Health and medical industries

Sector

Health and medical industries

Clinical trials – Ageing well – Pharmaceuticals and biotech – Medical devices

Highlights


South Australia has a global reputation for health and medical industries capabilities.

Adelaide BioMed City is one of the largest health precincts in the Southern Hemisphere including SAHMRI and the Australian Bragg Centre, the first proton therapy centre of its type.

Flinders Village will host the Health and Medical Research Institute, spearheading collaborative research spanning physical and mental health and wellbeing, amplifying the university’s longstanding contributions across the health, education and medical sectors in the heart of the southern medical precinct.

We have world-leading capabilities in artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, machine learning and research that features across our health and medical industries.

We are the first state to undertake human clinical trials in a COVID-19 free environment (for healthy individuals as well as patients).

Investing in Health and Medical Industries


Companies from around the world can engage with world leaders in biotech and clinical trials, digital health, medical devices, ageing well, research, academia, clinical care and business development.
 
South Australia is recognised for its skillset in niche areas, particularly in the use of artificial intelligence utilised within health innovation, visual recognition machine learning and proton therapy and oncology.
 
Our state has decades of experience in automotive manufacturing which is now being applied to medical device manufacturing with highly skilled workers and sustainable supply chains.

To learn more about how we can grow South Australia's industry, view the Health and Medical Sector Plan.

Investment advantages 


We have a burgeoning commercial industry, helping jurisdictions around the world support their ageing populations, including the industry-driven Ageing Well International globalising local ageing expertise – from birth to ageing.
 
We support the establishment of medicinal cannabis and industrial hemp industries in South Australia, providing guidance and mechanisms on working with the Office of Drug Control regarding licenses and permits for the legal cultivation, processing and manufacturing of medicinal cannabis products.
 
We are looking to develop and expand our e-clinical trial capabilities, supporting the state’s drive towards a leading position in e-clinical trials in a secure environment.
 
Eligible companies can access up to 43.5% R&D tax incentive for research and development expenses reimbursed either as a tax refund or a tax reduction.
 
We have a visionary approach to growth within the sector, releasing our 10-year sector plan in October 2020 to grow the economic value of Health and Medical Industries to $5 billion by 2030.

Connected ecosystem 


South Australia’s hi-tech sector is well-equipped to support the health and medical industries sector in the fields of artificial intelligence, science, engineering and nanotechnology to facilitate new innovations in the biomedical sphere. 
 
Our creative industries ecosystem and internationally recognised companies are working with our health and medical industries to use gaming technology such as virtual reality, to improve healthcare.
 
Medical tourism is providing opportunities for international healthcare options and showcases the state’s world-class capabilities within the health and medical industries sector.

Precincts and Clusters

Innovation precincts


Collaboration is in our DNA here in South Australia. You will have access to some of the best innovation precincts where high-profile businesses, academia, industry bodies and government are co-located and working together.

  • Adelaide BioMed City

    Adelaide Biomed City is one of the largest health and life sciences clusters in the Southern Hemisphere and brings together research, education, clinical care and business development.

    Learn more >

  • Flinders Medical Centre (FMC)

    FMC has an international reputation as one of Australia’s finest public teaching hospitals and as a centre for research excellence. It is co-located with the Flinders University School of Medicine and Flinders Private Hospital.

    Learn more >

  • Flinders Village

    A new development of a world-class health research facility, providing state of the art research facilities, as well as teaching simulation and clinical research spaces.

    Learn more >

  • Lot Fourteen

    Lot Fourteen is a space that fosters collaboration and innovation across sectors and disciplines, including defence and space, artificial intelligence, digital health, machine learning and robotics, cyber security and creative industries.

    Learn more >

  • Technology Park

    Technology Park is an established hub of defence and aerospace, advanced electronics, health, training, consulting, and information communication technology companies. Technology Park Adelaide provides a thriving environment for business collaboration and networking.

    Learn more >

  • Tonsley Innovation District

    Tonsley is a hub for advanced manufacturing businesses and services specialising in high-growth sectors: health, medical devices and assistive technologies, cleantech and renewable energy, software and simulation, mining and energy services.

    Learn more >

Business Clusters


Our industry clusters provide strong intellectual and research foundations, providing opportunities to share talent, technology and infrastructure.

  • Adelaide Airport

    With global acknowledgement that aviation is a vital catalyst for economic growth, Airport Business District is a key economic gateway that seamless integrates zones for a range of industries.

    Learn more >

Business opportunities and investment ready projects

View All Projects

  • Investment: Direct investment

    Aucentra Therapeutics

    Aucentra offers the opportunity for bespoke investment in an exciting Australian entity with outstanding records of success in accelerating the development of cutting-edge science into new therapies.

    • Health and medical industries
    • Investment range:
      A$5M - A$20M
    • Aucentra Therapeutics
    View details
  • Investment: Direct investment

    Carina Biotech: Cellular immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer

    Carina is creating a future that defeats cancer, empowering patients to fight their disease. Our next-generation technologies harness the power of the immune system through targeted T-cell therapy.

    • Health and medical industries
    View details
  • Investment: Greenfield

    Healthy Marketplace

    The Healthy Marketplace provides a single online platform that guides patients/customers (or their carers/plan managers) to the identification of products and/or services that best meets the individual’s health needs through multiple practitioners and providers.

    • Health and medical industries
    • Investment range:
      A$2.5M - A$3M
    View details

Primary contact

Looking to identify opportunities, strategic partnerships and get advice on the South Australian Health and medical industries sector

Mark Wheeler

Business Development Manager, Hi-tech and Acting Director, Health and Medical Industries

Department for Trade and Investment

Hi-tech and Health and Medical Industries

+61 466 357 625 Mark.Wheeler3@sa.gov.au

Connect with a global office

View a global office

Case studies

SA home for new cancer treatment

The Australian Bragg Centre, which will house a proton therapy device, designed to target tumours more precisely while sparing surrounding tissue and organs, reducing side-effects and improving long-term results.

Proton therapy beam is more exact and does not scatter or cause damage to surrounding tissue.

Steve Wesslingh
South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute