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Cicada Innovations to lead new $7.8m Westmead facility for biomedical research and startups

Investment NSW

The Westmead Health and Innovation District will be home to a new biomedical incubator with Cicada Innovations awarded a $7.8 million grant to help health and medtech startups transform world-leading research into lifesaving technologies.

Investment NSW CEO Katie Knight said the new Westmead Biomedical Incubator will deliver jobs and better medical care for the world.

“With more than 20 years' experience, Cicada Innovations was the best choice to lead this effort,” Ms Knight said.

“With the right incentives, NSW startups can deliver real-world patient outcomes to the market sooner, and that means everyone in NSW wins.

“Specialists in medical technology including cell and gene therapy, cancer research, infectious diseases, immunology, and vaccines will all benefit from working within this inclusive ecosystem in the heart of the Westmead Health precinct.”

Cicada Innovations CEO Sally-Ann Williams said the new incubator will offer early-stage incubation, capacity building programs, and links to institutional capital, mentoring, expertise, and support.

“New South Wales, and in particular Western Sydney, has all the elements of a world leading innovation precinct already in place. We are incredibly proud and grateful to extend our expertise and knowledge to startups seeking to improve global health,” Ms Williams said.

“We have nurtured deep tech startups for the past two decades, including successfully delivering NSW Health’s largest Commercialisation Training ProgramExternal Link  for the past nine years to over 2,500 researchers and innovators.”

More information about the Westmead Health and Innovation District is available at www.investment.nsw.gov.au/innovation/precinctsExternal Link 

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