Burnet Institute has welcomed the launch of the Victorian State Government’s new Global Health Melbourne Plan. The Plan, launched jointly by Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, The Hon Peter Ryan MLA and Minister for Health, The Hon David Davis MLC, is part of the Government’s economic development strategy. It contains seven priority areas of significant technical strength, which have the potential to create new business opportunities for Victoria in overseas markets.

Burnet Institute Director and CEO, Professor Brendan Crabb who also spoke at the launch, said the plan highlighted the marketability of Victoria’s nationally dominant medical research sector.

“Medical research institutes across Victoria have an enormous knowledge and technology capability which can drive economic growth, provide employment opportunities, and assist in the development of low and middle income countries of our region,” Professor Crabb said.

A specific example is the recent signing of an investment agreement as part of the Prime Minister’s recent trade delegation to China, between Burnet Institute and the GuoMinXinHe Investment Fund, Beijing. The investment will support a biotech start-up company, Nanjing BioPoint Diagnostics, to develop low-cost diagnostic tests to help improve the health of millions of people around the world. Biopoint Diagnostics was established by Burnet in 2013 with support from a Chinese Government “321” grant.

“The establishment of a new biotech company in this way is a very positive outcome for the Burnet Institute, and it shows the way for Victoria’s internationally competitive medical research sector. Knowledge, in this case scientific knowledge, is one of our most valuable exports, but it can grow much more. Biopoint is an example of one way that can be achieved,” Professor Crabb said.