The new strategic partnership between WearOptimo and Canberra-based Aspen Medical will take Australian-designed microwearable sensors to the world market.

These microwearable sensors, developed by Brisbane-based company WearOptimo, are capable of giving the wearer an instant read-out of body water or hydration level by tapping into the wealth of information found just below the skin.

The sensors cost just a few dollars each, and can be manufactured in bulk. Versions of the device can monitor not only a person’s hydration, but also assist in the early diagnosis of heart attack or sense inflammatory markers which are critical in responding to infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

Development of the company’s core technology required extensive use of a variety of ANFF sites, relying on ANFF’s experts and equipment at the University of Queensland, the Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication, the Australian National University, and at UNSW over the years.

On the announcement of the new partnership, Professor Mark Kendall, the company’s founder explained that the plan now is to manufacture within Australia, creating local jobs, and export globally with the help of Aspen Medical.

‚ÄúThe global medical device market is a tough one for small players. Our plan is to meet that through outstanding ideas and ‘wall-to-wall’ excellence in people, technology, and capital. Australia is already a world leader in medical devices, and our goal is to build on that reputation,‚Äù he said.

On hearing about this significant deal, ANFF CEO Ian Griffiths said: ‚ÄúThis is a fantastic result to see, but not an unexpected one. WearOptimo’s technology is revolutionary, and Aspen Medical are a fantastic company that will help bring this life-changing technology to those that need it most.

‚ÄúIt’s a textbook example of what can happen when Australia backs its researchers – with the right support, fledgling projects turn into products that could save lives, and the business built around them generates economic opportunities and creates jobs.

“We at ANFF are delighted to have played a role in helping Mark and the WearOptimo team get to here, and will do all we can to help them go the rest of the way to market.”

Read the release here.

Read ANFF’s casestudy on WearOptimo here.