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 to two of Australia's leading biopharmaceutical contract manufacturers.

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 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.

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

• Fostered a partnership between Sanofi, the University of Queensland and Griffith University to create the $280 million Translational Science Hub in Brisbane, which will allow Queensland's best scientists to work with their global peers in the US and France on groundbreaking vaccine development.
• Pioneering biotechnology company Vaxxas has constructed a new facility in Queensland's capital to manufacture its needle-free vaccine patch technology, with support from the Queensland Government.
• Global medical technology group Stryker has built its first Australian research and development lab in Queensland at one of the state’s leading health precincts. The company’s new Brisbane facility will combine 3D printing, robotic surgery and advanced manufacturing to explore the creation of customised implants for bone cancer patients.
• Provided funding support for the Translational Manufacturing Institute, a groundbreaking 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.

Industry support and attraction incentives

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. The program is currently open for applications.

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.

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

AusBiotech 2023

AusBiotech is the premier annual conference for Australia’s life sciences sector, bringing together over 1,000 Australian and international biotech delegates, sponsors, speakers and exhibitors both face-to-face and virtually to Brisbane for a three-day comprehensive program of partnering activities, education, skills building, exhibition and networking for partnering and investment. AusBiotech 2023 will be held in Brisbane, Queensland, from 1-3 November 2023. Find out more.

Industry highlights