate entity^[1] employing no more than 199 employees (SME) and be able to demonstrate that they are authorised to use any IP required to perform the project.
• Meet ASIC thresholds for small business including consolidated revenue of less than A$50M and/ or consolidated gross assets of less than $25M at the end of the previous financial year.^[3]
• Have a minimum of one full-time employee engaged in the business. Preference will be given to applicants which can demonstrate sufficient management capacity and capability to effectively engage with the depth and breadth of the ANDHealth+ program.
  
  • While one full-time team member is the minimum requirement, companies often find that involving additional leaders allows them to participate more effectively and benefit fully from the program.
• Have sufficient resources to service and complete the program and associated project plans (operational runway, time, resources, headcount). You must have at least 6-12 months of operating runway (i.e., ability to cover all ‘business as usual’ expenditure) to be eligible, however evidence of at least 12 months’ operational runway is preferred. It is important to note that ANDHealth+ allocated funds are applied to direct project costs only and not the day-to-day operations of the participant’s business.
• Demonstrate diversity within the Board of Directors and Management team and wider organisation.
• Be willing to report on requisite outcomes data and other reporting metrics requested by ANDHealth as required throughout the program and for three years beyond completion of the program.

Proposed technologies and projects must:

• Meet the definition of an evidence-based digital or connected health technology.
• Involve a product/service/technology which has reached or substantially demonstrated Proof of Concept.
• Be evidence-based with a clear focus on improving patient outcomes.

‍Applicants must submit a fully completed application with all requisite attachments/uploads.    

*Note: The ANDHealth+ Program has been designed primarily for ‘for profit’ enterprises. Whilst not-for-profit enterprises may be eligible to apply (assuming they meet the other eligibility criteria), the MRFF BMTI2024 program is targeted at SMEs which are aiming to commercialise new technologies into the Australian market and beyond, as such ANDHealth+ Program has been designed primarily for for-profit enterprises. Such entities will need to clearly articulate how their participation in ANDHealth+ will be "ring-fenced" from ‘business as usual’ activities and how impact of the program and any funded activities will be captured and reported.

Similarly, SMEs/spinouts from universities, research institutions and industry organisations that meet the eligibility criteria are welcome to apply. Where such spinouts still lean heavily upon the resources of the parent entity or major shareholder, similar to non-profit enterprises, such entities will also need to clearly articulate how their participation in ANDHealth+ will be "ring-fenced" from parent company/ shareholder ‘business as usual’ activities and how impact of the program and any funded activities will be captured and reported.

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ANDHealth+ Framework for Defining Digital and Connected Health Innovation

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ANDHealth+ supports Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) developing novel digital and connected health innovations that deliver measurable clinical impact and improved patient outcomes.

To ensure alignment with international best practice and national health priorities, we adopt the definition of digital health outlined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) definitions of medical innovation and medical research under the Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015.

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Defining Digital Health

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration:

“The broad scope of digital health includes categories such as mobile health (mHealth), health information technology, wearable devices, telehealth and telemedicine, and personalised medicine.

From mobile medical apps and software that support the clinical decisions doctors make every day to artificial intelligence and machine learning, digital technology has been driving a revolution in health care. Digital health tools have the vast potential to improve our ability to accurately diagnose and treat disease and to enhance the delivery of health care for the individual.

Digital health technologies use computing platforms, connectivity, software, and sensors for health care and related uses. These technologies span a wide range of uses, from applications in general wellness  to applications as a medical device. They include technologies intended for use as a medical product, in a medical product, as companion diagnostics, or as an adjunct to other medical products (devices, drugs, and biologics). They may also be used to develop or study medical products.”

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Program Scope

Note: As an MRFF-backed program, ANDHealth+ does not support general wellness products that do not require clinical evidence as a definitive hurdle to commercialisation. This aligns with Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015 definitions as below:

“medical innovation includes:
(a) the application and commercialisation of medical research for the purpose of improving the health and wellbeing of Australians; and
(b) the translation of medical research into new or better ways of improving the health and wellbeing of Australians.
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medical research includes research into health.”

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