Australasian Biotechnology (backfiles) AusBiotech ISSN: 1036-7128 Vol. 11, Num. 4, 2001, pp. 27

Australasian Biotechnology, Vol. 11, No. 5, 2001, pp. 27

MEETING REPORT

"Unless one is focussed on the international marketplace, you don"t have a chance. That's where Austrade can help". Jonathan Izant, Director of New Business Development at the Garvan Institute.

Reinforcing Austrade's commitment to the biotechnology sector, fourteen Austrade and Invest Australia representatives from key biotechnology markets attended the inaugural Austrade global biotechnology team meeting, "Patent to Profit", that was held recently in Sydney.

The workshop was designed to:

• Gain an understanding of the Australian industry;
  
  
• Provide an update on biotech activities in potential biotech markets;
  
  
• Understand how a biotech organisation generates value and what Austrade can do to assist in the commercialisation process; and
  
  
• Provide the opportunity to meet and network with key allies and industry leaders.
  
  

Representatives from the Americas, Europe, North East Asia, South East Asia, Middle East/Indian Ocean and the South Pacific joined with the Australian Biotechnology team for an intensive two-day workshop that ran from 13 - 14 August 2001.

Key State and Federal government allies, including Biotechnology Australia, were also well represented at the meeting, highlighting our mutual interest in this area and the continuation of our close working relationship with these key allies.

A highlight of the workshop was the participation of more than ten Australian biotech industry leaders, including the peak industry body, AusBiotech.

All participants gained invaluable insights into the unique challenges faced by biotech organisations, and assisted them to better understand how Austrade and Invest Australia can add value throughout the commercial life cycle.

A key outcome of the two-day conference, expertly facilitated by Professor Simon Carroll, Director of AusBiotech and the Western Australian Biomedical Research Centre, was the development of a global strategy to assist the biotech industry in Australia "go global". This strategy will concentrate on:

• Promoting Australian capability overseas;
  
  
• Bringing opportunities and potential partners to Australian organizations;
  
  
• Encouraging transparent, mutually-beneficial relationships between agencies;
  
  
• Developing cost effective initiatives that speed up entry into target overseas markets; and
  
  
• Providing key international solutions for Australian biotech companies.
  
  

Crucial to the success of this strategy will be the continued commitment of industry and State and Federal agencies to the "Team Australia" approach to the internationalisation of the Australian biotech industry.

There was no disputing the importance of the industry, as indicated by the presenters. We are grateful to the following for their informative presentations and discussions: Dr Elane Zelcer; Dr Jurgen Michaelis, of Bio Innovation SA; Dr Stephan Wellink, of CSIRO; Anthony Ujhazy of ResMed; Dr Tim Littlejohn, SAB Entigen; Dr Jonathan Izant of Garvan Institute; Garry Redlich of Peplin Biotech; Dr Graeme Woodrow of Inhalix; Dr John Smeaton of Bresagen; Dr Greg Pullen of Peptech; Keith Williams of Proteome Systems; and Dr Tony Coulepis of AusBiotech, State and Federal (BA, IA) allies. Our special thanks to facilitator, Professor Simon Carroll.

• For further information about Austrade services, please contact: Sally-Ann Watts, National Manager - Biotechnology, Austrade. Telephone (03) 9284 3201.

Copyright 2001 - AusBiotech