Industry and Investment NSW (I&I) hosted a high level event on August 21 for international biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry representatives visiting Sydney for the Bledisloe Cup rugby match between Australia and New Zealand.
The business event was organised in a joint effort by I&I, Austrade’s Business Club Australia, Events NSW, Business Events Sydney and the Australian Rugby Union.
The seminar and reception helped raise international awareness about NSW's advanced biotechnology and medical industry and the business and investment opportunities on offer in this State.
It aimed to promoting the growth of our biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors both at home through new business and investment and abroad through exports.
Business delegates were hosted from the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, Italy, United Kingdom and Israel including:
• Israel-based global pharmaceutical company Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd
• Italy’s leading pharmaceutical company the Menarini Group
• UK-based healthcare technology company Entra Health Systems (EhS)
• the Hong Kong Hospital Authority which manages public hospitals and outpatient clinics in Hong Kong
• US-based medical device distributor Hospital Associates
• Canadian medical device company Trudell Medical marketing
• Sydney headquartered Merck Sharpe & Dohme.
The event, in addition to the international speakers, included speeches by NSW Chief Scientist and Scientific Engineer Professor Mary O'Kane and Australian Rugby Union Chief Medical Officer Dr Martin Raftery.
NSW is a highly attractive location for companies addressing industry trends including the global convergence of the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, ageing of the population, growth of Asian markets, and the rise of personalised medicine.
Our vibrant and growing biomedical industry is underpinned by an excellent healthcare system, world-class education and research institutions, a highly-skilled workforce, and a low-risk business environment.
NSW has outstanding biomedical research infrastructure clustered into eight research hubs with over 70 biomedical research centres, providing the right environment for companies - from start-ups to international market leaders - across all biomedical fields.
75 per cent of multinational pharmaceutical companies in Australia headquartered in NSW and almost half of all medical device firms based here, but we want to further build that base.