For the first time in 20 years, Australia’s biotechnology sector has united to launch the Biotechnology Blueprint: A Decadal Strategy for the Australian Biotechnology Industry - a shared industry vision and ‘blueprint’ navigating the biotech ecosystem as it aspires to build solid companies, create more jobs, commercialise more biotechnologies, build sovereign capabilities, and deliver greater benefits and returns to Australia and all Australians.

The Blueprint includes many significant and detailed recommendations uncovered through thorough consultation and discussion, building upon AusBiotech’s existing knowledge from its more than 35 years operating as an industry leader.

There are eight core, critical areas of focus:

• Re-orient support for commercialisation to enable a dual focus on (academia and industry) commercialisation
• Deliver specific programmes aimed at transitioning small companies to medium-sized companies, and medium-sized to large, addressing capability and skills gaps
• Increase the competitiveness of the Australian operating environment relative to its overseas peers
• Build sovereign capabilities in the biotechnology sector, including manufacturing and scale-up, core drug/device/product development expertise
• Increase the knowledge, awareness and understanding of the contribution made by the biotechnology sector
• Build, diversify and address gaps in access to capital across the variety of industry organisations
• Address the gaps in access to appropriate skills and talent
• Deliver consistent momentum on the Blueprint recommendations, using aligned metrics and evidence-based decision-making to guide changes and updates, with shared accountabilities

As the voice of Australia’s biotechnology industry, AusBiotech has led the development of the Biotechnology Blueprint (Blueprint) over the past two years, and it comprises of the contribution of almost 350 individuals and organisations, all working to realise the potential of biotechnology in our society.