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Australasian Biotechnology, Vol. 12 No. 2, 2002, pp. 42-43 SPECIAL REPORT THE NSW BIOFIRST STRATEGY NSW Government Code Number: au02017 Economic development in the future must be underpinned not only by traditional physical infrastructure like roads and rail, but also by the new infrastructure of the 21st century, such as biotechnology. Biotechnology will significantly impact on the global economy over the next twenty years. NSW has long been a leader in biotechnology, with strengths across the broad spectrum of biotechnology innovation. Over 40 % of all biotechnology, pharmaceutical and related companies in Australia are located in NSW. The State's biotechnology industry employs approximately 7000 people and generates more than $2.5 billion in sales. The NSW Government has recognised the importance of biotechnology as a key enabling technology. On 15 August 2001, the Premier announced the five-year NSW Biotechnology Strategy BioFirst, which provides $68 million in new funding for biotechnology in NSW. This is in addition to resources already available through the NSW Health, NSW Agriculture and the Department of State and Regional Development portfolios. BioFirst recognises the nature of biotechnology - its complexity, cross-portfolio implications, ethical issues and the benefits it offers the State in health, environmental, agricultural and economic terms. The programs funded under the BioFirst strategy are divided into 4 categories; BioPlatform, which focuses on research and development initiatives; BioBusiness, which highlights programs that promote and assist the translation of research into commercial products; BioEthics, including the setting up of a BioEthics Panel, and the BioUnit, established within the Cabinet Office, charged with the responsibility of monitoring and coordinating the overall implementation of the BioFirststrategy and promoting the biotechnology sector in NSW. A brief description of these components follows. BioPlatform The programs funded under the research and development component of BioFirstaim to encourage biotechnology research and build on the State's existing capabilities in key biotechnology areas. Funding for a number of innovative programs will assist NSW in continuing to develop world-class capabilities that enable the State to create and respond to opportunities arising from biotechnology. An example of one such research project funded under the BinFirst strategy is the establishment of the Agricultural Genomics Centre. The NSW Department of Agriculture has been given responsibility for the delivery of this major biotechnology project. The program has been allocated $7.25 million over 5 years in recognition of the fact that the many key drivers of biotechnology come from advances in genomic research. The NSW Centre for Agricultural Genomics started in March 2002 and is an unincorporated joint venture between NSW Agriculture, CSIRO Plant Industries and the Australian Proteome Analysis Facility at Macquarie University. The Centre will link a number of sites, namely Wagga Wagga, Narrabri, Sydney, Canberra, Yanco and Orange. Dr Liz Dennis, CSIRO has been appointed the Director of the Centre. Many of the projects at the Agricultural Genomics Centre are linked to programs at the Australian Proteome Analysis Facility, which has been allocated $2 million funding over 5 years under the BioFirst strategy. The Genomics Centre has commenced four projects aimed at improving agriculture in NSW through the use of genomics:
Plant genome projects provide the opportunity to apply new approaches to improving agriculture. The Centre provides an excellent opportunity for a coordinated scientific approach to addressing agricultural problems in NSW, utilising knowledge and skills from a variety of biotechnology areas. The Centre will also generate practical genomics information that will be of value nationally and internationally. Ownership of intellectual property rights generated by the projects undertaken by the Centre, including new crop varieties, gene sequences and bioinformatics, will remain in NSW. Knowledge generated by the research will help in the breeding of improved varieties of wheat, barley, cotton and canola. These crops will become available for use in NSW agriculture -improving the quality and quantity of production. Within three years it is expected these projects will be producing useful results that can be applied in breeding programs using appropriate safeguards. A further significant focus of the BioPlatform component of the BioFirst strategy is to promote and enable a dynamic community of top-class researchers in NSW. NSW Health has responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the BioFirst Awards program. Under the BioFirst strategy, $6 million over 5 years has been allocated to provide 'top-up' funding to attract biotechnology researchers to NSW. The 15 potential recipients of a BioFirst Award over the five-year period will each be awarded $100,000 a year for three years. The first round of applications is now being considered and there will be a formal announcement of the recipients by May 2002. These funds will be used to attract both expatriate Australians working overseas and international researchers to NSW to establish research programs. The program focuses on encouraging outstanding researchers at an early stage of their career who have a growing intemational reputation for excellence in research. The NSW BioFirst Awards initiative is managed by a committee whose members have expertise in biomedical biotechnology sciences, agricultural biotechnology sciences, clinical practice and clinical research, university/higher education sector and business. BioBusiness The BioBusiness component of the BioFirst strategy will support the growth of companies and the commercialisation of research outcomes for the global market. The NSW Government recognises that the long lead times between fundamental research and product commercialisation increase the difficulty of attracting capital. To assist in enhancing opportunities for small biotechnology businesses to grow, expanding into international markets and attracting new biotechnology investment in NSW, various business/commercialisation projects are funded under the BioFirst strategy. The Department of State and Regional Development (DSRD) administers the BioBusiness programs under BioFirst. BioBusiness aims to increase significantly the size and number of biotechnology companies in NSW, consolidating the State's position as the leading location in Australia for biotechnology business. A key factor in the realisation of this goal is to ensure that there are strengthened linkages between science, technology and clinical expertise and the manufacturing, business and financial sectors both within NSW and internationally. The Government has established a Ministerial Advisory Council on Biotechnology (MACBIO), consisting of high-level members of the biotechnology research and business communities, in order to assist and provide advice to Government about how to improve NSW's performance in biotechnology. Councillor Lucy Turnbull, the Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney, is the State's Biotechnology Patron and assists in liaising with key members of the Biotechnology industry to ensure a productive information exchange between government and industry members. The BioUnit works in conjunction with MACBIO and DSRD to ensure that NSW takes a proactive role in the biotechnology business community and in ensuring the continuing viability and growth of opportunities for biotechnology commercialisation. One example of a BioBusiness priority funded under BioFirst is the proof-of-concept program. This project has been allocated $4 million over 5 years to assist biotechnology companies to establish the commercial feasibility of their research prior to their first attempts at raising venture finance. The proof-of-concept grants - each up to $100,000 over two years -are offered to NSW companies eligible under the Commonwealth's Biotechnology Innovation Fund. The first BioBusiness proof of concept grant, announced in November 2001, went to BioLateral Pry Ltd for the development of a prototype bioinformatics workstation and software for use by biotechnology researchers. It is expected that an additional number of start-up companies, developing ground-breaking initiatives ranging from the medical to agricultural, will receive funding in the first round of proof-of-concept grants. The second round of grants will commence in April 2002. A current DSRD program receiving funds under BioFirst is the High Growth Business initiative, consistingof information sessions and assistance schemes directed particularly at the biotechnology sector. This initiative includes workshops and forums for biotechnology industry members and enhances existing linkages between CRCs, universities and the venture capital industry to facilitate the successful commercialisation of NSW biotechnology innovations. DSRD has appointed a Business Development Manager dedicated to biotechnology clients and to oversee the implementation of the High Growth program. A successful High Growth Business Forum was held during March 2002, at which biotechnology industry representatives were provided with advice and information on issues affecting start-up biotechnology companies. In addition, the NSW Government will continue to support biotechnology innovation through such programs as the Australian Technology Showcase (ATS). Biotechnology companies are encouraged to join the ATS for the networking opportunities with local and international companies, assistance to enter new overseas markets and access to business support seminars targeted to the needs of technology companies. BioEthics Whilst ensuring that appropriate ethical, safety and environmental standards are maintained, the challenge for Government is to optimise progress in medical and agricultural research and clinical practice so that the potential social, environmental and economic benefits of biotechnology can be made available to the community. The BioUnit has responsibility for developing and implementing the BioEthics program under the BioFirst strategy. The program includes the establishment of a BioEthics Panel to advise the Government on the ethical issues associated with biotechnology activities. The Panel will consist of a number of high-level experts who will assist in informing the Government's position on current ethical issues and advise on the development of guidelines and policy. In addition, the BioEthics program will ensure community awareness of, and engagement with, the ethical, safety and regulatory issues generated by developments in biotechnology through forums and seminars that will promote informed discussion on ethical issues and through community/industry sector consultation. Through such initiatives, the Government will promote better management of the ethical, social, environmental and legal/regulatory implications of biotechnology. BioUnit
The BioUnit has been established in The Cabinet
Office to oversee the roll-out of the BioFirst strategy, through ensuring
a coordinated approach to the development, funding, implementation and evaluation
and communication of biotechnology-related policy. The BioUnit undertakes a liaison
role between the Premier and key agencies to assist in developing and promoting
NSW leadership on biotechnology issues. Moreover, the BioUnit focuses on actively
participating in and engaging with all facets of the NSW biotechnology sector
and is a locus for Government's work with researchers and industry to drive the
BioFirst Strategy's twin aims of more biotechnology research and more economic
benefits delivered to NSW through biotechnology commercialisation. The Government
is committed to world-class biotechnology research, but it is also concerned to
see that jobs, investment and export income are generated by biotechnology. The
implementation of the BioFirst strategy signals a significant recognition
of the importance of this area for the potential benefits to the community and
the future prosperity of NSW.
Websites for further information: www.health.nsw.gov.au,
www.biofirst.nsw.gov.au, www.business.nsw.gov.au,
www.agric.nsw.gov.au
<http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au>
Editor's Note: This report has been specifically prepared for us
for publication by officers of the NSW Government. We particularly thank Katy
Reade, Senior Policy Officer, Economic Development Branch, The Cabinet Office
Government of NSW. Copyright 2002 - AusBiotech |
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