Queensland has world-leading capabilities in biotechnology, including health, medical, environmental, industrial and agricultural applications.

The State's renowned research and development base is supported by leading-edge platform technologies that include:

• bio-informatics
• genomics
• proteomics
• nanotechnology.

These are complemented by strong industry growth, from start-up companies through to established product manufacturers.

Queensland offers international biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies ideal locations for research and development facilities, manufacturing operations and Asia Pacific headquarters. Opportunities spanning the biotechnology pipeline - from discovery through scale-up manufacturing to clinical trials - make Queensland a great place to invest. Invest Queensland has identified niche areas within the biotechnology sector that present opportunities for future growth. These include:

• industrial biotechnology
• positioned as a centre for the development of biofuels and bio-based petrochemical replacements for specialty chemicals and polymers, through the establishment of integrated biorefineries and emerging algal technologies
• well-established crop-based feedstocks such as sugarcane and sweet sorghum, and significant expertise available in metabolic engineering of plants and microbes to take advantage of these feedstocks.
• therapeutic medicines
• burgeoning small-to-medium enterprise biotechnology cluster
• major research and development infrastructure including IMB and the Eskitis Institute.
• diagnostics, medical devices and allied industries
• growing sector with an identifiable Queensland presence
• activities range from livestock and human diagnostics to advanced medical instrumentation.
• tropical health
• research and development expertise
• specific infrastructure including Qtropics and the Queensland Institute of Medical Research
• terrestrial and marine biodiversity.

Fast facts

• approximately 90 core biotechnology companies employ about 1,900 biotechnologists
• approximately 66 biotechnology-related research institutes employ over 5,700 researchers
• the 2006-07 financial year saw revenues of A$395 million for companies and A$501 million for research institutes
• more than 22 drugs are in clinical trials.

Queensland's biotechnology industry advantages

• niche growth opportunities
• expanding commercial activities in diagnostics, vaccines, drug development, bio-pharmaceuticals manufacturing and industrial biotechnology
• education and training
• a world-renowned tertiary education sector that provides entry level through to PhD courses developed specifically for employers in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and allied health industries.
  Queensland universities with biotechnology courses include:
• The University of Queensland
• Queensland University of Technology
• Griffith University
• James Cook University
• world-class research and development infrastructure
• a network of universities, institutes and specialist centres that work in close collaboration with industry, including:
• Institute of Molecular Bioscience
• Queensland Brain Institute
• Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
• Queensland Institute for Medical Research
• Australian Institute for Marine Science
• an intellectual property framework based on international conventions
• Government support
• a strong commitment by the Queensland Government to develop an international biotechnology industry, supported by initiatives to achieve it
• diverse environment
• Queensland's unique marine and plant life provide a resource for bio-prospecting of novel chemicals, while the climate range, from temperate through to tropical, provides advantages for agricultural applications.

Who else is here?

Therapeutics:

• Alchemia - carbohydrate-based therapeutics research and development and manufacturing facility
• Alphapharm - Australia's leading manufacturer of generic drugs
• Health World - research and manufacture of natural medicines
• IHI - manufacturer and distributor of sports nutrition, general health and nutritional lifestyle products
• Implicit Biosciences - clinical-stage drug development company, Asia Pacific headquarters
• MediHerb - largest purchaser and processor of plant and herbs in Australia
• National Institute of Complementary Medicine - Queensland node houses the Centre for Transitional Preclinical and Clinical Research in Nutraceuticals and Herbal Medicines
• NPD - contract manufacturing of complementary medicines
• Peplin Ltd - anti-cancer drug research and development and manufacturing facility
• Sanofi Aventis - sales, marketing and manufacturing centre
• Sigma Herron - research and development and manufacturing facility.

Medical devices:

• BSD Robotics - Queensland-based leader in the design, manufacture and supply of high technology laboratory instruments (and the associated software) used in the preparation, prior to processing, of Bio-Samples dried on media
• Cleveland Biosensors Pty Ltd - produces the BioFiniti Point-Of-Care diagnostics system (handheld instruments using disposable microfluidic cartridges for rapid, quantitative and high-sensitivity measurements)
• Cochlear - development and manufacturing operations of implantable hearing devices
• Corbett Robotics - manufacturer of biotechnology equipment 
• Cook Medical - medical company involved in manufacturing, importing and exporting to the Asia Pacific region and to the world, with unique product ranges such as Cook IVF and Cook Medical Technology
• ImpediMed - produces a medical device that detects the early signs of lymphoedema, allowing for effective medical treatment
• Inverness Medical Innovations - research and development and diagnostic products manufacturing facility
• Pfizer Animal Health - meat quality diagnostic testing facility
• Sequenom - Asia Pacific regional headquarters.

Industrial biotechnology:

• Farmacule - developing molecular farming technology to cost effectively mass produce high-value industrial and therapeutic proteins and biofuels
• Syngenta - collaboratively established the Syngenta Centre for Sugarcane Biofuels Development.

More information

For more information on Queensland's biotechnology industry, visit the Queensland Government's biotechnology industry development website

For more about investing in Queensland's biotechnology industry, contact us