It has been a year to remember when the biotech sector ‘came alive’ and reunited in person once more, as witnessed in the record attendance at our national conference and other industry events.
Despite the many challenges, the life sciences sector has continued to push boundaries with innovative approaches and technologies at the forefront.
As the national voice of the biotech industry, AusBiotech’s achievements are a continuing reflection of the commitment of our members, as dedicated as we are to advance the sector and enable it to continue to realise its potential.
Highlights from 2022
Biotechnology Blueprint
For the first time in 20 years, involving more than two years of work and 350 stakeholders, AusBiotech was excited to launch the Biotechnology Blueprint: A Decadal Strategy for the Australian Biotechnology Industry – a shared industry vision and ‘blueprint’ navigating the biotech ecosystem as it aspires to build solid companies, create more jobs, commercialise more biotechnologies, build sovereign capabilities and deliver greater benefits and returns to Australia and all Australians.
In 2022 AusBiotech started to work on aspects of the Blueprint, including a CEO Policy Forum and developing initiatives around investment attraction.
Making biotech a ‘beacon on the Hill’, the one-day AusBiotech CEO Policy Forum united 27 CEOs with the Hon. Ed Husic MP, Minister for Industry and Science, Commonwealth Departments and a peak industry body to discuss the key topics of the Biotechnology Blueprint and how, together, we can enhance our sector and support Australia’s bioeconomy.
Read the Blueprint here.
Investment attraction
Recognising that access to capital is one of the most significant drivers of growth and sustainability for Australia’s life sciences sector, AusBiotech launched a dedicated investment programme to bolster the current offering and develop new resources. This includes the creation of an environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework to support reporting for the industry, and developing a new edition of The Code of Best Practice for Reporting by Life Sciences Companies (the Code) – a resource for Australian life sciences companies that encourages the adoption of high, consistent standards of communication and market disclosure, which in turn promotes investor confidence.
Record-breaking attendance at AusBiotech events
In line with sector-wide record-breaking stats, we are tremendously proud of the successes we have seen in our international, national and state-based events. This year we have seen our largest numbers ever for AusBiotech 2022; AusBioInvest 2022; BIO 2022; AusMedtech 2022; and our NSW Women in Life Sciences Luncheon.
Held this year in Perth from 26-28 October, Australia’s ‘biggest week in biotech’ included AusBiotech 2022, Australia’s largest life science conference attracting more than 1,000 registered attendees, and AusBioInvest, the sector’s premier investment conference with more than 300 registered.
Running for more than 37 years, AusBiotech 2022 featured an industry-led programme of more than 160 thought leaders across over 40 sessions that succeeded in inspiring, informing, engaging and enhancing the biotech community.
AusBioInvest 2022, the largest investment and partnering conference in the Australian life sciences sector, featured a programme rich with informative and insightful presentations from global venture capital and investment experts, in addition to the 29 Australian early to late-stage biotech companies seeking funding partners that showcased their projects.
We were pleased to have the strong support of the WA Government, with Deputy Premier of Western Australia, Hon. Roger Cook MLA; the Hon. Stephen Dawson MLC, Minister for Innovation and ICT; Medical Research; Emergency Services; Volunteering; and Western Australia’s Chief Scientist Professor Peter Klinken engaging throughout the week.
AusBiotech, in partnership with Johnson & Johnson Innovation, delivered three 2022 Industry Excellence Awards during the annual Awards ceremony. Congratulations again to:
- Emerging Company of the Year - Fusetec;
- Company of the Year - Telix Pharmaceuticals; and,
- Industry Leadership Award - Professors Steve Wilton AO and Sue Fletcher AO.
In addition, the AusBiotech Life Sciences Legacy Award went to Dr Andrew Forrest AO and Nicola Forrest AO.
Revisit the event at the photo galleries here.
AusBioNSW
Earlier this year AusBiotech was proud to launch AusBioNSW, a new peak industry membership body for NSW, to represent, connect, and promote NSW organisations doing business in and with the local, national and global life sciences economy.
The prosperous NSW community of medtech and biotech companies is now supported by a dedicated local body to foster local connection, and ensure it is structurally connected to national and global happenings and supported to capitalise on growth opportunities and on new technologies.
Advancing cell and gene accessibility in Australia
The inaugural Steering Group to lead the Cell and Gene Catalyst (the Catalyst) was established, comprising of AusBiotech, Medicines Australia, CSL Behring, Novartis, Pfizer, Therapeutic Innovation Australia and Cell Therapies.
The Catalyst will bring to life the Regenerative Medicines in Australia: A Strategic Roadmap for the Regenerative Medicines Sector through leadership, advice and support, as the Catalyst seeks to create an end-to-end world-class value chain that can discover, develop, manufacture, and distribute cell and gene therapies to Australian patients, while creating jobs, commercialising research, and exporting Australian therapies to the world. Learn more here.
Save the dates for 2023 events
- Australian Hub at JP Morgan Week: 9-12 January 2023. Register now.
- BioCheers: kicking off around the country from February and March 2023. Register now
- NSW Women in Life Sciences Luncheon: 10 March 2023. Register now.
- AusMedtech 2023: 24-25 May, Adelaide, South Australia. Save the date and submit your programme ideas now.
- BIO 2023: 5-8 June, Boston, USA. Save the date, the announcement coming soon…
- AusBiotech 2023: 1-3 November, Brisbane, Queensland. Save the date.
- AusBioInvest 2023: 30 October, Melbourne, Victoria. Save the date.
Summer break office closure
The AusBiotech office will be closed over the holiday period from 12pm Wednesday 21 December 2022 until 9.00am Tuesday 03 January 2023. BiotechDispatch also be taking a break from today, 20 December, and will resume on Tuesday 17 January 2023.
AusBiotech thanks its members for a fantastic year and their ongoing support, wishes them a happy and safe festive period, and looks forward to working together during 2023.