Completing the ‘Update online roadshow’ AusBiotech members from Queensland and Western Australian are invited to hear the latest information from their State Government representative at AusBiotech’s Industry Update, which aims to grow and support the biotech industry.
Facilitated by Michelle Burke, Chair, AusBiotech, Members are invited to join Mark Tierney, Executive Director, Industry Development – QLD Department of State Development, Tourism and Innovation on 20 January; and Dr Debra Cousins, Executive Director, WA Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation on 10 February, for a live industry update.
Lorraine Chiroiu, CEO, AusBiotech will discuss national policy advocacy for the sector during these tailored events.
These events are delivered as part of AusBiotech’s virtual Industry Update roadshow, and are limited to AusBiotech members only, which includes SMEs, multinational organisations, support services, universities, and research institutes.
The Victorian Industry Update, delivered late last year and available to members in the BiotechTalks Library for a limited time, included an update on the State Budget that was announced a week prior to the event. Chris Barrett, CEO, Invest Victoria, and Paul Stagg, Director, Trade, Global Victoria, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR), joined Michelle Burke and Lorraine Chiroiu.
Initiatives discussed included:
- Significant investment through the newly announced $2bn Breakthrough Victoria Fund, to drive investment in research innovation and the next great breakthroughs over the next 10 years, including how the fund is being set up, and next steps.
- To better access and engage with international markets, the ecommerce programme is broadening, including promotional activities, market and sector insights, and creating digital collateral.
- Advocacy for VIC interests for the Commonwealth International Freight assistance programme that connects exporters with key markets and is in place until June 2021.
- A new $15.7m Export Recovery Package: to establish new export channels, adapt existing export strategies, and remain connected to key markets through key activities, e.g. virtual trade missions.
- One-off grants of up to $50,000 available through VIC’s Global Gateway Programme, for companies to pivot to stabilise their export activity or adapt their export strategy to mitigate barriers caused by COVID-19. Grants are expected to subsidise 80 per cent of project costs.
- Update on the new International Investment Strategy, launched in March 2020, that covers digital technology, advanced manufacturing, health and life sciences, and agri-food.
- Highlighting the new four pillars of the ‘Jobs Plan’, that aims to create 200,000 jobs by 2022 and 400,000 jobs by 2025.
- $20m to champion, develop and identify new opportunities for VIC’s medtech manufacturing and innovation sector, and $50m to focus on manufacturing and industry development, including sovereign manufacturing and industry supply capability in Victoria.
- $210m to support research organisations and institutes, including the Australian Institute for Infectious Disease.
- Funds to address access to capital challenges.
- Supporting regenerative medicine as emerging technologies, and how a roadmap and sustainable body will drive it forward for the future of Australia.
- What the latest significant RDTI announcements means to Australian biotech companies.
