Join us in our New Year's resolutions to grow the biotech industry

The new year heralded a new crop of government consultations specifically related to the Industry, Innovation & Competitiveness Agenda (IICA), launched by the federal government in October 2014. The resulting Review of Regulation of Medicines and Medical Devices closed on 5 January. AusBiotech made an extensive submission, based on feedback from members, warmly welcoming the announcement in the IICA that Australian manufacturers will be able to register routine (low-risk) medical devices and IVDs using certification from European bodies and making a number of recommendations.

From industry’s perspective, one of the key highlights of the IICA was the announcement that the tax treatment of employee share schemes (ESS) would be repaired after the 2009 changes saw companies flee the program. AusBiotech is expecting the ESS consultation process to commence in early 2015. Also related to IICA, there is a consultation underway on crowd-sourced equality funding, which closes on 6 February, and more news is expected shortly on the Industry Growth Centres. A full brief on policy will be delivered to members this week.

The time is here to list AusBiotech’s New Year’s resolutions, which will buoy and grow the Australian biotechnology industry, support your success and ensure 2015 is the best year yet.

New Year’s resolution 1: Support and find out more about the Australian Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Incentive

The AIM Incentive is a patent box-style tax incentive to enable Australian innovation to be internationally competitive and retain the associated benefits once research reaches commercialisation. The AIM Incentive supporters joined AusBiotech at Parliament House to launch the AIM Incentive white paper (attended by ~40 participants including senators, MPs, dept staff and advisors), as well as supporting a roundtable meeting at UK Trade and Investment in Sydney. See the joint media release: AIM Incentive ticks all the right boxes for Australia.

New Year’s resolution 2: Save the dates in your diary for key events

The AusBiotech portfolio of events for the year to come is now available. Please note that the biotechnology industry event of the year, AusBiotech 2015, returns to Melbourne from 7-9 October.

Missions are planned to: BioKorea, Seoul, Korea, 8-10 April; Medical Equipment Fair 2015, Shanghai, China, 15-18 May; and BIO Philadelphia, USA, 15-18 June. See www.ausbiotech.org/events.

New Year’s resolution 3: Plan how to best present your company to investors

You may find the AusBiotech investment meeting options just the thing to attract interested partners and investors. See the list of upcoming investment platform events at www.ausbiotech.org/investment. Take note of Asia Biotech Invest 2015, Hong Kong, 19-21 May; and Australia Biotech Invest 2015, Melbourne, 6-7 October.

New Year’s resolution 4: Tell us what you think in the annual CEO Industry Position Survey for 2015

The annual CEO Industry Position survey for 2015 will commence shortly, conducted annually to give a snapshot of industry sentiment, achievement and public policy issues. AusBiotech urges you to contribute to the body of information that will form the basis of our advocacy work for the year ahead. The company will once again be holding roundtable focus groups in April with industry CEOs.

New Year’s resolution 5: Join in the conversation on LinkedIn and Twitter

As social media gains traction, so too have the AusBiotech social media groups become more and more active. The AusBiotech LinkedIn group has more than 3100 members, while the AusMedtech group has almost 1600 members. You can also follow AusBiotech on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ausbiotech.

Tell us what’s on your list

With so much going on, it’s bound to be another exciting year for biotech. The AusBiotech industry body, including the board, the team and the state committees and advisory groups, looks forward to a successful year as it continues to work with you and on your behalf to make it a year to be celebrated. Email AusBiotech at admin@ausbiotech.org