2020 has been an unforgettable year, with the biotech community's strong contribution to the global healthcare system and to Australia's economy shining brightly through the many challenges being faced professionally and personally.
While times have been testing, there has been giant strides for Australian life sciences. Most critically for our industry, after more than four years of advocacy, certainty was delivered after the majority of the proposed changes to the Research and Development Tax Incentive (RDTI) were dropped; Australia embraced telehealth as a standard consultation method, thereby increasing accessibility to healthcare; the sector engaged enthusiastically through AusBiotech's virtual platforms and first virtual conference: AusBiotech + Invest 2020; goals for the Biotech Blueprint, the sector's decadal framework, were developed; and the AusBiotech-led Regenerative Medicine (RM) Catalyst Project has begun preparing for Australia's RM future.
AusBiotech truly is for the industry, by the industry, and COVID-19 has highlighted the collective strength in collaborating and uniting together to deliver in strides. The extraordinary innovation, resilience and dedication of the life sciences industry is humbling, and something that Australia can be proud of.
More than 35 years of AusBiotech and Australian biotechnology: 31 December 2020 marks AusBiotech's birthday. From humble beginnings with less than 100 members in 1986, AusBiotech has grown to become a strong well-connected, 3,000+ member community representing the entire value chain of biotechnology development.
Throughout 2021, AusBiotech will celebrate the milestone, the work that we have accomplished together, and the opportunities available to industry to drive the sector forward.
2020 by the numbers
- AusBiotech is the national voice of more than 3,000 AusBiotech members
- After more than four years of proposed changes, certainty was delivered on the R&D Tax Incentive (RDTI) Bill
- More than 700 delegates joined AusBiotech's first virtual conference: AusBiotech + Invest 2020
- BiotechTalks webcasts, AusBiotech's virtual platform, was launched to connect the pipeline and ensure linkages and knowledge sharing.
- Almost 3,000 attendees attended 22 AusBiotech events throughout the year
- AusBiotech's social media communities connects more than 18,000 people
- 11 submissions were made on behalf of members
- 11 committees regularly met, with more than 95 experts from almost 80 companies
- New policy update webcasts were launched for Members
- Four new Industry Excellence Awards were announced, celebrating the innovation excellence happening across the country
- Six goals developed for the Biotech Blueprint: Australia's life science industry's decadal framework, that will underpin and drive industry growth through to 2030
- Launched the Regenerative Medicine Catalyst Project, to establish a national RM sector 'catalyst' collaboration body, and address priority action areas.
Save the dates for 2021 events
AusBiotech's 2021 events programme is being developed. Save the dates below, and keep an eye on the AusBiotech website as the year progresses:
- Australia showcase: clinical trials and medical innovation advantages: JP Morgan week – 14 Jan (PST)/15 Jan (AEDT), online live
- Industry Update – QLD: 20 January, online live
- Industry Update – WA: 10 February, online live
- BioCheers: kicking off from March 2021
- AusMedtech 2021, 17-21 May, online live
