Queensland life sciences: global leaders
We are already making our mark with the state’s biomedical sector.
Queensland is now recognised as a leading biomedical industry hub for the Asia-Pacific region offering globally recognised infrastructure for research, translation, manufacture and supply to the highest international standards.
The sector has the full backing of the Queensland Government through its Queensland Biomedical 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan which sets out how we are going to grow, support and attract biomedical enterprises as well as invest in state-of-the-art facilities, talent and partnerships.
Queensland’s biomedical ecosystem boasts a wealth of cutting-edge biomedical companies, research institutions and world-class universities enhanced by a highly skilled workforce. Our unique health and knowledge precincts combine hospitals delivering high-quality care, researchers conducting leading-edge research and innovative companies developing new products.
Queensland is the perfect location for large-scale biomedical companies to expand their reach into the Asia-Pacific region and to create significant outcomes within the global value chain.
Companies like US MedTech giant, Stryker and global healthcare and pharmaceutical company, Sanofi, have chosen to establish a strong R&D presence in Queensland.
At the Translational Science Hub, Queensland’s world-class researchers connect with Sanofi scientists in France and the US, placing Queensland at the forefront of global mRNA vaccine development and biomedical research.
Fast facts on Queensland’s biomedical sector
- $361m private manufacturing R&D investment annually
- $534.3m estimated export value
- Over $2b in gross value-added
- 16,300 people employed in the biomedical and life sciences sector
- 12 research-focused universities, with four in the world’s top 250
- 1 in 5 Australian clinical trials take place in Queensland
- Low payroll tax, high exemption threshold (A$1.3 million).
Why choose Queensland for your clinical trials
We are an extremely attractive location to undertake clinical trials.
Our robust regulatory and tax environment, plus access to world-class researchers and clinicians, creates an ideal market for prototyping, testing, conducting clinical trials and manufacturing. With modern translational facilities and fast, pragmatic regulatory pathways, our infrastructure is a commercially focused platform for growth.
By choosing Queensland, you can increase the speed of your product R&D. Including southern hemisphere sites means you can access all-year-round recruitment of patients suffering from seasonal ailments, including influenza and allergies, as well as those diagnosed with respiratory and tropical diseases.
Each year, Queensland conducts thousands of clinical trials across hundreds of sites around the state. In 2022-2023 alone, there were more than 320 new clinical trials conducted in Queensland Health, which is the largest provider of clinical trials in the state.
Queensland is also leading the country with its teletrial capability. Teletrials is a proven model that uses telecommunication technology to connect clinical trial clusters to improve access to, and participation in clinical trials for regional, rural and remote Australians.
Queensland is part of a nationwide approach which has embraced a fast and pragmatic regulatory pathway for conducting clinical trials. The regulatory framework allows rapid clinical trials start-up through streamlined processes under the Clinical Trials Notification (CTN) scheme administered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
Australian clinical trial data is accepted by international regulatory agencies including the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
As you can see, Queensland is in an ideal position to continue to attract international companies and to build sovereign capability in a number of areas including the development, manufacture and delivery of vaccines.
There has never been a better time to make the decision to come to Queensland!
