The NSW Government has today released the NSW Health Research and Innovation Strategy 2025 to 2030 - a 5-year blueprint to improve health outcomes for the people of NSW and cement the state as the nation's innovation and investment powerhouse for health and medical research and innovation.
The new strategy will target research and innovation efforts across NSW Health to where it is needed the most to move innovation from benchtop to bedside for best health outcomes for NSW patients.
It will drive collaboration across NSW Government, health, academia and industry, pulling the various research and innovation strands into one cohesive, streamlined direction for maximum gain for NSW.
The strategy will build on the major investments the NSW Government has made over the past two years to support medical research, commercialisation and infrastructure in the state, including:
- establishment of Australia's first Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility ($58.2 million)
- investing $96 million into a RNA research manufacturing facility that will change the way NSW tackles its future health challenges, under construction at Macquarie University
- targeted call for research in Aboriginal cardiovascular health ($5 million)
- replacing Animals in Medical Research program ($4.5 million).
These investments are securing NSW as a major international hub for advanced manufacturing.
According to a report by KPMG Economic Impact of Medical Research in Australia, every $1 invested in Australian medical research returns $3.90 in economic benefit.
NSW's globally recognised research and innovation network is home to 55% of Australia's life science companies and 44% of start-ups.
The State is a premier destination for high-quality, efficient, and cost-effective clinical trials, and leads the nation with 31% of national trial activity.
Collaboration is key to achieving the strategy's ambitious goals for the State, and one of the first steps is to establish a NSW Health Research and Innovation Council to drive the strategy's vision.
The Council will comprise key stakeholders across the research and innovation ecosystem to work in partnership with Government to supercharge medical research and innovation in NSW to better attract and retain the globe's best and brightest health researchers and boost the economy.
The strategy will:
- drive clinical trials across NSW to discover life-saving treatments for rare diseases and cancers
- leverage NSW's significant and world leading physical and data assets, including new infrastructure such as the RNA Pilot Facility and Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility, as well as the NSW Biobank
- harness the enormous potential of AI to deliver better health care, building on projects such as Royal Prince Alfred Hospital's Emergency Department pioneering new AI tools to streamline analysis of x-rays and CT scans to boost clinician decision-making
- prioritise and focus on women's health in medical research by supporting women to participate in the many areas of research they are under-represented
- build partnerships to help close the gap in the health outcomes of Aboriginal people
- boost health outcomes in rural and regional communities.
The strategy aligns with recent NSW Government measures to optimise innovation and education, including the NSW Innovation Blueprint, the NSW Industry policy, and the NSW High Education Strategy 2025-2029.
More than 400 stakeholders across the research and innovation sector were consulted to inform the development of the strategy and ensure it is best placed to shape the future of NSW's health and medical research and innovation.
The strategy is available at NSW Health Research and Innovation Strategy 2025-2030.
Minister for Health Ryan Park said:
"This strategy charts a path for NSW to become Australia's leading state for medical research and innovation.
"Building on our already strong health and medical research system, this strategy will foster collaboration which will better bring together our healthcare and biomedical research sector.
"I have no doubt this strategy will lead to health innovations which will boost the health of the people in NSW."
Minister for Medical Research David Harris said:
"The NSW Health Research and Innovation Strategy will enable NSW to realise its great potential for research and innovation to transform healthcare in our state.
"Partnerships are at the heart of this wide-ranging blueprint to improve the delivery of care, reduce health and social inequities, and contribute substantial economic benefits to NSW.
"I am particularly proud of the strategy's focus on increasing collaboration with Aboriginal people to Close the Gap for better outcomes for our First Nations peoples.
"This strategy will also help drive more research for historically under-studied groups, including in women's health, to improve outcomes for women across NSW.
"Tomorrow's medical breakthrough will be the result of a well-connected and supported research sector which this strategy is building today."
Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology Anoulack Chanthivong said:
"This strategy is an important step from the NSW Government bringing to life our Innovation Blueprint.
"NSW is the home of many of Australia's greatest innovation success stories - from established world leaders such as Cochlear and ResMed, to future titans like Harrison AI and Nanosonics.
"The Minns Government is setting the stage for more of our health start-ups and scale-ups to join these companies as global ambassadors for the life changing innovation our state is capable of."
