AusBiotech, Australia's peak body representing the innovative life sciences sector, has wrapped a significant week of bilateral and multilateral engagements at the BIO International Convention 2025 (BIO25) in Boston.
In alignment with the BIO25 theme, 'The World Can't Wait', AusBiotech echoed the need for urgent action — affirming that the time is now for Australia to harness the potential of its life sciences sector as critical to the future health and wealth of our nation.
New MOU signed between AusBiotech and the BioIndustry Association (BIA)
In a significant development, AusBiotech and the UK BioIndustry Association (BIA) used their meeting at BIO25 to sign a Memorandum of Understanding focused on enhancing policy alignment and fostering deeper industry collaboration. This milestone was complemented by a high-level bilateral roundtable, jointly hosted by AusBiotech and BIA at BIO25.
The roundtable brought together representatives from government, industry, and research. Participants shared their views about the potential for a BioBridge between Australia and the UK to expedite the development and commercialisation of innovative medicines, diagnostics, and therapeutics. It built on months of ongoing engagement about the BioBridge initiative – at both the industry and government levels – reinforcing shared priorities and opportunities for collaboration between the two countries.
"Australia and the UK are already strong and trusted partners in the life sciences sector," said AusBiotech CEO, Rebekah Cassidy. "Our complementary innovation systems and shared values have enabled deep collaboration across research, commercialisation, and trade. This MOU signals a shared intent to go further — to scale up our partnership and drive mutual growth through innovation."
Advancing Australia at the International Council of Biotechnology Associations
As the Australian member of the International Council of Biotechnology Associations, coordinated by BIO, AusBiotech represented Australia's life science priorities at a number of key roundtables covering topics from clinical trials and manufacturing capability to changing global supply chains.
AusBiotech CEO, Rebekah Cassidy said: "In a changing world there is a need for robust global co-operation to build a resilient, innovative biopharmaceutical and biotechnology ecosystem that benefits the health of people everywhere. The International Council of Biotechnology Associations plays a critical role in enabling global advocacy on the most important topics across our industry and AusBiotech is proud to lead Australia's voice across these discussions."
Leading bilateral engagements and creating connections to foster Australian biotech
As a major sponsor of the Team Australia delegation, AusBiotech played a central role in convening and joining bilateral and multilateral discussions with a number of international partners including:
- Asia-Pacific engagement: AusBiotech led discussions with the Japan Bioindustry Association, Japanese Government, and Taiwan Bio Industry Organization (Taiwan BIO) among many others highlighting Australia's strengths in clinical trials, tropical and infectious diseases, radiopharmaceuticals, and regenerative medicine.
- North America engagement: AusBiotech met with its industry association peers in Canada and the US to discuss opportunities to work more closely in the future, touching on areas from workforce development through to opportunities for greater patient voice in product development.
Maximising opportunities while in Boston, AusBiotech also worked with its members Moderna and Sanofi, and joined the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), Department of Industry, Science and Resources, Global Vic, and Canadian officials for site visits to Moderna and Sanofi's R&D and manufacturing facilities — underscoring the positive ripple impacts of global organisation investments in the Australian ecosystem.
Comments from AusBiotech CEO, Rebekah Cassidy
"The urgency for action was loud and clear on the ground at BIO25. Advancing onshore biotech capability at speed is a priority for all our major peer markets. The time is now for Australia to heed the call with similar urgency.
"Australia's life sciences sector has the potential to play an important role in a changing global market and AusBiotech is proud to be the super-connector working with our partners across government to link local strengths to global opportunity. We are committed to growing Australia's role in the global biotech ecosystem.
"At AusBiotech, we celebrate our members every day, but events like BIO25 offer a powerful platform to elevate their work, forge new partnerships, and reinforce Australia's value as a trusted innovation partner.
"Congratulations to everyone who supported Team Australia on the ground at BIO25 including New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia, the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, Austrade, CSIRO and MTP Connect."
