ARCS Australia Welcomes Release of NSW Innovation Blueprint 2035

Sydney, 31 March 2025 — ARCS Australia Ltd, the peak body representing life sciences professionals in the medtech and pharmaceutical sectors, welcomes and supports the release of the NSW Innovation Blueprint 2035, a bold and strategic plan to strengthen the NSW innovation ecosystem and drive long-term economic, social and health outcomes.

The Blueprint recognises the pivotal role of innovation-intensive industries in creating high-value jobs and advancing technological capabilities. It specifically highlights NSW’s competitive advantage in vaccine technology, clinical trials, and biotechnology translation—all areas where ARCS Australia members are contributing at the cutting edge of innovation.

With over 90,000 professionals making up the life sciences workforce in NSW, ARCS Australia applauds the Blueprint’s commitment to nurturing talent, strengthening innovation infrastructure, technology transfer. The Blueprint’s support for advanced manufacturing, including the $96 million RNA Research and Pilot Manufacturing Facility at Macquarie University, positions NSW as a leader in precision medicine and pandemic preparedness.

Importantly, the continuation and potential consolidation of targeted funding programs such as the Medical Devices Fund (MDF) and the Biosciences Fund (BioSF) help fill the gap in the investment pipeline and ensure sustained investment in emerging medtech and biotech ventures, helping bridge critical funding gaps that life sciences innovators often face.

“The NSW Innovation Blueprint provides a long-term vision for innovation in NSW, which now sits alongside the NSW Industry Policy—together demonstrating alignment between supply and demand for innovation activities and outcomes,” said Dr Tim Boyle, CEO of ARCS Australia. “It acknowledges and bolsters NSW’s strengths in vaccine technologies, their manufacture, and clinical trials, areas where NSW leads nationally and where ARCS members play a vital and essential role. The continued investment in the Medical Devices Fund and the Biosciences Fund sends a clear signal of the government’s commitment to supporting innovation that improves health outcomes and drives economic value.”

ARCS Australia also welcomes the Blueprint’s focus on:

• Developing innovation talent pipelines through capability-building programs, founder support, and access to advanced infrastructure.
• Fostering inclusive participation by supporting diverse and underrepresented founders, including women and regional innovators.
• Enhancing collaboration between government, industry, and academia to mobilise research and deliver innovation with global impact.

As a professional member-based organisation committed to career-long learning and development, ARCS Australia stands ready to support the implementation of the NSW Innovation Blueprint through education, training, and workforce development initiatives that build the competencies required by innovation-driven enterprises.

 

Media Contact:
Dr Tim Boyle MMPP GAICD RTTP
Chief Executive Officer
ARCS Australia
ceo@arcs.com.au