Johnson and Johnson Innovation has officially opened its new partnering office at Monash University.
The office, to be situated at Monash University’s Clayton campus in Melbourne, will be the Victorian headquarters for Johnson & Johnson’s scientific, investment and commercialisation arms to identify life sciences projects that can be partnered towards commercialisation.
JJIPO@MONASH will facilitate access by Victorian researchers and companies to the expertise across Johnson & Johnson’s scientist research, investor and commercial business arms.
“We’re proud to have so many leading researchers here in Victoria. The new Johnson & Johnson Innovation Partnering Office at Monash will give our world-class researchers the support they need to transform their findings into everyday care for Victorians while also supporting local jobs,” said Jill Hennessy MP, Victorian Minister for Health.
The launch coincided with the visit to Australia of the global head of Johnson & Johnson's pharmaceuticals division, Joaquin Duato.
Mr Duato has met with prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and health minister Greg Hunt during his visit.
Australia currently ranks fifth in the world for life science innovation and Victoria is home to over 40 per cent of Australia’s ASX-listed health science companies.
According to Sarah Newton, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Monash University (Enterprise), positioning the JJIPO@MONASH makes sense because “Victoria has the talent and infrastructure to develop and commercialise its world class medtech and pharma research."
Johnson and Johnson Innovation already has research collaborations with Monash University, the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute, the University of Melbourne, RMIT and St Vincent’s Institute. The JJIPO@MONASH will act as a hub to coordinate and upskill the Victorian life science community and to develop programs which will facilitate greater connectivity at both a state and global level.