Australia's life sciences sector has converged on the Gold Coast for what organiser AusBiotech describes as the event's biggest edition yet, and for the first time the peak body is running its three flagship conferences as a single, connected program.
Australia's Biggest Week in Biotech has combined AusBiotech Invest, the AusBiotech International Conference and the AusMedtech Conference for the first time, alongside 15 official satellite events. More than 2,500 attendees are expected across the week, and more than 8,600 AusPartnering meetings have already been requested.
Delegates have come from 23 countries, including eight nations represented for the first time. The Queensland Government is supporting the event as Host State Partner in both 2026 and 2027, bringing Australia's national and international life sciences community to the Gold Coast.
AusBiotech CEO Rebekah Cassidy said the week reflected the growing connectedness of Australia's life sciences ecosystem.
"Australia's life sciences sector is built on the strength of its people, its scientific capabilities and the partnerships that turn research and innovation into real-world outcomes for patients in Australia and around the world," she said.
"Bringing our flagship conferences together for the first time and partnering across an array of satellite events, we are creating opportunity to strengthen connections across biotechnology, medical technology, health technology, investment and research."
The integrated program features more than 250 speakers across approximately 60 sessions under the theme Global Impact Together, exploring the scientific breakthroughs, emerging technologies, investment pathways and partnerships shaping the future of life sciences.
AusBiotech Invest brought investors and six life sciences company leaders together to examine financing questions facing Australian companies, including market conditions, syndication to cross-border capital, and the milestones that shape investment decisions.
AusBiotech describes the AusBiotech International Conference as Australia's largest life sciences conference, running from 21 to 23 October and connecting leaders across biotechnology, medical technology, health technology, research and investment. Presented alongside it, the AusMedtech Conference has run from 21 to 22 October, bringing together innovators, industry and investors to explore advances in medical technology and healthcare.
The week also marks AusBiotech's 40th anniversary, an occasion Cassidy said was both a look back and a look forward. "As we celebrate 40 years of AusBiotech, this week is both an opportunity to recognise how far our sector has come and to focus on what we can achieve together in the decades ahead," she said.
"AusBiotech is grateful to the Queensland State Government as host partner to the Biggest Week in Biotech in both 2026 and 2027, for enabling the week and for their continued support for the life sciences sector.
"Australia has extraordinary biotech, medtech, and health tech capabilities, and strengthening our national and international connection is essential to translating that potential into greater global impact."
