ASTN, ESSA partner to drive innovation in sportstech

Australian Sports Technologies Network (ASTN) and Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that outlines a collaboration to jointly promote and support industry engagement — helping ‘connect the dots’ by linking startups to the wider sporting community, and facilitating innovation, opportunities and growth. Beyond the joint promotion of events, ASTN and ESSA will drive collaboration between sportstech startups and ESSA’s large member base which includes practitioners like accredited exercise physiologists, accredited exercise scientists, accredited sports scientists and accredited high performance managers.

Doctor Martin Schlegel, Director and Board Member of ASTN, said this partnership will enable sportstech entrepreneurs to connect with ESSA’s practitioners to get real-world feedback, which can be critical when validating new technologies as part of the commercialisation process. “ESSA’s large member base knowledge is invaluable to our early-stage startups, entrepreneurs, founders and researchers — it will help facilitate local sportstech startup success and build the future of sport for everyone,” Schlegel said.

ESSA represents Australian exercise and sports science professionals, academics and researchers, supporting its members, accredited professionals and the community to improve the health and performance of all Australians. ASTN supports local sportstech entrepreneurs with an opportunity to bring their innovative technology-based product ideas for application in sport to market.

“As global leaders in world-class sports technology and innovation, ASTN is a natural fit in helping us provide our members with exposure to the latest technology and cutting-edge ideas. Through this partnership we look forward to driving further innovation and capabilities in the sport sector,” said Anita Hobson-Powell, CEO of ESSA.

ASTN has an existing partnership with the Queensland Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport (DTIS) through its flagship program ActiveKIT, which supports innovative solutions within the active industry to increase physical activity participation of Queenslanders.

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