• More than 100 speakers will gather for the AusBiotech + Invest 2020, being presented virtually this year
  • Investors will get to engage with senior executives of more than 30 Australian life sciences companies
  • Numerous deals have taken place during past conferences through its business matching programme

Australia’s biggest life sciences conference is moving online in deference to the pandemic.

Featuring more than 100 speakers, including some of the biggest names in the Australian biotech industry and abroad, the AusBiotech + Invest 2020 conference will take place next Wednesday to Friday.

“Australia’s biotech industry presents a compelling opportunity for investors and international partners,” AusBiotech chief executive Lorraine Chiroiu said.

“Our Investment Showcase includes Australia Biotech Invest & Partnering on Thursday 29 October, providing investors with a rare chance to engage from senior executives of 30 emerging and established (ASX-listed and private) companies to evaluate their investment opportunities.

“It is an opportunity to partner, engage, and learn.”

The conference is now in its 35th year, and while moving online removes the opportunity for in-person socialising it offers “maximum flexibility and accessibility,” Chiroiu said.

“We have new opportunities for leading global speakers to engage with the Australian life sciences sector and to share their insights, where previously it would have been difficult for them to spare the time or the cost of travel,” she said.

Janet Lynch Lambert, chief executive officer from the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM), will be joining the conference from the United States, where she’ll speak on global state of the regenerative medicine industry – “the financial, clinical, and scientific landscape for cell and gene therapies, including investor insights for Australia,” Chiroui said.

Delegations from more than 20 other countries will be joining the conference, with the keynote speech to be delivered by Dr Jackie Fairley AO, chief executive officer of Starpharma Holdings (ASX:SPL) and the chairwoman of Invest Victoria, who will speak on the growing international investment and trade opportunities available.

Presentations and panels will be available for streaming online for up to 30 days after the event.

Matching innovation with capital

Chiroiu said that a highlight of past conferences has been the ability to engage innovation with capital, with numerous deals done in the history of the event through its business matching programme.

“Delegates can once again book one-to-one, 30-minute meetings in private virtual rooms this year too,” she said.

Verified investors will receive complimentary registration. Investors attending will range from venture capital, private equity, high net worth individuals, research analysts and brokers, as well as executives from major pharmaceutical companies.

Chiroui said that one key element of the conference is the Early Stage Investment Forum, which will feature 15 presentations from early-stage technologies and projects from local research institutes, universities, hospitals and pre-series A companies in human therapeutics, medical devices and diagnostics, digital health and enabling technologies.

They’ll pitch (virtually) an expert investor panel that will include international big pharma representatives as well as corporate VCs and early-stage investors, with the forum taking place Friday, October 30, from 9am.

The final panel of the conference, on Friday, will be discussing a vision for biotech beyond COVID-19.

“This decadal framework will address investment, research and development, talent, and regulation for Australian biotechnology industry and discuss opportunities and barriers within the sector to achieve the best growth when delivering improved health and economic outcomes for all Australians,” Chiroui said.

The AusBiotech’s Australia Biotech Invest & Partnering conference is a one-day investment event focused on trends in life sciences investment and is being held on Thursday 29 October. The event will be delivered online 29th October and will be available on demand for 30 days post the conference.

Retail and high net worth investors can register to attend for free using this link