Innovatia

QUEENSLAND – A POWERHOUSE FOR LIFE SCIENCES, BIOTECHNOLOGY, AND MEDICAL SCIENCES

designs or event spaces and find areas that need improvement. In the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Summer Olympic Games, larger corporations and government organisations are interested in using XR for more projects. “We’re getting a lot of interest at the moment in relation to sports technology,” Karen dishes. “If we can uncover more companies that can address some of the challenges related to major events, that will perpetuate job oppor- tunities in that space. There is so much that can be done in the games and entertainment space that we haven’t even tapped.” As a wink to potential members, Karen notes that even though the Queensland XR Hub has a lot of members exploring extended real- ity technology in entertainment, “there are opportunities available… There’s a lot that can be done.” Members of the Queensland XR Hub network receive a number of benefits, including access to tenders, networking events, speaking oppor- tunities, and other promotion. The organisa- tion even offers to write tender briefs them- selves, so their network gets more accurate information about what the project really is. “Large companies still struggle to write a brief for these XR technologies, because a lot of their procurement people have never worked with them,” Karen explains. “So, we will write up what it is that they need from us, from a procurement specification perspective, but then that tender is made available for all of our members to respond to.” She concludes, “We try to be that gate- way for both sides, both for government and industry.”

Member testimonial Leonie Sanderson and Simon Lowe, co-CEOs of People Tech Revolution “The Queensland XR Hub has helped us to connect with the XR ecosystem in Queensland, a leading location for the im- mersive tech industry. Being part of the Queensland XR Hub has its perks too. We connect with VR-curious companies through pitch days and events, landing Mater Education as our first Queensland client. Plus, we scored funded participation in the global Aerospace Xcel- erator program, teaming up with big names like Boeing and Etihad.”

By Mark H.B. Radford , Executive Director & CEO - Queensland Eye Institute Q ueensland state governments have championed life sciences, biotechnol- ogy and medical sciences for more than 30 years. The Smart State Strategy of the late 1990s and 2000s led to the development of large scale life science research infrastructure and capability. Today there are 130 biotechnology research centres in Queensland, given promi- nence through a searchable register maintained by the Queensland Government’s Department of Science. In 2015, the State Government launched Advance Queensland, which includes the Office of Queensland Chief Entrepreneur, to support and fund innovation. That office recently announced its Innovation for a Future Economy 2022-2032 Roadmap, which highlights the urgency of ensur- ing Queensland’s research and collaborations are commercialised. A strong foundation of research and innovation from local world class universities, combined with support from government, philanthropy and the private sector, has created a unique and

exciting environment in Queensland for these three sectors. Research and Commercialisation Queensland’s research and development institu- tions are at the forefront of cutting-edge life sci- ence in fields such as genomics, bioinformatics, immunotherapy, and medical technology. The collaborative spirit among researchers, univer- sities, and industry players has driven innova- tion and the translation of scientific discoveries into practical applications. Several universal elements contribute to

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INNOVATIA

| Queensland Economic and Innovation Special Report

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