cluster are : know your region ’ s strengths , be aware of changes , see threats as opportunities and take an active role in helping like-minded parts of the ecosystem combine resources to achieve shared goals .
In 2020 , we had explored five of the seven sectors in depth and turned our attention to Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals ( MTP ). Given the Hunter ’ s competitive strength in this area which is delivered through the right combination of medical excellence at both clinical and research levels , its world leading research and innovation capability and precincts , and it ’ s advanced manufacturing prowess , we examined the potential to establish an industry network to leverage this advantage by building connectivity within the existing ecosystem .
So , together with the local AiGroup , we engaged with a small , diverse group of the region ’ s known MTP industry contributors to help us better understand ( a ) the need for an initiative of this nature and ( b ) their appetite for being involved .
Large and high-calibre companies like Whiteley Corporation and Jurox – mainstays of the Hunter ’ s MTP sector - pledged their time and support while mature and well-respected companies like Ampcontrol , that had taken the leap into new and different product manufacture during the first wave of COVID-19 , recognised the value of information exchange and collaboration to advance and diversify the region ’ s economy and attract new business opportunities .
Given the Hunter ’ s size and tightknit community , news travels , and we were approached by other organisations such as NSW Health Pathology , the world ’ s largest provider of patient point of care testing , the University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute , keen to be involved .
As well as overwhelming support for the concept and strong interest in participating , this initial group provided insights into the Hunter ’ s MTP corporate neighbourhood , exemplars of national and international MTP clusters that we could look to for advice , and experts with whom we should connect . They also agreed that an industry-led , industry first approach would achieve the commercial outcomes they sought .
RDA Hunter had formed a warm association with Professor Roy Green , long-term , world renowned advocate of industry clusters as a way of modernising and diversifying economies , during development of our Smart Specialisation Strategy in 2015 . Prior to the second meeting of our newly formed group , we sought Prof Green ’ s expert opinion to test our thinking and guide our planning .
Professor Green is Chair of the Port of Newcastle , former Chair of the Federal Government ’ s Innovative Regions Centre , CSIRO Manufacturing Sector Advisory Council and NSW Manufacturing Council , and has served on the Prime Minister ’ s Manufacturing Taskforce . He is widely published on the topic of industry clusters as drivers of economic growth , and is quoted as saying that the Hunter has huge potential for further growth as it diversifies its skills base in collaboration with the University of Newcastle and the Hunter Medical Research Institute .
Buoyed by Professor Green ’ s support and thankful for his ongoing guidance , RDA Hunter started the journey to understand , map and develop the region ’ s MTP industry base through , what we first dubbed , The Hunter Central Coast MTP Industry Network . We canvassed widely , and built connections with governments at all levels , our Central Coast counterparts and the national industry growth centres .
Our next steps centred on communication , listening , creating opportunities to get together , and learning from our subject matter experts .
Once we had sufficient evidence of genuine interest , we knew we had to better understand the Hunter ’ s advantage . What made us a viable contributor in MTP ?
Figure 1 : Ecosystem composition
As those in regional areas can attest , data and statistics that prove regional capability can be difficult to source - and the Hunter ’ s MTP industry base , we discovered , was no different . The only solution , and the essential means by which other notable global regions like Massachusetts , Stoke-on-Trent and Germany ’ s Mittelstand investigated their competitive strengths , Professor Green urged , was via a sector mapping exercise . Again , we eagerly accepted expert advice and developed a capability audit : quite simply , a set of electronically accessible questions that we disseminated to our known MTP contacts , who in turn sent it to their networks and so on .
The results of this exercise were both enlightening and uplifting . Mark Flynn assisted us to find real insights into the strengths of the region ’ s MTP sector : employees , skills , capabilities , collaborations and markets . The audit introduced us to a larger and more diverse set of businesses that were working under the ‘ loose ’ MTP banner . More excitingly still , we discovered that the majority of these businesses were interested in joining the groundswell of interest that our network was quickly gathering .
At about this time , we also became aware that our name , The Hunter Central Coast MTP Industry Network , was a little cumbersome ! It was time for something shorter and cleverer . We considered a few options , but again with Professor Green ’ s wise counsel , settled on MedTeCCH – incorporating the CCH for Central Coast Hunter . It stuck , and some simple awareness building collateral followed – www . medtecch . org . au and socials profiles .
The final part of the first phase in constructing a new regional industry cluster is arguably the most important . With the leadership of Chair of RDA Hunter , Mr John Turner , the Board backed the appointment of a dedicated Project Lead .
Phase Two became telling our regional story . We had some of the data we needed to start promoting that the region has a viable MTP sector , eager to engage and grow , but we needed to gather the backstory . What is it about the Hunter ’ s workforce , industrial history and business environment that completes the picture for an investor looking at a location to conduct its MTP business ?
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