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7 Nov 2025, by Amy Sarcevic
The Monash Technology Precinct (MTP), located outside of Melbourne’s Central Business District, is one of the largest innovation and employment clusters in the world.
Home to CSIRO, the Victorian Heart Hospital, Moderna’s mRNA manufacturing facility – and with Monash University at its core – the Precinct is a leader in health innovation and is driving reform in diagnostics and treatment across a range of chronic diseases.
Over the past five years, Monash University-developed IP has given rise to 101 spinouts, 181 startups and 151 licensed deals, while its spinouts have attracted $1.55 billion in external investment since 2015.
What is behind the precinct’s success?
Ahead of the National Health & Innovation Precincts Summit, we spoke with the University’s Senior Director Ben Vivekanandan to learn more.
Major investment
In the last decade, MTP has undergone significant change, with almost $1.5 billion annual investment into research and infrastructure, with further investments into education and health projects.
Last year saw the launch of a Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre node, along with the mRNA workforce training centre, which, provides education across the mRNA vaccine and therapeutics pipeline.
This year the University announced a $60 M investment in MAVERIC, an Australian-first AI supercomputer built in collaboration with NVIDIA and Dell to accelerate medical research.
Most recently, the University launched the Velos Accelerator – a hub for healthcare innovation focussed on cardiovascular, kidney and metabolic diseases.
“These investments are a testament to the University’s commitment to social and technological transformation,” Ben said.
Effective land use planning
The investments are also underpinned by University master-planning, which integrates Clayton campus with its immediate surroundings, in conjunction with state and local government planning.
This, and MTP’s land use planning and zoning activities, have been formally recognised by the Global Institute for Innovation Districts (GIID). They acknowledge the integration of land through MTP’s governance structure creates an offering which “far surpasses institutional buildings […]”.
“The high concentration of talent, R&D infrastructure, strategic spatial planning, and proximity to urban landmarks has created an ecosystem where collaboration can thrive,” Ben said.
Soon the precinct will also benefit from two new Suburban Rail Loop stations, which Ben says will further improve access and support the Precinct’s growth trajectory.
“We have worked with partners to create high-quality environments that support education, research and enterprise – both on the Clayton campus itself and within the Precinct,” he said.
Liveability
Alongside this, the district is liveable and connected, with an emphasis on community wellbeing and social impact.
It is home to large-scale performing arts and sports facilities, childcare services, the Turner clinics that translate clinical research in mental health support in the community and spaces for cultural and civic engagement.
“It supports people as much as enterprise,” Ben said. “It does so by prioritising green spaces and community activation, including student experiences on campus and in the local community, that support social connectedness and mental wellbeing.
“Offering a liveable place is a crucial part of the strategy to retain and nurture the large talent pipeline (students and workers) in the Precinct.”
Real world impact
The precinct is also focussed on impact, with its healthcare innovations targeting people across the globe.
To help it get there, medical research institutes in the Precinct employ more than 1000 academics, train more than 500 PhD students, and span disciplines such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and metabolism. Neuroscience, mental health and immunity, and regenerative medicine are also notable areas.
Currently, its researchers are shedding light on the molecular basis of health and disease, with these insights driving treatment innovation. They are developing novel therapeutics to combat untreatable muscle disorders, infectious and inflammatory lung diseases and treatment of the immune disease Lupus.
The Precinct is also leading new care and treatment models for mental health issues and sleep; and major clinical trials bringing patients new treatments such as for life-threatening high cholesterol.
New medical devices, such as non-invasive alternatives to the EpiPen, have also been developed in the MTP.
“We are focussed on those ground-breaking, mission-oriented discoveries which will improve the health of millions of people around the world,” Ben said.
Further insight
Sharing more on what makes The Monash Technology Precinct successful and its plans for the future, Ben will speak at the National Health & Innovation Precincts Summit.
This year’s event will be held 2-3 December in Melbourne, with a Discovery Day on 1 December.
Learn more and register your tickets here.
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