Australasian Biotechnology (backfiles) AusBiotech ISSN: 1036-7128 Vol. 11, Num. 4, 2001, pp. 2

Australasian Biotechnology, Vol. 11 No. 4, 2001, pp. 2

Peter Riddles, President

Code Number: au01047

I have just returned from the CHIF/ABA2001 Conference which was held in Sydney, where we saw, among other things, the Premier of NSW launch the biotechnology strategy for NSW (ie "BioFirst").

It was a great privilege for me to join with Professor John Shine, who was Chair of the CHIF/ABA2001 Steering Committee for the Conference in welcoming delegates to what was a quite significant event. The CHIF Conferences, of which this year's is the third, are held every other year and are characterised by a focus on early stage commercialisation of health science which makes it perhaps the only conference of its type in Australia. This was the vision of its founders, who saw the potential in the extensive research base in Australian medical science.

The CHIF/ABA2001 Conference was significant because of the "partnerships" involved, a theme I developed for my opening remarks at the Conference and which I share with you here in this article.

The CHIF/ABA2001 Conference was significant because it was a measure of the current vitality and energy that is apparent in the growing health and biotechnology sector with some estimates now pointing to over 220 individual companies in Australia and contributing nearly $1 billion in revenue. The Biotechnology Innovation Fund (BIF) program, the winners of which were announced at this meeting by the Federal Minister for Science, Industry and Resources, Senator Minchin, is one activity that will contribute to the further growth of companies. By day three, the Conference had attracted over 540 full time delegates and many other day visitors and participants, as well as becoming the focal point of announcements by political and industry leaders.

The Conference was realised through "team-work" and by the enthusiasm of a group of volunteers working from the sector. This year, AusBiotech joined as a partner with the Commercialising Health Innovations Forum (ie CHIF) team under the auspices of Australia Health International. Our thanks go to these organisations and individuals for their contributions in making the event highly successful and for making the partnership with AusBiotech a successful one.

Partnerships of course, are important to the biotechnology industry and vital to the success and growth strategies of growing companies.

At another level, the conference itself brought together representatives of all of the groups involved in biotechnology for the purposes of partnering in one way or another. Many of our small and emerging biotechnology companies were represented and participated in the program, along with the more established firms. Representatives from all levels of government, along with many from the service sector, that has embraced our industry so enthusiastically, and from our leading research centres, joined us at the event.

I was able to make a few remarks to signify the launch of AusBiotech, and while I was competing with several hundred individuals, each with a glass of champagne, there was a lot of energy and support for our ever-growing role. The efforts of past Boards, through their Presidents, was acknowledged as was a message of goodwill from the founding President of the Australian Biotechnology Association, Dr Martin Playne.

One of the most significant events at the conference was the announcement by the Premier of NSW of BioFirst, the biotechnology strategy for NSW.

Importantly, many participants commented that the Premier strongly emphasised supporting Australia's efforts in the biotechnology stake globally, and an acknowledgement that competition in this industry is global, and that States, as centres of economic growth in biotechnology, need to look primarily at the international competition rather than State competition.

BioFirst will see the New South Wales State Government spend $A68m to promote the commercialisation of biomedical discoveries in the State. Research "hubs" will be built in the east and west of Sydney as part of a five-year plan to attract the "best minds" in Australia.

I would like to pick up on the point of "State" versus "National" and emphasise that AusBiotech is a National organisation, working to develop an Australian biotechnology industry. The media, including a few commentators who have recently arrived on the biotech scene, make frequent reference to the obvious competition between States. The Australian delegation to BIO2001 in San Diego was one such event to which this reference was made.

This emphasis on "State competition" at the BIO2001 Conference was unfortunate as the two Premiers from Victoria and Queensland at the Conference agreed quite openly that they would work to build "Australian" biotechnology through "healthy" competition. As a consequence, they not only vigorously supported the national activities, they worked hard to develop the industries of their respective States. This was also evident in discussions with the Deputy Premier of South Australia who was also at the BIO2001 Conference. I am sure NSW has joined with the same approach in mind.

Biotechnology does and will grow in clusters of significant critical mass in cities and regions that have the basic infrastructure of people, facilities and access to finances, and in Australia, this primarily means that the capital cities of each of the States and Territories.

By the way, my view on BIO2001, San Diego was that we, as Australians, achieved an outstanding presence for our industry on the international stage. AusBiotech played a leading role, largely behind the scenes, in assisting the delegation with the coordination of the event and to encourage the participation of industry. We will continue playing that role for Toronto.

Many of the issues that we need to address in our own country were starkly presented to us, and our Premiers were exposed to the same energy, the same information, as all 350 Australians. This is a very important outcome for us, and AusBiotech will work with you on these issues. Next year, we no doubt, will see a Federal Minister joining the Australian team in Toronto for BIO2002.

Copyright 2001 - AusBiotech