Ten Trends in Australian Biotech

Australasian Biotechnology, Volume 9 Number 3, July/August 1999, pp. 151-158 Ten Trends in Australian Biotech Lyndal Thorburn. Code Number:AU99010 This paper reports on major trends among dedicated biotech companies (DBCs) in Australia between biotech's first decade 1979-1988, and its second, 1989-1998. Over this period the number of dedicated biotechnology companies (DBCs) has more than doubled, and there has been a marked shift towards firms operating in human therapeutics. The proportion of firms delivering services (rather than products) and undertaking R&D as their main activity has also increased. A higher proportion of firms are now located in the smaller capital cities and at the same time a small number of firms have established in Europe and North America. Melbourne remains the centre of employment. Centres of research activity are concentrated in Canberra followed by Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. Patterns of ultimate ownership have remained stable. There has been an increase in access to venture capital at startup but firms remain small. Government policies need to address the issues raised by these trends. Copyright 1999 Australian Biotechnology Association Ltd