More new jobs for SA as medical device manufacturer establishes in Adelaide

A start-up company that has developed a breakthrough technology that will greatly improve the efficiency and accuracy of pre-clinical medical research will establish its development and manufacturing operations at Tonsley, creating 48 new jobs.

Somark is being supported by a State Government grant from the Early Stage Commercialisation Fund and loans drawn down when employment milestones are reached and maintained. The 48 new hi-tech, high value positions will be filled in Adelaide over the next three years, and will help expand SA’s fast-growing life sciences ecosystem.

Somark will base its operations in Adelaide, with a continued presence in Sydney, London, Boston and San Diego.

Background

Somark is developing the Somark Ecosystem, an integrated end-to-end pre-clinical management system utilising visual identification, micro-RFID (radio-frequency identification) technology, data readers, data hubs and software that aggregates and analyses data. The system’s design creates connectivity between test animals and the systems that record and analyse the data, reducing human intervention and potential for error. This breakthrough requires fewer test animals and conducts trials faster.

The Somark Ecosystem will be valuable to pharmaceutical and biotech companies, academics, and research organisations around the world. Somark’s initial technology is already used in the US, Europe and Asia.

The new technologies being developed in Adelaide will be commercialised globally in partnership with major international organisations.

Somark is partnering with another Tonsley tenant, Hydrix, to complete the development of the system.

Tonsley Innovation District brings together education, research and industry on a 61-hectare site dedicated to medical device manufacturing, cleantech, software, and mining.

Minister for Health Industries Jack Snelling

This is another win for South Australian jobs and Somark’s presence will undoubtedly strengthen the medical device manufacturing hub the government is building at Tonsley.

Companies like Somark are moving to Adelaide because we’re delivering the right environment: great facilities, talented staff and a government that understands what business needs.

The government is continuing to expand Adelaide’s life sciences’ sector, delivering hi-tech, high value jobs in the transformation of the state’s economy.

Marco Baccanti, Chief Executive of Health Industries South Australia

Health Industries South Australia saw that Somark would be a great addition to Adelaide’s growing life sciences community and is helping the company establish at Tonsley.

We identified the company’s needs, connected them with local partners, and helped deliver financial support from government.

Adrian Knight, CEO of Somark Innovations

We chose Tonsley because it’s a real community that’s been developed by the government for hi-end manufacturing and development, housing companies just like us.

Dealing with Health Industries South Australia was easy and efficient. They sat down with us, found out what we needed and helped deliver it.

I’m looking forward to our collaboration with SAHMRI, gaining insight from their research experience to help continue to develop and refine the Somark Ecosystem.

Anthony Skeats, General Manager Hydrix SA

We established at Tonsley because we could see the potential of a hi-tech community of like-minded companies.

Tonsley’s a really attractive place and we look forward to helping grow its ecosystem.