NSW biotech to get 2020 vision at conference

The scene: biotechnology is the quintessential knowledge-based industry. But most of its advances have come from advancements in information technology, and how they are applied to genetic processes. Could this be a model for the biotechnology industry in NSW in 2020?

That question, and the many issues that accompany it, will be put to panellists at the event which kicks off Thursday night's launch of AusBioNSW, in Sydney -- a hypothetical look at how the NSW biotechnology industry will look in the year 2020.

The event, hosted by returned expat Rob Muir and featuring a panel of local experts, is intended to stimulate debate among delegates about the development of the industry, and lead into the conference themes.

The role of government, its policy and its funding will also be a key theme, given its integral role in the development, success and potential acceleration for the biotechnology industry of 2020.

Muir recently returned to Australia after a 20-year career in the US, where he was CEO of a research institute and VP of a Fortune 500 company, as well as operating and exiting two successful VC funded high-tech start-ups, Advanced Materials and Biotech Diagnostic. The biotech industry, Muir said, has taken two decades to get its first wave of products to market, and yet has failed to fulfil its promise of accelerating discovery or reducing drug development times.

Panellists include Caroline Beasley (Enterix Australia MD), Dr Kelvin Hopper (Innovation Dynamics), Prof Arthur Brandwood (Brandwood Biomed), Ann Kurts (Phillips Ormonde & Fitzpatrick), Dr Jonathan Wright (Somnomed) and Prof Tony Weiss (University of Sydney).

The hypothetical is the first part of the official opening program for AusBioNSW 2005, designed to engage directly with conference delegates, before it is officially opened by AusBiotech's new CEO, Anna Lavelle.

Australian Biotechnology News is the media partner for AusBioNSW 2005. More information, program: www.ausbiotech.org