What's On

Cicada Innovations celebrates a quarter of a century as Australia’s home of deep tech, and we’re marking the milestone with a world-fair style expo and celebration at our HQ! A once-in-a-generation showcase where our community; past and present - joins with the broader ecosystem to celebrate Australian deep tech. Not just a party, but a living exhibition of the people and technologies shaping the next 25 years. What to Expect: Deep Tech Demo Zone Founder Forums Careers Fair Investor Connections Tech Tours Networking & Celebration

"Making Your Story Stick: Getting Supported and Funded as a Clinical Innovator" is a 2-half-day workshop, and a hands-on format where participants will develop their elevator pitch and generate a communication strategy for their innovation. Are you a health innovator with a brilliant idea, but struggle to find the right words, the right audience, or the right funding? Wondering what the tips and pitfalls are in telling your story? Join us on a 2-half-day workshop, facilitated by David Leahy, WE Communications, joined by healthtech founders, investors and communication strategists to tell you exactly what they want to hear from your clinical innovation.

Reach your potential with Elevate. You’ve got the idea, run the experiments, maybe even built a prototype. Now it’s time to validate the market, shape your business model, and build momentum. Cicada’s Elevate programs are intensive workshops for deep tech founders ready to move beyond the lab. Over a short time and in a fast-paced environment, you’ll pressure-test your thinking with experts, refine your value proposition, and build a strategy for commercialisation. You’ll walk away with investor connections and a clear path to real-world traction.

Over three days (4th - 6th November) you’ll learn how to set up a successful and sustainable health tech business. From getting started and business basics to understanding company structures and building a team, Business Fundamentals will provide you with a solid foundation for your future endeavours. You’ll gain valuable insights from experts in law, finance, communications, sales, and investment and learn how to apply their expertise to your venture.

Stride is a 6-month intensive program tailored for ambitious space, aerospace, and defence dual-use ventures so they can supercharge their commercialisation journey.

The NSW Health Commercialisation Training Program, run by Cicada Innovations, has been designed by industry experts to help you maximise the impact of your health innovation and successfully commercialise your technology. ​This online info session will focus on: The different programs on offer, Who the workshops are for & prerequisites, How to apply, and an overview of the content that you will learn. Alex Vellere, Program Manager - Health, will be open to answer all your burning possible questions.

An exciting opportunity for clinicians, researchers, and health tech founders to gain invaluable insights and personalised advice from a distinguished panel of Mentors, Investors, and Funders.

This course is delivered in partnership with Mark Flynn (Global Edge Medtech Consulting) who holds 14 patent families, has commercialised 30+ medical devices and raised $50M+ in grant funding.
Participants will walk away with crucial knowledge of their sector, connections to industry experts, and gain feedback from mentors on their product and business. 

Course Dates: 3 - 5 March 2026
Applications close: 13 Feb 2026

This course is delivered in partnership with ANDHealth, Australia's National Digital Health Initiative.

Participants will walk away with crucial knowledge of their sector, connections to industry experts, and gain feedback from mentors on their product and business. 

Dates: 17-19 March 2026
Applications close: 27 Feb 2026

This course is delivered in partnership with Australia's peak industry body representing manufacturers and importers of diagnostics, Pathology Technology Australia.
Participants will walk away with crucial knowledge of their sector, connections to industry experts, and gain feedback from mentors on their product and business.

Dates: 21 -23 April 2026
Applications Close: 3 April 2026 

This course is delivered in partnership with the Sydney Pharmacy School, one of the leading centres for pharmacy education in Australia, with an international reputation for research and innovation.
This 3 day course will dig deep into therapeutics and pharmaceuticals, covering distinct challenges and opportunities in this specialisation and ensure that you are aware of the important nuances.

Dates: 5 - 7 May 2026
Applications close: 17th April 2026

Stride is a 6-month bespoke coaching program where you set the goals and we help you to get there. With a coach and mentors by your side and a desk at Cicada HQ, you will have dedicated time and support to work towards those important next milestones.

Stride is a 6-month coaching program where you set the goals and we help you to get there. We help you to adapt your deep technology to solve challenges in agriculture and the grains industry. Our expert-in-residence will guide and coach you on the agriculture value chain and how to translate and integrate your technology for commercial adoption.

Every team's pathway and goals are different, so the Stride program is tailored to precisely what you are your team are seeking to achieve.

Stride is a 6-month bespoke commercialisation coaching program for high potential heath tech teams and startups. With the help of a dedicated expert and supported by industry mentors, you refine your strategy, set goals and we help you to get there faster.