The program, known as the notus Emergency Invasive Ventilator Program, has secured financial support from the Federal and Victorian Governments and the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre.

The impact of COVID-19 has put considerable strain on the global supply chain for ventilators. Grey Innovation is heading a consortium that has secured licence rights to manufacture locally ventilators based on designs from a leading medical device company, and will seek to produce the ventilators in Victoria as rapidly as possible. It is expected that manufacturing activities will commence in June 2020 once feasibility studies have been completed and local manufacturers and suppliers of all of the necessary components have been selected and engaged.

The ventilators produced through this initiative will be used in Australian hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients suffering from severe respiratory symptoms associated with the virus.

“Victoria’s high concentration of engineering and manufacturing companies means we’re well placed to develop the ventilators quickly, and Grey Innovation is proud to be leading the effort,” Grey Innovation Executive Chair Jefferson Harcourt said in a statement.

MinterEllison is proud to be involved in this critical initiative aimed at preserving human lives threatened by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program has been a wonderful example of private companies, government and a range of technical, legal and commercial advisors working together to achieve an important goal for the benefit of the Australian public. Our support to date has involved input from a wide range of specialists throughout the firm, who have provided practical and outcomes-focussed advice in compressed timeframes given the urgent nature of the program.

Kylie Diwell, lead partner said "This is one of the most important matters I have been involved in as a lawyer. It is incredible how the Victorian Government, and local manufacturers, have joined forces with Grey Innovation to make this a reality. All of us at MinterEllison are very proud to be supporting Grey Innovation in delivering these life saving ventilators to the Australian community."

MinterEllison’s team is led by Kylie Diwell (Partner), with support from James Hutton (Partner), Joseph Pace (Partner), Geoff Carter (Partner), Peter Block (Partner), Matthew Missaghi (Partner), Adrian Varrasso (Partner), Jonathan Kelp (Partner), Nicole Reid (Special Counsel), Tom Faulls (Senior Associate), Alex Persano (Lawyer) and Will Richards (Lawyer).