Queensland’s innovative tech companies are solving global challenges locally.
From sportstech and medtech, to cybersecurity and fintech, Queensland’s supportive and collaborative ecosystem saw Southeast Queensland become Australia’s fastest growing region for tech jobs in 2021.
Queensland tech is helping NFL, NBA and MLB teams supercharge their training programs, enabling resource companies to optimise heavy machinery maintenance, and making needle-free vaccines a reality.
Queensland offers companies an ideal testbed location, bolstered by a strong intellectual property protection framework and the Australian Government’s R&D tax offset.
Well established initiatives like the Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas Fund have helped launch global tech stars like VALD Performance, Go1, Opmantek and RedEye.
We’re also developing collaborative spaces to connect researchers, investors, and industry to bring innovative tech to life.
These initiatives are guided by the US$95 million Advance Queensland – Innovation for a Future Economy 2022-2032 roadmap.
Talk to an investment specialist today
Quick glance at the innovative tech industry
Queensland hosts the Centre for Quantum Dynamics
Australia’s fastest growing region for tech jobs in 2021
US$95 million Innovation for Future Economy roadmap
Queensland is home to 330+ research centres, institutes, facilities, research hospitals, precincts, laboratories and other research organisations
Queensland hosts the Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence
Discover more Queensland investment opportunities
Innovative tech | BiVACOR
Queensland is home to 330+ research
centres
.png)
Researchers in Queensland, Australia, are progressing what could be the world’s first viable alternative to heart transplants towards first-in-human clinical trials in the next year.
Houston-based BiVACOR’s Total Artificial Heart (TAH) is a fist-sized, titanium device that uses just one moving part – a small rotor – to pump blood around the body. The rotor is held in place magnetically, drastically reducing wear and tear.
Extensive testing of the device, which was developed in collaboration with world-leading institutes, including the Texas Heart Institute, is underway at the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct (GCHKP).
BiVACOR established its international R&D presence at the GCHKP in 2021 after Trade and Investment Queensland connected key representatives from the GCHKP with Chief Technical Officer Dr. Daniel Timms, who founded BiVACOR in Brisbane in 2008.
“Precincts like the GCHKP don’t exist very often around the world where you’ve got a university, a hospital, and an innovation space within walking distance of each other … so it was a no-brainer for us to come.” Dr. Timms said.
“The talent pool in Queensland is untapped, and creating more bridges between Australia and the US enables ideas to mix while offering opportunities for the global visualisation of the ideas – something that’s vital when bringing any big medtech idea to life.”
Research into reducing the TAH’s impact on blood cells is being conducted at Griffith University’s Mechanobiology Laboratory, while research engineers at the COHORT, a collaborative co-working space, are finetuning the TAH’s external controller and associated software.
In March this year, BiVACOR secured $18 million (USD) in private funding to support the early feasibility first-in-human trials for the TAH.
BiVACOR’s TAH project has also received both state and federal government funding, including grants from the Queensland Government’s Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas Fund in 2017 and the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund in 2023.
Innovative tech | Greaseboss
Queensland is solving global challenges
While working in the mining industry, a Sunshine Coast trio identified a common and recurring industrial machinery problem that required a smart solution.
Queensland founders of GreaseBoss Tim Hall and Peter Condoleon were inspired by an experience at a mine site when a dangerous mechanical failure occurred due to greasing inadequacies.
Correct oiling and greasing of heavy machinery are critical to safety, reliability and ultimately productivity yet maintaining the required quantities is often neglected.
In fact, improper greasing has been identified as the primary cause of industrial plant malfunctions and results in huge monetary losses.
In 2020 GreaseBoss was launched, digitally transforming the lubrication management of industrial machinery. The innovative greasing solution provides clients with complete visibility over the grease status at any point in their plants, enabling them to prevent operational disruption and mechanical damage.
The GreaseBoss API connects to the GreaseCloud, a cloud-based software that collects grease consumption and compliance data.
Together with the range of GreaseBoss Head Units, Endpoints and Tags for quick and versatile automatic or manual applications, the company created a solution to a very common and expensive problem.
Their innovation has been recognised globally, and after joining the prestigious startup accelerator program, YCombinator in Silicon Valley, the company made a firm decision to base their headquarters on the Sunshine Coast.
As a homemade Queensland business creating cutting edge innovations, Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ) were happy to support GreaseBoss on the next steps in their journey into innovation.
In March 2022, TIQ awarded the company a grant through Round 2 of the New Market Program to export internationally.
Not long after, they were among the top 15 IoT Innovators 2022 at Hannover Messe, the international award and catalyst for future innovations for the Internet of Things, Wearable Technologies and DeepTech.
The accolades kept coming when in July, GreaseBoss won the ‘Best New Product’ category at the Queensland Mining Awards.
Tim Hall, Co-Founder and CEO of GreaseBoss said TIQ’s support has been invaluable.
“TIQ has been great in assisting GreaseBoss in its first move into international markets. TIQ took the time to learn about our business and then made direct connections to businesses in our target export regions, provided great advice and financial assistance.
Moving into international markets can be daunting but TIQ has definitely helped us on our journey.
Talk to an investment specialist today
.jpg)
Queensland is the Next Big Thing
A gateway to the Asia Pacific region, Queensland's rapidly growing renewable energy, digital games and innovative tech sectors offer opportunities for growth-minded businesses to invest directly in globally significant industries.
