The  Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh, has announced the creation of a new peak industry body for the life sciences sector, Life Sciences Queensland, with state government support of $1.86 million over the first four years, matched by industry support.

 

Life Sciences Queensland will be chaired by Dr Peter Riddles.

 

Each year, Life Sciences Queensland will identify a number of prominent people as LSQ Ambassadors, and the first two inaugural LSQ Ambassadors are Carl B. Feldbaum, lawyer and former President of the Biotechnology Industry Organisation (BIO) and Peter Beattie,  former Premier of Queensland. Ms Bligh said that other ambassadors will be appointed later in the year including in Europe and Asia.

 

Queensland’s life sciences industry comprises over 300 biomedical, industrial and agricultural biotechnology, medical devices and diagnostics, and pharmaceutical and complementary medicine companies and research organisations.

 

Ms Bligh said that no other state had developed an organisation like Life Sciences Queensland  to champion the industry.  

 

“LSQ will facilitate the industry’s growth through leadership, guidance and strategic direction, as well as promote Queensland’s national and international reputation as a centre of commercial and research excellence in life sciences,” Ms Bligh said.

 

Ms Bligh said that as it ramps up its operations over the coming year, LSQ would be involved in a range of industry growth activities, from specific business development services to building better local linkages between Queensland companies and researchers.