Queensland’s Biomedical Future
Queensland’s Biomedical Future
"By 2027, Queensland will be a regionally integrated and globally competitive Asia-Pacific biomedical industry hub recognised for its excellence in biomedical innovation, highly skilled professional workforce, and world-leading translational biomedical research facilities."
These were the first words of the 2017 Queensland Biomedical 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan, setting out the aims and objectives for the sector in Queensland for the next 10 years.
Five years on we’ve reached the halfway point, and have just launched a refreshed roadmap to reflect the changes to the industry that have occurred since its release, including the growth of the local industry and the impacts of COVID-19.
The refreshed roadmap highlights our successes in enhancing existing industry strengths and making the most of new opportunities, positioning our state as a leader for this world-changing industry in the Asia-Pacific region.
But what is the biomedical sector, and why is it so important to Queensland?
Keeping value from Queensland ideas: the biomedical sector in our state
The Queensland Government has identified the emerging biomedical sector as a priority industry providing an opportunity to diversify and grow the State’s economy and create the high-value, knowledge-based jobs of the future.
As a sector dealing primarily in new technologies and incremental innovation, too often local biomedical research, development and production is licenced overseas only to be bought back again once completed.
Our investment in our home-grown biomedical sector aims to keep the economic and social value of Queensland ingenuity in Queensland. In other words, we’re promoting local knowledge, jobs and export value, while ensuring everyone in our state continues to receive the best level of medical care.
Queensland’s growing biomedical sector has high-value businesses specialising in:
- manufacturing biopharmaceuticals
- generic medicines
- medical technology
- immunotherapies
- vaccine development
- complementary medicines
- biotherapeutics.
A growing industry
The Queensland of today is in a strong position as a biomedical hub in the Asia-Pacific region, with established and emerging health precincts combining hospitals delivering high quality care and researchers conducting and participating in world-leading research and education.
The initiatives and strategies outlined in the 2017 Biomed roadmap have created an ideal environment for the development of new technologies, treatments and services.
More than 30 companies and research institutions have been supported so far through the initiatives outlined in the roadmap. Since the original roadmap launched in 2017, the biomedical sector has grown to:
- Employ an estimated 12,400 people, an increase of the equivalent of 3000 full-time employees
- Contribute $2.11 billion to the economy – a 47% increase
- Deliver an export value estimated at $450 million
COVID-19 and the biomedical sector
The importance of a local biomed industry to Queensland’s sovereign capabilities was never more apparent than during the COVID-19 pandemic, where unprecedented demands provided the opportunity for the Queensland sector to demonstrate its agility and ability to quickly respond to meet global needs.
Continued growth and development in Queensland’s biomedical sector will play a pivotal role in our economic recovery from COVID-19, stimulating investment in the state and creating new jobs for Queenslanders. It will also ensure Queensland remains at the forefront of health care delivery outcomes for the global community.
Translational Manufacturing
While Australia has traditionally been successful at producing scientific research, it has been less successfully translating that research into clinical outcomes and commercial success, due to a lack of infrastructure to support new biomed companies to scale-up production for clinical trials.
In 2021, the Queensland Government announced funding support for the Translational Manufacturing Institute, a ground-breaking specialist facility based at the Translational Research Institute that will provide Queensland biomedical start-ups the support and expertise they need to advance commercialisation of their products and increase economic and export opportunities.
Success Stories
Vaxxas
The Queensland Government is supporting pioneering biotechnology company Vaxxas to construct a new facility at Northshore Brisbane to manufacture its needle-free vaccine patch technology.
As well as a ground-breaking physical application method, Vaxxas patches do not require the same cold storage as some traditional vaccines, increasing shelf life, improving transport options and making available healthcare delivery to a wider geographical area.
This new facility will allow the Queensland-born company to keep development and manufacturing within the state, creating more than 80 jobs during construction, and allowing for production of up to 300 million doses annually once construction is completed in 2023.
Q-Gen Cell Therapeutics (Q-Gen)
Following a $1.4 million matched Queensland Government investment to upgrade its facilities, Q-Gen Cell Therapeutics (part of QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute) secured a deal worth up to $63 million to further develop a potentially ground-breaking new treatment for multiple sclerosis.
WearOptimo
Brisbane-based medical equipment manufacturer WearOptimo is being supported to establish a manufacturing facility for its revolutionary Microwearable health devices (’sticker-like’ sensors that give real-time medical information) thanks to support from the Queensland Government’s Essential Goods and Supply Chain Program.
What will the refreshed roadmap deliver?
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.
You can view the refreshed Queensland Biomedical 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan here.
Last updated: 14 Jun 2023