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24 November 2011. In a major medical breakthrough, an Australian company has developed the world’s first commercial 3D bioprinter, helping organisations working on tissue construction and organ replacement.

Start-up company Organovo and Melbourne based Invetech were last night awarded the Engineering Innovation Award, which is sponsored by the Australian Government’s AusIndustry.

Congratulating Organovo and Invetech, Minister?for Innovation Senator Kim Carr said that their success showed the power of innovation and its ability to have a real impact on human life.

"The Engineering Innovation Award recognises a project’s potential contribution to the national economy and the impact of its R&D. I congratulate Invetech and Organovo," Senator Carr said.

"AusIndustry sponsors this award to promote and reward world-leading innovation. This sort of creativity is vital to Australia’s future. It drives the economy, creates new opportunities and high wage, high skill jobs.

"Invetech and Organovo are a great example of what innovation can do. For decades the goal of tissue engineers has been to advance beyond simple cell cultures to creating three-dimensional organs. This partnership took just nine months to solve these engineering challenges and design, develop, manufacture and ship the world’s first commercial 3D bioprinter.

"Australia has world-class research and creative, clever firms. This is a potent combination and the Australian Government is investing more than ever before to use these strengths to drive innovation and secure Australia’s long term prosperity."

The Australian Engineering Excellence Awards were held last night in Canberra.