New Health Research and Innovation Strategy to drive NSW’s health and economic prosperity

The NSW Government has today released the NSW Health Research and Innovation Strategy 2025 to 2030 – a 5-year blueprint to improve health outcomes for the people of NSW and cement the state as the nation’s innovation and investment powerhouse for health and medical research and innovation.

The new Strategy will target research and innovation efforts across NSW Health to where it is needed the most to move innovation from benchtop to bedside for best health outcomes for NSW patients.

It will drive collaboration across NSW Government, health, academia and industry, pulling the various research and innovation strands into one cohesive, streamlined direction for maximum gain for NSW.

The Strategy will build on the major investments the NSW Government has made over the past two years to support medical research, commercialisation and infrastructure in the state, including:
• Establishment of Australia’s first Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility ($58.2 million)
• Investing $96 million into a RNA research manufacturing facility that will change the way NSW tackles its future health challenges, under construction at Macquarie University
• Targeted call for research in Aboriginal cardiovascular health ($5 million)
• Replacing Animals in Medical Research program ($4.5 million).

These investments are securing NSW as a major international hub for advanced manufacturing.

According to a report by KPMG Economic Impact of Medical Research in Australia, every $1 invested in Australian medical research returns $3.90 in economic benefit.

NSW’s globally recognised research and innovation network is home to 55% of Australia’s life science companies and 44% of start-ups.

The State is a premier destination for high-quality, efficient, and cost-effective clinical trials, and leads the nation with 31% of national trial activity.

Collaboration is key to achieving the Strategy’s ambitious goals for the State, and one of the first steps is to establish a NSW Health Research and Innovation Council to drive the Strategy’s vision.

Read the Strategy here.