Queensland, Australia, is the natural choice for biotechnology partnering and investment.

Queensland's golden beaches, dense rainforests, deserts and coral reefs are popular tourist destinations for international visitors to Australia. However, Queenland's natural beauty also provides a wealth of unique resources and opportunities for biotechnology research and development.

Extraordinary biodiversity
Queensland's international reputation for biotechnology brilliance is based on its extraordinary biodiversity, which includes 19 terrestrial and 17 marine bioregions, as well as five World Heritage regions covering 40m hectares.

This not only contributes to the development of excellent skills in the management of ecologically sensitive regions, but also provides millions of unique species of flora and fauna that are being screened for novel compounds for use in medicines, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, insecticides and herbicides.

Investment advantages
Queensland is not just beach, reef and rainforest; it also offers an attractive business environment, including:

• A highly skilled and diverse workforce, including internationally recognized scientists;
  
• Highly competitive R&D establishment, running and salary costs, with studies indicating Australia offers the lowest cost economy for each;
  
• Extremely competitive real estate costs with an abundance of quality commercial and industrial properties;
  
• World-class infrastructure offering competitive and stable energy costs, frequent air links to national and international destinations, state-of-the-art telecommunication options, and road, rail and port facilities;
  
• Consistently strong economic growth, a AAA credit rating, the lowest state taxes per capita in Australia, the lowest payroll tax rate and highest tax-free threshold in Australia, and political stability; and
  
• A lifestyle that is both enviable and world-renowned offering investors, their staff and families a clean, beautiful environment, comprehensive education facilities, low cost of living, affordable housing and a sub-tropical climate all year round.

Committed Support
The Queensland Government's commitment of $270 Million, through a 10-year Bioindustries Strategy, will build on the area's unique competitive strengths, providing further opportunities for growth and development within the biotech industry. These initiatives include:

• The establishment of the $100 million Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland, and the establishment of the Biomolecular Science and Drug Discovery Center at Griffith University on the Gold Coast;
  
• The creation of a $60 million Australian Institute of Bio-engineering and Nanotechnology, to be established at the University of Queensland, with funding assistance provided under the State Government's $100 million Smart State Research Facilities Fund;
  
• The establishment of a $15 million Biodiscovery Fund to facilitate the commercialisation of bioproducts and associated discoveries in Queensland; and
  
• The establishment of a $6 million BioStart Fund to encourage and support local biotech start-ups.

These elements will create commercial opportunities, spin-off companies and new jobs in Queensland. Additionally, Queensland has initiated an internationally recognized Biotechnology Code of Ethical Practice, which is being used as a model in a number of jurisdictions.

Queensland has a vibrant lifestyle, a growing population, fantastic natural resources, academic excellence, entrepreneurial know-how and world-class research institutes. When these qualities are combined with pro-active government and industry sectors, the result is an ideal environment for biotechnology - and an ideal investment location for business.

Further information can be obtained from the Queensland Government Department of Innovation and Information Economy by contacting them on the details below.

Website: www.biotech.qld.gov.au