Toukan Labs

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Australia is first step on global expansion journey for UK healthcare innovator

Country: Australia

A UK IT company with operations in Australia is poised for further global expansion after developing new software designed to help save the sight of people affected by Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of blindness in the over 50s.

ToukanLabs, which has bases in London, Paris, Canberra and Sydney, is collaborating with institutions including the Centre for Eye Research Australia to develop OpenEyes, an ophthalmology application that compiles patient data from different sources to give clinicians a better overview of AMD’s progression, supporting improved clinical decision making and patient outcomes.

In another example of how the UK brings innovation to life, the company wants to take OpenEyes into more than 20 countries over the next five years, including in Asia-Pacific, North America and Europe.

Harnessing the power of innovation to meet the needs of an ageing society is a key part of UK government’s long-term Industrial Strategy, as well as a growing challenge globally.

The business was founded in 2008 and expanded to Australia after getting backing from the UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT), which helped with initial market research, support to attend trade shows and introductions to potential partners and customers

Within three years ToukanLab’s Australian operation was outperforming its UK business, accounting for the majority of global revenues.

An eye for international markets

Clayton Blake, director of ToukanLabs, said: “Australia was an opportunity for us because the health market was growing and it’s extremely similar to the UK in many aspects – there’s no language barrier and the regulatory systems are very alike.

“DIT’s support was critical to our success in the Australian market. Setting up in Australia didn’t just help us grow, it has given us experience of operating in a new market which prepares us for further expansion into other areas of the world.

“We’re working on the cutting edge of technology, using AI to help prevent significant numbers of people going blind, and there’s a huge market for that.”

The £5 million turnover business has previously developed ophthalmology software that enables more efficient eye surgery booking and diagnosis, which is used in hospitals across the UK.

Now it believes OpenEyes can have a huge impact around the world, with the potential to save more than £40million a year on medication costs in the UK alone by detecting AMD in its early stages.

Clayton Blake added: “The UK is playing a pioneering role in the future of ophthalmology, which makes it the ideal environment for developing our technology.

“It’s an exciting time for ToukanLabs and we couldn’t have achieved what we have without the support of the DIT team in both the UK and Australia.”

The UK Government’s Department for International Trade (DIT) helps connect international buyers with UK goods and services to meet their needs, supports overseas companies to locate and grow in the UK, drives both inward and outward investment, negotiates market access and trade deals, and champions free trade.