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Queensland biomedical and health
Bright minds, bright biofuture
The biomedical and life sciences sector is thriving in Queensland. Our internationally renowned research institutes and scientific capabilities are strongly positioned to assume an important role in the global value chain. Hosting one of Australia’s leading biopharmaceutical contract manufacturers provides an excellent opportunity for large-scale biomedical companies looking to invest and expand their presence in the Asia-Pacific.
With modern translational facilities and fast, pragmatic regulatory pathways, our infrastructure is a commercially focused platform for growth.
Quick glance at Queensland's biomedical and health sector
The Advance Queensland Biomedical 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan highlights the collaborative approach between government and industry to further grow this priority sector, which is already a major employer and contributor to the state economy.
Why Queensland
Queensland is the fastest growing economy in Australia and enjoys some of the highest levels of business confidence in the nation.
Our state is in close proximity to major markets in Asia and with Queensland’s abundant natural resources, existing infrastructure, highly skilled workforce, history of innovation, pro-business environment, and standard of living, there has never been a better time to invest.
Queensland's end-to-end capabilities in Life Sciences are supported by world-class infrastructure.
They support the critical pipeline required to translate research discoveries into clinical trials, leading to better treatments and care.
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Why invest in Queensland's biomedical sector:
- Home to prestigious research institutions such as the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR Berghofer) and the Translational Research Institute (TRI).
- World class, highly-connected hospitals, health centres and research organisations based within key innovation precincts.
- Global expertise in tropical medicine and infectious diseases.
- 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.
- Home of Australia’s leading biopharmaceutical contract manufacturer.
- Over 130 research organisations involved in biotechnology research and development.
- Regional and remote health delivery, with a focus on digital health.
- Knowledge corridor, with dozens of innovation-led organisations.
- 12 research-focused universities, with four in the world’s top 250.
- 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.
- International collaborations.
- 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.
- Higher annual growth rate than the rest of Australia.
- AA+ / Aa1 / AA credit rating and AA ESG rating2.
- Exports to almost 200 countries.
- 16 Free Trade Agreements between other nations and cooperations in force.
- Market access to and shared time zones with high-growth markets in the Asia-Pacific region.
- 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.
- Access to Australia’s R&D tax offset.
Queensland's Achievements
Queensland has an advanced research-informed healthcare system with world class health professionals, renowned researchers and state of the art facilities. Some of the recent Queensland achievements in the health and biomedical sector include:
Vaccine development - Gardasil®
Millions of lives will be saved from cervical cancer by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil® that was developed at the University of Queensland by Professor Ian Frazer and the late Dr Jian Zhou to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. Now produced by Merck Vaccines Gardasil® has led to a 90% decrease in the prevalence of HPV.
Diagnostic imaging
Most of the MRI scanners in the world use magnetic resonance technology research by Queensland Centre for Advanced Imaging. The Translational Research Institute (TRI) collaboration with the Siemens Healthineers enables researchers and clinicians to use advanced medical imaging without the need for invasive testing.
Vaccine development
A universal vaccine for Malaria – a disease that annually causes over 200 million clinical episodes and more than 600,000 deaths has been developed by JCU’s Australian Institute for Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM), is in clinical development in a project led by AITHM in collaboration with Townsville University Hospital, DMTC Ltd and Pfizer.
AI-enabled healthcare
In a project aimed at using AI and whole-genome sequencing to predict patient outcomes of cancer treatment, QIMR Berghofer have partnered with Brisbane-based AI technology company, Max Kelsen, precision analytics firm, genomiQa, genome sequencing company, BGI Australia, and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
Medical devices
The easily stored and administered needle-free vaccine delivery technology developed by researchers at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology has been commercialised by UQ spin-off company Vaxxas into their Nanopatch™ High-Density Microarray Patch (HD-MAP).
Personalised medicine
Working to identify cancer-causing genetic mutations for better cancer survival rates, the Australian Translational Genomics Centre is a partnership between QUT, Metro South Hospital and Health Service, and Pathology Queensland, and is one of the largest genomic diagnostic and research DNA sequencing services of its kind in Australasia.
Case study: Vaxxas
Vaxxas is a biotechnology company experiencing rapid growth in its globally renowned needle-free vaccine technology, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. With support from the Queensland Government, Vaxxas developed a new manufacturing base in Brisbane for its High-density Micro-projection Array Patch vaccine delivery system.
Photo source: https://www.vaxxas.com/
Talk to a specialist
Looking to hear more about our current opportunities and get advice on Queensland's biomedical and health sector?