STRATEGIC PLAN
1 July 2025 – 30 June 2028
BHVI acknowledges all First Nations peoples across the many lands in which we live and work and the continuing connection to country and culture. We pay our respects to Elders, past, present and emerging.
BACKGROUND
BHVI is a not-for-profit research and development organisation working in the ophthalmic space.
BHVI’s primary focus is on exploiting its innovative patent portfolio through IP licenses, development and licensing of designs protected by its patents and the prosecution of patent infringement.
BHVI is a company limited by guarantee, incorporated in Australia. Regulated by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. Its identified charity programs are as follows:
- Ophthalmic R&D in myopia, presbyopia, astigmatism (Diseases and conditions)
- Clinical and metrology services to support R&D technology development (Diseases and conditions).
- Optometry education and knowledge (Higher education)
The assets and income of BHVI are applied solely towards the promotion and furtherance of the objects of the Company as set out in its Constitution. Since its inception three decades ago, it has invested its revenues – which have exceeded AUD265 million – into research and development, and has built a significant asset portfolio to ensure its long-term viability.
The BHVI Group consists of three active corporate entities: Brien Holden Vision Institute Ltd and two wholly owned subsidiaries, Vision CRC (USA) Inc (a company incorporated in California) and Vision CRC Limited (an Australian company).
BHVI is affiliated with the Brien Holden Foundation, which provides eye health services to remote, regional and disadvantaged communities in Australia, PNG and Asia (funded by Australian Government and other organisations). BHVI provides the Brien Holden Foundation with direct financial support and in-kind support through the provision of staff, premises and administrative assistance.
PURPOSE
BHVI owns a globally significant patent portfolio in the ophthalmic field. BHVI exploits its portfolio by developing innovative lens designs that address common refractive errors: presbyopia, myopia (near-sightedness), astigmatism and hyperopia (far-sightedness).
BHVI:
- innovates by developing contact lens and spectacle lens designs and by protecting its inventions through multi-jurisdictional patenting;
- works with its industry partners to validate the wearability and efficacy of its design technologies through independent clinical trials;
- licenses its design and patent technologies to the market leaders in the ophthalmic industry.
- supports its partners to achieve their commercial objectives.
BHVI shares its knowledge and expertise by supporting the International Myopia Institute, working with the ophthalmic industry on educating practitioners and collaborating with its affiliate, the University of New South Wales.
VALUES
- BHVI focuses exclusively on innovation in the ophthalmic sector.
- BHVI protects its novel lens design technologies.
- BHVI pursues patent infringement.
- BHVI works with its partners in the ophthalmic sector to support their commercial objectives and promote licensed technologies.
KEY SERVICE PROVIDER: VISION CRC (USA) INC
BHVI engages Vision CRC USA to enhance its intellectual property portfolio, develop prototypes of innovative lens designs that address myopia, presbyopia and astigmatism, and transfer technologies to BHVI’s industry partners.
BHVI R&D STRATEGY
Since 2019, BHVI has enhanced its intellectual property portfolio by protecting new presbyopia, myopia and single vision designs in the contact lens, spectacles and IOL fields. It has successfully licensed a new generation of ophthalmic lens designs that use laterally separated optics and optical features to maximize the performance of the lens by achieving improved image quality and greater depth of focus.
BHVI deploys its expertise in myopia management to educate the next generation of eyecare professionals. Through its support of the International Myopia Institute and Review of Myopia Management and targeted initiatives like Myopia Awareness Week, BHVI highlights the prevalence of the myopia epidemic and the urgent need for widely available, effective treatments.
Building on the landmark publication “Global prevalence of myopia and high myopia and temporal trends from 2000 through 2050” [Ophthalmology 2016;123(5):1036-1042, Holden, Fricke et al], BHVI is committed to exploring all aspects of the myopia epidemic and sharing its research findings with industry, the academic community, and the public at large.
BHVI CORPORATE STRATEGIC SUPPORT
BHVI’s corporate arm supports the research & development strategy by providing legal/regulatory, financial management, governance and compliance services. The legal/regulatory environment for a not for profit is highly regulated with rigorous reporting requirements. Continuous improvement is required to manage the business-as-usual activities of the organisation.
Asset management is critical to the sustainability and growth of the organisation and ensuring the R&D investment is continuously available year on year. BHVI’s assets consist of intellectual property, cash and a property portfolio.
The four corporate objectives of BHVI are:
OBJECTIVE 1: Enhance the value of BHVI’s intellectual property portfolio in the ophthalmic field.
- Support partners who have licensed BHVI’s lens designs and intellectual property to achieve their commercial objectives.
- License innovative lens designs, including EDOF contact lens designs and myopia control spectacles, to BHVI’s ophthalmic industry partners. Work with partners to validate the wearability and efficacy of those designs.
- Write new claims out of existing intellectual property to better exploit its value.
- Pursue apparent infringements of the intellectual property portfolio.
OBJECTIVE 2: Maintain scientific reputation in the field of myopia
- Actively support the International Myopia Institute and foster close relationships with leading research groups and opinion leaders worldwide. Partner with Review of Myopia Management on scientific content and annual Myopia Awareness Week.
- Launch the next generation of the BHVI myopia calculator with peer reviewed data and partner data sets.
- Support the Brien Holden Foundation to deliver myopia management technologies to remote and regional First Nations communities in New South Wales and the Northern Territory.
OBJECTIVE 3: Operate with financial discipline by balancing the short-term and long-term funding of BHVI and maximising BHVI’s revenue in support of its objectives
- Generate an annual budget based upon conservative assumptions and ensure adherence to that budget. Create 3-year revenue projections to balance the short and long term revenue.
- Strengthen and broaden BHVI’s commercialisation expertise in order to maximise the potential returns on intellectual property.
- Actively manage the IP portfolio through continuous engagement with external patent attorneys and experts.
- Support existing licensees and maximise returns from current license agreements.
OBJECTIVE 4: Use the resources of BHVI in the most efficient and effective manner in pursuit of its stated objects and in order to maintain its not-for-profit status
- Through continuous engagement with external legal and compliance experts, ensure that BHVI meets rigorous not-for-profit reporting requirements and corporate governance standards.
- Continuously develop organisational policies and procedures and make them readily accessible so that staff operate within an industry-standard corporate framework.
- Through staff recruitment and technical/business training, ensure BHVI (and its subsidiaries) has the expertise that it needs to support its objectives.
- Enhance the capability of BHVI’s organisational structure through the definition of roles, implementation of accountability measures and the appointment of people that align to the strategic plan.