Construction has officially commenced on Griffith University’s flagship new Health and Advanced Technology Research and Innovation Centre (HATRIC), marking an important milestone in the continued evolution of the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct (GCHKP).
Located in the heart of the Precinct, HARTIC will bring together Griffith’s internationally recognised Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics (IBG), the Advanced Design and Prototyping Technologies Institute (ADaPT), an expanded Griffith Clinical Trial Unit and dedicated start-up and scale-up spaces. Together, these capabilities will support advanced manufacturing of cell therapies and vaccines, medical device testing, precision medicine and expanded clinical trials, while creating new opportunities for researchers, clinicians, industry and entrepreneurs to work together from discovery through to commercialisation.
A potential vaccine for malaria and a promising cell transplantation therapy for spinal cord injury are just two of the impactful innovations set to be supported by HATRIC.
A sod-turning ceremony on 6 August signalled the start of works by construction company ADCO, with the facility expected to open in mid 2028.
HATRIC represents far more than a building and its impact extends beyond its walls. Every new investment in the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct strengthens the ecosystem as a whole, creating opportunities for collaboration, attracting world-class researchers, innovative companies and investment and supporting the highly skilled jobs and industries of the future. It reinforces the Gold Coast’s growing reputation as a place where world-leading research is translated into innovations that improve lives both locally and globally.
Director of the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct Craig Rowsell said HATRIC reflects the power of a connected innovation ecosystem.
” What makes this precinct special isn’t just the world-class organisations located here. It’s the way they work together. HATRIC strengthens those connections by bringing researchers, clinicians, startups and industry together, creating tremendous opportunities to turn great ideas into real-world solutions”
The building is backed by a $25 million investment from the Australian and Queensland Governments through the South East Queensland Innovation Economy Fund, alongside a further $10 million contribution from the City of Gold Coast.
One of the final major projects to commence under the leadership of Griffith University Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Carolyn Evans, HATRIC is a lasting legacy of Griffith’s commitment to advancing translational research and strengthening partnerships across the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct. Professor Evans said HATRIC would strengthen connections between research, healthcare and industry.
“This is not a standalone building but rather a broader ecosystem designed to strengthen partnerships and enable closer connection between discovery and delivery, building on Griffith’s strengths to enhance research capability and reputation,” said Professor Evans.
As the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct celebrates 25 years of transforming lives through collaboration, this is another important chapter in that story, building the capability, connections and confidence to shape the next 25 years.
