Biomedical

Vision

Our vision is for Queensland to be a globally competitive Asia-Pacific biomedical industry hub by 2027.

The Queensland Biomedical 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan ( 605.5 KB) sets out how we are going to grow, support and attract biomedical enterprises over the next five years and beyond.

The roadmap is a future plan for how Queensland will:

• support a pipeline of local start-ups by facilitating access to required facilities and providing training to equip start-ups with the skills needed to succeed in the industry
• support existing businesses to grow by leveraging funding programs and innovation precincts and addressing supply chain gaps
• attract new businesses and international and interstate investment to Queensland.

Strengths

Queensland’s world-class biomedical ecosystem – boasting a wealth of cutting-edge biomedical companies and research institutions, established and emerging health precincts, world-class universities and a highly-skilled workforce – is going from strength to strength.

Queensland is home to a cluster of agile, innovative and entrepreneurial biomedical businesses.

Our pre-clinical and early-phase clinical trial capabilities are underpinned by sophisticated academic health translation research infrastructure.

Queensland is in an ideal position to continue to attract international companies and to build sovereign capability in areas such as the development, manufacture and delivery of vaccines.

We have:

• global expertise in tropical medicine and infectious diseases
• an educated, highly skilled workforce with access to world-class training facilities
• world-class research based within key innovation precincts
• high-value niche businesses supported by an established network of service providers
• expertise in e-health, comprehensive pathology information and telemedicine
• attractive location for clinical trials with sophisticated academic health translation research infrastructure
• access to and shared time zones with high-growth markets in the Asia-Pacific region
• home of Australia's leading biopharmaceutical contract manufacturer.

Why invest in Queensland’s biomedical sector

Innovative and highly skilled workforce

• Knowledge corridor, with dozens of innovation-led organisations.
• 12 research-focused universities, with five in the world’s top 500.
• World-class training, teaching and research facilities.
• Highly skilled workforce with strong technical and academic collaboration.
• Over two decades of state government investment in science and innovation.
• Superior scientific talent and excellent research and medical infrastructure.

Industry support and incentives

• Fast, pragmatic regulatory pathway with rapid ethics approval.
• Clinical data complies with top international standards.
• Very competitive business costs.
• Low payroll tax, high exemption threshold (A$1.3 million).
• Stable economic and political environment and the most decentralised of mainland Australian states.
• Over 27 years of economic growth in Queensland and Australia.

Stability and economic growth

• Higher annual growth rate than the rest of Australia
• AA+ / Aa1 / AA credit rating and AA ESG rating
• Exports to almost 200 countries

Lifestyle

• Enviable, relaxed lifestyle and world-famous natural attractions.
• Lowest median house price in a capital city on the east coast.
• Average of 300 days of sunshine annually.

Recent achievements

• Delivered the pilot Translation and Commercialisation Skills Gap Program (TACSGP) in partnership with Brandon BioCatalyst between February and May 2024.
• Coordinated a Queensland Industry delegation of 100 delegates from 57 organisations to the BIO International Convention held in San Diego, United States in June 2024.
• Ran a fourth round of the Queensland Biomedical Business Attraction Program (QBBAP), with four successful recipients announced in September 2024.
• Partnered with seven Queensland biomedical entities to exhibit at the AusBiotech National Conference held in Melbourne in October 2024.
• Co-hosted—with Life Sciences Queensland—an industry panel and networking breakfast during AusBiotech 2024 for 140 international, national and Queensland life sciences delegates.

Industry support and attraction incentives

Translational Science Hub

In 2022, the Queensland Government, Sanofi, The University of Queensland and Griffith University announced a $280 million partnership to establish the Global Translational Science Hub (TSH), a first-of-its-kind vaccine global research hub, in Queensland. The TSH will bring more expertise, supply-chain capabilities and clinical investigations to Queensland.

A Statement of Cooperation entered into by the foundational partners sets out the strategic intention to collectively catalyse the growth of Queensland’s biomedical ecosystem and maximise its potential economic uplift. Through the Statement of Cooperation, the partners are working together to secure the ecosystem benefits of the TSH. A Biomedical Ecosystem Strategy has been developed to capture the potential of Queensland’s biomedical ecosystem.

BIO 2024

In 2024, approximately 100 Queensland delegates from 57 organisations attended the annual BIO International Convention in San Diego, California. BIO2024 was attended by more than 18,500 industry leaders from across the globe. The Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning (DSDIP) coordinated the Queensland delegation with support from Trade and Investment Queensland.

At the world's largest international event in biotechnology, ‘Team Queensland’ worked in collaboration with other Australian state governments and national and federal organisations to promote a Team Australia approach through the Australian stand, national events and marketing collateral.

National and Queensland facilitated events included a predeparture event at Queensland’s Parliament House, the Global Australia event, Queensland Welcome Reception, Australian Pavilion Networking event and the Queensland Investment Roundtable.

The Queensland delegation was co-led by Professor Scott Bell, Chief Executive Officer of the Translational Research Institute and Michele Bauer Deputy Director-General in the Department.

Queensland's life sciences sector made a considerable impact, leveraging the ‘Team Queensland’ and ‘Team Australia’ approach to showcase Queensland’s biomedical capabilities.

Queensland delegates have registered positive feedback on promising business and investment leads and future deals from attending BIO2024. The importance of BIO as a relationship-building and global networking event was also highlighted, with delegates valuing the opportunity to connect with international and industry partners.

The BIO International Conference is considered a key international event annually, with many Queensland delegates indicating a strong interest in attending BIO2025 due to its value proposition from an individual business and broader industry ecosystem perspective.

Translation and Commercialisation Skills Gap Program

The pilot Translation and Commercialisation Skills Gap program was a strategic collaboration between the Queensland Government and Brandon BioCatalyst, Australasia’s leading life science venture capital firm. It was developed to accelerate the commercialisation of new medical breakthroughs and technologies in Queensland.

12 companies and leaders were selected to participate in a four-part workshop series on topics ranging from business planning and grants, clinical development pathways, regulatory strategies, and partnering and capital raising, in preparation for attendance at BIO 2024. 5 selected companies had the opportunity to present an investment pitch whilst at BIO 2024.

The wider Queensland biomedical ecosystem was able to access seminars delivered under the program to help prepare for the translation of products, engage with regulatory agencies, frameworks and pathways, learn about clinical translation, and understand the importance of company formation, governance, and fundraising to build a sustainable business for the future. These challenges were identified by industry in the development of the Queensland Biomedical 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan ( 605.5 KB).

Queensland Biomedical Business Attraction Program

The Queensland Biomedical Business Attraction Program is a key initiative of the Queensland Biomedical 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan. It's designed to attract interstate and international biomedical industry to access Queensland’s biomedical capabilities.

This program is currently closed.

Other industry support

We’re helping Queensland biomedical small-to-medium businesses like yours find funding and support to help you grow. Assistance programs are often designed to be accessed throughout different stages of the business lifecycle, so you can find the right opportunity for your business.

Find out more about Team Queensland or read the why Queensland brochure ( 2.2 MB) to find out more about how we support Queensland businesses in the biomedical sector.

If you are unable to find the support you need in our industry support directory, please contact us.

Industry highlights

View more biomedical-related news and stories.