2024 MAIC Qld Student Bionics Challenge Gets Underway

Aspiring innovators across Queensland who are still studying at university now have a chance to win critical funding to help accelerate their project, thanks to the 2024 MAIC Queensland Student Bionics Challenge organised by Bionics Gamechangers Australia.

Bionics Gamechangers Australia CEO, Dr Robyn Stokes said the Challenge was particularly exciting as the state edges closer to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane, with the call-out for entrants with great ideas for bionic-medtech innovations that uplift participation in parasports and everyday life.

“Together with our major partner, MAIC Queensland, we are inviting Queensland’s latest crop of university students – whether they are at undergraduate, honours, masters or PhD level – to enter with their ‘new to the world’ idea, or improvement in the design and end-user benefits of a bionic device, implant or treatment,” said Dr Stokes.

“The Challenge’s cash prizes and dedicated mentoring program will help students progress their big ideas through early-stage research, design and testing, to the end goal of regulatory approval and commercialisation.”

Now in its second year, the 2024 MAIC Queensland Student Bionics has seen awards given to life-changing novel technologies including a brain-powered below-elbow prosthetic; a cough assistance device for people with spinal injury; and a device for jaw rehabilitation following accident or trauma.

Insurance Commissioner, Mr Neil Singleton said support from MAIC Qld for this Challenge would stimulate new ideas and in turn, new and improved bionic devices, implants and treatments, giving hope to Queenslanders living with disability as a result of road accidents.

“We are proud to support this Bionics Gamechangers Australia event which ultimately enables new technologies to be developed to fast track the rehabilitation of those whose lives have been disrupted by traumatic events or intractable health condition,” said Mr Singleton.

Entries for the 2024 MAIC Queensland Student Bionics Challenge are now open, with applications closing on Monday, 16 September 2024.