Health Innovation Incubator
Good health ideas are everywhere in the Hunter. What is missing is the path that carries them from a clinical observation or a research finding through to something the health system will fund, adopt and use.
The Health Innovation Incubator is a ten month program delivered inside John Hunter Hospital at the Health Innovation Living Lab. It is a collaboration between the University of Newcastle, Hunter New England Local Health District and Hunter Medical Research Institute, which means you get the research infrastructure, the commercialisation expertise and the clinical environment in one program.
Applications are open!
Apply for cohort one Register for the information session
Program details
Over 10 months, you'll get hands-on experience and these bespoke benefits:
- The I2N Community: there's a reason I2N is the most recommended Accelerator & Incubator in Australia (Startup Muster, 2025). For 10 years we've built a vibrant community of founders, experts, mentors and investors. By taking part in an I2N program you'll have the ability to tap into the exact support you need when you need it.
- Deep expertise: our mentors, specialist presenters and entrepreneurs in residence work alongside you to build your capacity as a problem solver and venture builder. For the Incubator that bench includes the University’s Knowledge Exchange and Entrepreneurship team on IP, licensing and spin-outs, HMRI on research infrastructure and clinical trials, and the HNE Innovation Office on clinical engagement and system navigation.
- A path to adoption: the program runs within John Hunter Hospital. Your customers, your clinical champions and the people who will eventually decide whether your idea gets used are in the building. Learn first-hand how procurement decisions actually get made and what a health service needs to see before it will run a pilot. You finish with a next-steps plan, not just a pitch deck.
Program schedule
Phase 1: Foundations - Getting the problem right before anyone builds anything. November to February.
Phase 2: Development - The core of the program, working through what is specific to health. March to July.
Phase 3: Translation - Preparing for the real world rather than the end of a course. August to September
Key dates
- Applications open: Monday 31 August
- Applications close: Monday 5 October, 11:59PM
- Information session: Wednesday 8 September, 12-1PM via Zoom
- Value Proposition workshop: Monday 14 September, 11.30AM-1.30PM and 4-6PM at HILL
- AI for health innovators workshop: Thursday 24 September, 11.30AM-1.30PM and 4-6PM at HILL
- Program begins: Wednesday 11 November
- Demo Day: Wednesday 8 September 2027
This program is for you if
- You work in or around health in the Hunter New England region. Clinicians, nurses, allied health professionals, researchers, health service managers, final year and Masters medical students, MedTech employees, general practitioners and independent health entrepreneurs are all eligible.
- You have identified a specific problem in health care that you want to solve. It might be a device, a diagnostic, a digital product, a model of care or a change to the way something is delivered.
- Your idea sits anywhere between a clearly defined problem and a concept with an existing IP disclosure or early prototype.
- You are applying as an individual or as a team of up to three.
- You are willing to talk to customers, to be given feedback and to have your assumptions tested.
This is probably not the right program if
- Your venture has raised, or is raising, a Series A. You are past the stage this program is built for.
- You are an agency or a consultancy.
- Your idea is a service improvement contained within Hunter New England. Bright Ideas is the better home for that work. If the idea has potential beyond the district, come to us.
- You want to learn about innovation in general but do not have a concept you intend to take forward. Impact Ready or the I2N Pre-Accelerator may suit you better.
You do not need a company, a patent, a business plan or any prior innovation experience. University affiliation is not required.
Note: agencies and consultancies are not eligible for this program
Frequently Asked Questions
The program will take place at the Health Innovation Living Lab, located in John Hunter Hospital at 3 Kookaburra Cct, New Lambton Heights NSW 2305
We are looking to support people who are at ideas stage through to the early-stage startup stage. Indicators include that you've identified specific needs within health and have a clear and meaningful target and direction over the next 1-3 years.
Teams can consist of between 1-3 participants.
No. You do not need to be affiliated with the University of Newcastle, HMRI or HNELHD to be eligible for the Health Innovation Incubator.
The program is open to any researcher, Primary, Secondary or Tertiary Health staff member, final year medical students, and small health companies, with a concept that they are looking to scale beyond one hospital or clinic.
In person workshop days are one Wednesday each month. Participation requirements are up to 8 hours each workshop day 9AM – 5PM.
The days planned for the 2026 cohort are:
- Month 1 – 11 Nov 2026
- Month 2 – 2nd Dec 2026
- Month 3 – 10 Feb 2027
- Month 4 – 10 Mar 2027
- Month 5 – 14 Apr 2027
- Month 6 – 12 May 2027
- Month 7 – 9 Jun 2027
- Month 8 – 14 Jul 2027
- Month 9 – 11 Aug 2027
- Month 10 & Demo day – 8 Sep 2027
There will be an online learning module to be completed prior to each in person day (approximately one-hour) as well as a mentoring meeting each month for 30-minutes at a time that suits.
Attendance by all participants at the workshops and mentoring meetings is mandatory. Exceptions will be considered only in exceptional circumstances and on a case-by-case basis.
There is an expectation that participants will undertake ongoing customer discovery scheduling and interviewing throughout each month. Carefully consider your capacity to commit to the program before making an application. If you need to get approval from your manager / team lead for study leave, shift changes or holiday leave please confirm this prior to application.
Applications are reviewed before offers are made to teams or individuals who address essential criteria. That is, the problem you are trying to solve, the potential solution you have in mind, and who the end-users/beneficiaries you have identified. Your application doesn't have to be 'right', it just needs to demonstrate that you have thought about the problem you are trying to develop a solution for, the insight, invention, or idea you are taking advantage of, and have provided your best possible 'guess' about what that might be and who would most benefit. We also consider what has motivated the team to apply and what you hope to achieve in addition to team member profiles and their potential contribution to the team.
As part of your application you are required to supply a 3-minute video answering:
- Who you are
- What is the problem you are you solving
- What is the potential solution you have in mind
- Who are the end users or beneficiaries
- Why you and your team are the best to solve it
Prepare your video in advance of submitting your application.
Please feel free to:
- Join us at the online information sessions [link out to eventbright infor session link]
- Come along to the in-person workshops [link out to eventbright workshops]
- Visit us at HILL on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday
- Request a 20-minute Q&A Zoom session by emailing Elizabeth.stares@newcastle.edu.au
Absolutely. The questions are saved in this document for your review.
Intellectual Property (IP)
The University of Newcastle makes no claim over the intellectual property (IP) generated by participants as part of the Health Innovation Incubator (subject to the University’s IP Policy and Procedure) provided your use of the IP acknowledges that the IP was developed as part of the Health Innovation Incubator (unless it is unreasonable to do so).
If a team member is an employee or student of the University of Newcastle, they agree and acknowledge that ownership of the IP will be in accordance with the University IP Policy and Procedure, as amended from time to time. IP Policy found here. IP Procedure found here.
If a team member is an employee of a company other than the University of Newcastle, that employer may have a claim on their IP. You should check the employers IP policy prior to application.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.