Kathy Kruger | Gold Coast Health & Knowledge Precinct

Chinese partnerships to grow the bioeconomy on the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct (GCHKP) and Griffith University have signed complimentary memorandums of understanding (MOU’s) with a major Chinese biotechnology company associated with Beijing University, paving the way for significant research jobs and opportunities.

SinoBioway is a Chinese leader in developing biology-based technologies for medical, environmental and manufacturing applications and will set up an Australian landing company based in the GCHKP as it explores research projects with Griffith experts, and eventually a permanent presence in the Precinct.

The MOU with Griffith University is focused on stem cell research, identifying opportunities for project collaboration and joint research funding applications, promotion of Griffith capabilities and technologies in China and potential for clinical trials in China.

The Griffith MOU specifies a relationship with SinioBioway subsidiary Bantang National Gene Centre, based with the parent company in the Chaohu Economic Development Zone in Hefei, Anhui Province, while also allowing scope for broader opportunities across the company’s diverse operations.

Stem Cell Research to be focus for collaboration

The MOU signings follow a high level visit to the GCHKP by representatives of SinoBioway, including Chairman Li Yunming, that included presentations on the Precinct, a visit to the Gold Coast University Hospital and viewing of investment sites, and presentations and a laboratory tour to showcase Griffith’s research capabilities.

The Precinct’s innovation and co-working hub, Cohort, has been identified as a potential landing space for SinoBioway’s initial operations in Australia, providing ready access to researchers working on stem-cell based spinal injury repair at the Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research, Menzies Health Institute Queensland.

Opportunities have also been identified to utilised Griffith’s unique Neurobank resource, and the delegation was also given a presentation on an exciting Medtech funded project that is developing artificial wrist ligament, led by GCUH orthopaedic surgeon and Griffith Professor Randy Bindra and leading biomechanical engineer Professor David Lloyd.

Environmental technologies and advanced manufacturing opportunities to be explored

Professor Huijun Zhao, Director, Centre for Clean Environment and Energy, Deputy Director Griffith Environmental Futures Institute

The MOU may also allow collaboration to be explored with the Centre for Clean Environment and Energy, led by Professor Huijun Zhao, who holds distinguished membership of the Chinese Government’s One Thousand Foreign Experts Program of “State Specially Recruited Experts”, and is also Director of Centre for Environment and Energy nanomaterials, at the Institute of Solid State Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Hefei.

As one of China’s largest bioengineering pharmaceutical firms, Sinobioway Group harnesses the growing power of biotechnology to address society’s biggest challenges. Since its founding in 1992, it has been devoted to the development of a thriving industry within a bioeconomic system, a concept developed by Sinobioway’s founder Aihua Pan.

Encompassing more than 50 subsidiaries, Sinobioway’s businesses span biomedicine, bioagriculture, bioenergy, bioenvironment, bioservice, biomanufacturing, and biointelligence, with more than a dozen locations across China.

The GCHKP and Griffith are also working closely with the Australian Zhongguancun Private Equity & Venture Capital Association to progress opportunities – Zhongguancun is a technology hub in Beijing that has been described as China’s silicon valley.

Filed Under: BUSINESS, INVEST, TECHNOLOGY

Gold Coast set to be medical software and device hub

World-leading additive manufacturing company Materialise will locate its Australian head-quarters in the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct (GCHKP) to create a hub for cutting-edge medical device innovation.

The Belgium-based global company will switch operations from Sydney to the 200-hectare GCHKP to capitalise on Griffith University plans for an $80 million Advanced Design and Prototyping Technologies Centre (ADaPT), set to commence construction in 2019.

Materialise is a global pioneer of 3D printing technology whose software and services enable researchers, engineers and clinicians to revolutionise patient-specific treatments that help improve and save lives. This makes the GCHKP an ideal location for medical operations, continuing existing partnerships with leading Griffith researchers and expanding collaborations with clinicians at the Gold Coast University and Gold Coast Private hospitals.

The collaboration is the result of extensive discussions between Griffith, the GCHKP Project Office and Materialise over two years, including a trip to the company’s Belgian headquarters to pitch the opportunity and technical links to research capabilities.

The Materialise move is a coup for Queensland and the Gold Coast, according to Griffith University’s Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Ned Pankhurst, especially given the significant growth potential, with the university’s investment in ADaPT paving the way to expand the relationship and explore further research collaboration as a co-located industry partner.

“Materialise is truly a world-class company with 24 offices in 19 countries, and for them to choose to locate in the GCHKP at the ground-up stage signals the potential for a world-leading hub to develop here,” Professor Pankhurst said

We’ve already opened up our ADaPT 1.0 industry showcase facility and Materialise staff will initially be based on campus, alongside our leading researchers who are working in areas such as developing orthopaedic and other medical devices.”

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate is equally delighted, with the City actively supporting the presence of companies looking to expand operations and contribute to local employment opportunities.

“Medical technology is rapidly advancing and we need the best companies here to carve out our global niche in what will be a huge world-wide market – Materialise is one of the best,” Mayor Tate said.

Materialise Australia Business Manager Madeleine McIntyre said the Gold Coast had the right combination of existing world-class research expertise, skilled graduates and the lifestyle to attract global talent, as well as crucial co-location with clinical facilities.

“We have been the backbone of the 3D printing industry for nearly 3 decades, and have pioneered many leading medical applications of 3D printing. The innovative and collaborative environment provided by the GCHKP will help us to further advance our medical software and services,” Ms McIntyre said.

“Matching our company’s entrepreneurial culture, the GCHKP will be a strong base for Materialise to expand our Australasian footprint and provides a lifestyle advantage for our employees and the future talent we will attract here.”

For GCHKP Project Director Di Dixon, the Materialise move represents the chance to build momentum for ADaPT and the entire precinct well before the first sod is turned by sparking additional interest from associated innovative companies.

“We’ve always said the GCHKP is a long-term project and we’re pleased our Project Office efforts have been able to attract a global player of this calibre even before the first building is constructed,” Ms Dixon said.

“This is our preferred model for development – focusing on areas where we have genuine global niche expertise and attracting aligned industry co-location so we can rapidly translate research to great health and commercial outcomes.”

About Materialise

Headquartered in Belgium, with branches worldwide, Materialise combines the largest group of software developers in the industry with one of the largest 3D printing facilities in the world. For additional information, please visit: www.materialise.com.

Filed Under: HEALTH, STUDY, TECHNOLOGY Tagged With: high-tech jobs, intelligent digital technologies, university courses

Five jobs of the future that are happening here right now

As school leavers prepare to receive their Year 12 results, students and parents both want to know the best career choices today, for the jobs of tomorrow.

When your dream job doesn’t exist yet, where do you start?

Health, Science & Education

In the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct we know that jobs in health will continue to grow rapidly (the Health Sector has grown by 28% in the last five years on the Gold Coast, faster than the Queensland rate of growth), while Professional Scientific and Technical Services jobs have increased by 24%.

Together with jobs in Education & Training, the three sectors now account for 26% of the workforce in a city traditionally known for an economy based on tourism, hospitality and construction.

Positions Vacant

Three weeks out from Christmas some of the positions vacant at Griffith University, Gold Coast University Hospital and Gold Coast Private Hospital provide an exciting snapshot of what’s ahead in 2019 and beyond the horizon.*

The University is currently recruiting for a Professor in Mechanical Engineering (Additive Manufacturing) – an important position as Griffith embarks on developing its Advanced Design and Prototyping Technologies Centre (ADaPT) in the GCHKP.

ADaPT brings together multi-disciplinary expertise across the university in collaboration with leading industry partners to push the boundaries in advanced design, prototyping and new materials, in what is called the ‘next industrial revolution’ or Industry 4.0.

Griffith is also recruiting for a Professor in Prevention Science – an emerging area within the field of criminology that will strengthen the university’s reputation as a leading school of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Professional positions vacant include an Information and Interaction Designer in the IT department – required as digital learning increases exponentially and students seek enhanced user experiences, and a Lab Manager, Social Analytics Lab – responsible for providing high-level security of data in the specialised criminology laboratory. Both positions offer attractive six figure salary packages.

Two PhD scholarships are also being offered – in Hydrogen Energy Technology and Hydrogen Export, as the university continues to build its reputation for research and development in the rapidly growing field of clean energy and environmental solutions.

At Gold Coast University Hospital, positions vacant include a Lead Podiatrist, Senior Radiographer and a number of positions for Advanced Sonographers specialising in Maternal Fetal Medicine – as technology becomes more advanced so too do the amazing procedures that can be done to save or protect babies in-utero. Again all positions offer six figure salaries.

As the city’s largest employer, Gold Coast Health boasts almost 10,000 staff, including more than 6,700 in clinical roles.

At Gold Coast Private Hospital a job as an Anaesthetic Technician calls for a diploma qualification in paramedical science of anaesthesia – increasingly specialised skills are now being sought at a range of levels.

New Qualifications

Griffith’s new degrees are a strong indication of where the workforce is headed. In the School of Information Technology a new Bachelor of Intelligent Digital Technologies is on offer (artificial intelligence, robotics, virtual reality, Internet of Things) while a range of post-graduate qualifications in Cyber Security are needed for jobs in our advancing digital era.

A new Bachelor of Data Science can be combined with studies in Science and Environmental Science as data analytics skills are in hot demand across many professions, including business and health. Griffith is the first university in South East Queensland to offer data science as an undergraduate degree.

Creative Arts offerings are also on the rise in line with the growth of the cultural industry on the Gold Coast.

Five Jobs of the Future to consider

Information Technology – from machine learning engineers to user experience (UX) designers, network and security analysts, software and application developers and specialised programmers, IT careers are a certainty.
Data Science – as a specialised field with very broad application, data scientists will command high six and even seven figure salaries in the future for those who enjoy crunching numbers. And they’ll help the world deal with big challenges like climate change.
Allied Health – as the healthcare focus moves increasingly towards prevention, integration and personalisation, allied healthcare specialists from occupational therapists to nutritionists and podiatrists and many more, will be in demand to reduce acute hospital care (and cut costs) and help people age well through a holistic health approach. As technology advances, people will want (and need) the human touch.
Biomedical Scientists/Engineers – medicine will become more personalised thanks to technology and intelligent design. Think medical implants and devices, wearable health technologies and precision diagnostics and drug delivery.
Freelancers, entrepreneurs and change managers – skills to be able to operate independently and successfully in a digital world will be in demand across many fields and as more people work remotely, communication, collaboration and networking skills will be even more crucial. On the flip-side, if you’re a people-person you’re likely to be needed in change and innovation management roles in larger companies as digital disruption rolls on.

For a global perspective see the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report.

*Applications may not be open at time of publication