ECR Reflections: HealthTech Week 2024
The Te Tītoki Mataora Forum at HealthTech Week, held from the 24th to 26th of June in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, was a vibrant and engaging meeting about the health technology industry and research.
Aotearoa Brain Project sponsored the attendance of seven early career researchers from across the motu to share their research or engage with leaders in the health technology field. They share their reflections and highlights below.
Usman Ghani
Postdoctoral Fellow, NZ College of Chiropractic
Thank you, Aotearoa Brain Project (ABP), for covering my registration costs to attend Health-tech Week 2024. Attending the Te Tītoki Mataora Forum (Health-Tech Week) was an incredibly enriching experience for me. With a background in engineering and a PhD in health sciences, I have always aimed to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice. This forum provided the ideal platform to present my poster and deliver a 3-minute presentation on improving EEG processing techniques. The smooth and well-organized presentation procedure was commendable.
Sir Ashley Bloomfield's motivational speech was a highlight, and it made me feel honoured to be part of such an impactful event. Meeting and collaborating with researchers from all over New Zealand was inspiring, fostering connections and exchanging ideas. An inspiring moment was my chat with Kiriti Rambhatla from Metakosmos, who expressed interest in incorporating my research into their space suit. The forum's focus on innovation, collaboration across disciplines, and ecotones resonated with my goals. It was an unforgettable experience. The research exchange event was also exciting; the setup was great and easy to follow. The five pitches were exciting to hear, and this was the first time I saw such clarity in the pitches all five presenters gave. Please find some of the pictures I took during the event.
Verna Stavric
Senior Lecturer, AUT
This was my first time attending HeathTech Week and I was struck but the unique atmosphere at this conference. Coming from a health background, at scientific conferences, there is often a sense of hierarchy among professions or challenge in what is being presented. What I found during this conference was a positive, encouraging, and supportive energy with a genuine interest in seeing each other succeed.
The sessions ranged from podium presentations to Q & As to panel discussion to interactive forums. These allowed for attendees to hear about updates in recent MedTech design or products but also about the experiences and learnings from the people involved in the research and development. This was underpinned by a focus on Māori-led initiatives. We heard from a number of projects and programmes that focus on Māori wellbeing and that were using a Teo Māori approach and provided clear examples of how this was applied to better meet the needs and aspirations of Māori.
The breaks and evening sessions were well planned and provided opportunities for meeting others to learn more about each other’s work. I’d highly recommend going and look forward to attending next year.
Dr. Verna Stavric (second from right) and colleagues at HTW 2024
Efe Celik
Otago Innovation Intern
The Te Titoki Mataora forum during Health Tech Week was an amazing opportunity to meet like-minded researchers, investors, and commercialisation managers with one common goal: bringing success to NZ research, startups and the overall NZ market on a global scale. From the 3 days, I have come up with the following thoughts: NZ is a small country with limited resources and has a very niche market. However, NZ also has many advantages because it is a small country with limited resources and a niche market, which fortified my belief that NZ has a potentially huge market. Due to its geographical isolation and isolation from political conflicts, NZ markets will not be as volatile as other countries. Therefore, this would be a safe market to invest into, which is a fact that can be used to get investment from overseas shareholders. Doing so would solve the problem that the conference was about (lack of capital and resources), but overseas connections and networks must be established first. Bringing more investment would allow more research and startups to flourish, in-turn allowing the NZ market to thrive.
Fredy Rojas
PhD Student, NZ College of Chiropractic
Attending HealthTech Week 2024 has been an incredibly enriching experience for me as a new Ph.D. student and data scientist. The conference offered a unique perspective on transforming cutting-edge research into commercial products, often through start-ups. Sir Ashley Bloomfield's speech was a standout, providing profound insights into leadership. He reminded us that 'stuff happens,' emphasizing resilience and the importance of navigating uncertainties with grace and determination. His focus on creating a collective purpose was inspiring, highlighting how uniting people around a shared goal can foster a sense of belonging and direction. Additionally, his observation that 'people remember how they feel' underscored the critical role of empathy in leadership. This reflection on his speech, combined with the opportunity to connect with a diverse group of professionals and hear firsthand accounts from industry leaders, has sparked new ideas for my research. The sessions and keynotes, including updates from health sector leaders, highlighted the importance of staying abreast of industry changes. Overall, HealthTech Week has deepened my knowledge and provided a supportive community essential for my Ph.D. journey.
Shikha Chaudhary
Lecturer, AUT
Health Tech Week 2024 provided a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow Early Career Researchers (ECRs) and industry partners. The well-thought-out program covered a range of topics, from leadership development to considerations for commercialization and effective funding strategies. Particularly enlightening were discussions on ensuring Māori-centered research practices throughout the process. Interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those experienced in funding opportunities, significantly enriched my understanding. It clarified the essential elements required for crafting proposals like RAP or pursuing larger grants such as those from the Neurological Foundation. Witnessing various startups' journeys and challenges added depth to the experience. Health Tech Week 2024 was a remarkable conference, and I eagerly anticipate the next one.
Nusratnaaz Shaikh
Senior Lecturer, AUT
Ruth McLaren
Research Officer and PhD Student, AUT
Thankyou to the The ABP team for the support to attend Health Tech Week 2024. I attended the Monday and Tuesday sessions. The highlight for me was the opportunity to hear from inspirational leaders in the NZ health tech scene. I was particularly inspired to see how ideas had come into fruition in the past two years, and hear about peoples journeys. It felt like there had been a lot of progress and it was exciting to see what is possible. I also really enjoyed the challenge set by Rewi Ropiha to give opportunities to unlock the Whanau voice and let Whanau be the architects of the service.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to attend this meeting. I made some great connections during the conference and in meet up’s afterwards that I’m very grateful for.
