❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the funding, assessment, and future strategy for the biotechnology industry, specifically questioning the allocation of funds, strategy effectiveness, and funding for the BioGENEius Challenge.
AnsweredQoN 668Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
I refer to the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy 2006–2010. (1) Can the minister outline by specific project how much of the $4.17 million previously allocated for this strategy’s implementation has been spent to 30 June 2011? (2) Has the government assessed the effectiveness of the strategy; and, if not, why not? (3) When will an updated strategy for this important sector be released with a new allocation of funding? (4) Will the minister guarantee funding for the BioGENEius Challenge past 2011; and, if not, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON
I refer to the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy 2006–2010. (1) Can the minister outline by specific project how much of the $4.17 million previously allocated for this strategy’s implementation has been spent to 30 June 2011? (2) Has the government assessed the effectiveness of the strategy; and, if not, why not? (3) When will an updated strategy for this important sector be released with a new allocation of funding? (4) Will the minister guarantee funding for the BioGENEius Challenge past 2011; and, if not, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) In 2007–08 the previous government allocated $4.17 million over three years to the implementation of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy. To 30 June 2011 the following has been spent on the implementation of the strategy: funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation, which is narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $565 000; promoting a biodiscovery industry based on Western Australia’s native terrestrial and marine biota, $8 880; infrastructure—building critical mass, assessing and addressing gaps in physical infrastructure requirements, $113 250; Think global, act local collaboration—strengthening collaboration with international, national and local biotechnology research industry groups to build relationships and facilitate partnerships, $84 300; skilling biotechnology—innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australian biotechnology industry, $317 637; promoting Western Australia—raising the international and national profile of Western Australia’s biotechnology industry to promote Western Australia’s capabilities, $265 953; international linkages—facilitating linkages between Western Australian biotechnology companies and international markets, $464 700; funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation—narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $50 000; skilling biotechnology innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australia biotechnology industry, $125 000. This makes a total of $1 994 720. And $1 million of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation funding was reallocated in May 2009 to the Square Kilometre Array project, therefore, the revised total Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation budget is $3.17 million. (2) The Department of Commerce has undertaken ongoing assessment of aspects of this strategy through various mechanisms, including the science review undertaken by the Centre for International Economics on behalf of the state government. Initiatives from this strategy are still being completed and these include the development of the bioprospecting legislation, the medical research commercialisation fund and the international BioGENEius Challenge. (3) The strategy implementation is still being undertaken. The government is currently developing its new science and innovation strategy, which will guide future support for biotechnology. (4) The state’s contract with the biotechnology institute for the BioGENEius Challenge will continue until 2012. An assessment will be conducted into the outcomes of the state government’s participation in this program and the viability of continuing beyond 2012.
(1) Can the minister outline by specific project how much of the $4.17 million previously allocated for this strategy’s implementation has been spent to 30 June 2011? (2) Has the government assessed the effectiveness of the strategy; and, if not, why not? (3) When will an updated strategy for this important sector be released with a new allocation of funding? (4) Will the minister guarantee funding for the BioGENEius Challenge past 2011; and, if not, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) In 2007–08 the previous government allocated $4.17 million over three years to the implementation of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy. To 30 June 2011 the following has been spent on the implementation of the strategy: funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation, which is narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $565 000; promoting a biodiscovery industry based on Western Australia’s native terrestrial and marine biota, $8 880; infrastructure—building critical mass, assessing and addressing gaps in physical infrastructure requirements, $113 250; Think global, act local collaboration—strengthening collaboration with international, national and local biotechnology research industry groups to build relationships and facilitate partnerships, $84 300; skilling biotechnology—innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australian biotechnology industry, $317 637; promoting Western Australia—raising the international and national profile of Western Australia’s biotechnology industry to promote Western Australia’s capabilities, $265 953; international linkages—facilitating linkages between Western Australian biotechnology companies and international markets, $464 700; funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation—narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $50 000; skilling biotechnology innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australia biotechnology industry, $125 000. This makes a total of $1 994 720. And $1 million of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation funding was reallocated in May 2009 to the Square Kilometre Array project, therefore, the revised total Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation budget is $3.17 million. (2) The Department of Commerce has undertaken ongoing assessment of aspects of this strategy through various mechanisms, including the science review undertaken by the Centre for International Economics on behalf of the state government. Initiatives from this strategy are still being completed and these include the development of the bioprospecting legislation, the medical research commercialisation fund and the international BioGENEius Challenge. (3) The strategy implementation is still being undertaken. The government is currently developing its new science and innovation strategy, which will guide future support for biotechnology. (4) The state’s contract with the biotechnology institute for the BioGENEius Challenge will continue until 2012. An assessment will be conducted into the outcomes of the state government’s participation in this program and the viability of continuing beyond 2012.
(2) Has the government assessed the effectiveness of the strategy; and, if not, why not? (3) When will an updated strategy for this important sector be released with a new allocation of funding? (4) Will the minister guarantee funding for the BioGENEius Challenge past 2011; and, if not, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) In 2007–08 the previous government allocated $4.17 million over three years to the implementation of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy. To 30 June 2011 the following has been spent on the implementation of the strategy: funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation, which is narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $565 000; promoting a biodiscovery industry based on Western Australia’s native terrestrial and marine biota, $8 880; infrastructure—building critical mass, assessing and addressing gaps in physical infrastructure requirements, $113 250; Think global, act local collaboration—strengthening collaboration with international, national and local biotechnology research industry groups to build relationships and facilitate partnerships, $84 300; skilling biotechnology—innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australian biotechnology industry, $317 637; promoting Western Australia—raising the international and national profile of Western Australia’s biotechnology industry to promote Western Australia’s capabilities, $265 953; international linkages—facilitating linkages between Western Australian biotechnology companies and international markets, $464 700; funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation—narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $50 000; skilling biotechnology innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australia biotechnology industry, $125 000. This makes a total of $1 994 720. And $1 million of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation funding was reallocated in May 2009 to the Square Kilometre Array project, therefore, the revised total Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation budget is $3.17 million. (2) The Department of Commerce has undertaken ongoing assessment of aspects of this strategy through various mechanisms, including the science review undertaken by the Centre for International Economics on behalf of the state government. Initiatives from this strategy are still being completed and these include the development of the bioprospecting legislation, the medical research commercialisation fund and the international BioGENEius Challenge. (3) The strategy implementation is still being undertaken. The government is currently developing its new science and innovation strategy, which will guide future support for biotechnology. (4) The state’s contract with the biotechnology institute for the BioGENEius Challenge will continue until 2012. An assessment will be conducted into the outcomes of the state government’s participation in this program and the viability of continuing beyond 2012.
(3) When will an updated strategy for this important sector be released with a new allocation of funding? (4) Will the minister guarantee funding for the BioGENEius Challenge past 2011; and, if not, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) In 2007–08 the previous government allocated $4.17 million over three years to the implementation of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy. To 30 June 2011 the following has been spent on the implementation of the strategy: funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation, which is narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $565 000; promoting a biodiscovery industry based on Western Australia’s native terrestrial and marine biota, $8 880; infrastructure—building critical mass, assessing and addressing gaps in physical infrastructure requirements, $113 250; Think global, act local collaboration—strengthening collaboration with international, national and local biotechnology research industry groups to build relationships and facilitate partnerships, $84 300; skilling biotechnology—innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australian biotechnology industry, $317 637; promoting Western Australia—raising the international and national profile of Western Australia’s biotechnology industry to promote Western Australia’s capabilities, $265 953; international linkages—facilitating linkages between Western Australian biotechnology companies and international markets, $464 700; funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation—narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $50 000; skilling biotechnology innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australia biotechnology industry, $125 000. This makes a total of $1 994 720. And $1 million of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation funding was reallocated in May 2009 to the Square Kilometre Array project, therefore, the revised total Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation budget is $3.17 million. (2) The Department of Commerce has undertaken ongoing assessment of aspects of this strategy through various mechanisms, including the science review undertaken by the Centre for International Economics on behalf of the state government. Initiatives from this strategy are still being completed and these include the development of the bioprospecting legislation, the medical research commercialisation fund and the international BioGENEius Challenge. (3) The strategy implementation is still being undertaken. The government is currently developing its new science and innovation strategy, which will guide future support for biotechnology. (4) The state’s contract with the biotechnology institute for the BioGENEius Challenge will continue until 2012. An assessment will be conducted into the outcomes of the state government’s participation in this program and the viability of continuing beyond 2012.
(4) Will the minister guarantee funding for the BioGENEius Challenge past 2011; and, if not, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) In 2007–08 the previous government allocated $4.17 million over three years to the implementation of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy. To 30 June 2011 the following has been spent on the implementation of the strategy: funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation, which is narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $565 000; promoting a biodiscovery industry based on Western Australia’s native terrestrial and marine biota, $8 880; infrastructure—building critical mass, assessing and addressing gaps in physical infrastructure requirements, $113 250; Think global, act local collaboration—strengthening collaboration with international, national and local biotechnology research industry groups to build relationships and facilitate partnerships, $84 300; skilling biotechnology—innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australian biotechnology industry, $317 637; promoting Western Australia—raising the international and national profile of Western Australia’s biotechnology industry to promote Western Australia’s capabilities, $265 953; international linkages—facilitating linkages between Western Australian biotechnology companies and international markets, $464 700; funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation—narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $50 000; skilling biotechnology innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australia biotechnology industry, $125 000. This makes a total of $1 994 720. And $1 million of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation funding was reallocated in May 2009 to the Square Kilometre Array project, therefore, the revised total Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation budget is $3.17 million. (2) The Department of Commerce has undertaken ongoing assessment of aspects of this strategy through various mechanisms, including the science review undertaken by the Centre for International Economics on behalf of the state government. Initiatives from this strategy are still being completed and these include the development of the bioprospecting legislation, the medical research commercialisation fund and the international BioGENEius Challenge. (3) The strategy implementation is still being undertaken. The government is currently developing its new science and innovation strategy, which will guide future support for biotechnology. (4) The state’s contract with the biotechnology institute for the BioGENEius Challenge will continue until 2012. An assessment will be conducted into the outcomes of the state government’s participation in this program and the viability of continuing beyond 2012.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) In 2007–08 the previous government allocated $4.17 million over three years to the implementation of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy. To 30 June 2011 the following has been spent on the implementation of the strategy: funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation, which is narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $565 000; promoting a biodiscovery industry based on Western Australia’s native terrestrial and marine biota, $8 880; infrastructure—building critical mass, assessing and addressing gaps in physical infrastructure requirements, $113 250; Think global, act local collaboration—strengthening collaboration with international, national and local biotechnology research industry groups to build relationships and facilitate partnerships, $84 300; skilling biotechnology—innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australian biotechnology industry, $317 637; promoting Western Australia—raising the international and national profile of Western Australia’s biotechnology industry to promote Western Australia’s capabilities, $265 953; international linkages—facilitating linkages between Western Australian biotechnology companies and international markets, $464 700; funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation—narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $50 000; skilling biotechnology innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australia biotechnology industry, $125 000. This makes a total of $1 994 720. And $1 million of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation funding was reallocated in May 2009 to the Square Kilometre Array project, therefore, the revised total Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation budget is $3.17 million. (2) The Department of Commerce has undertaken ongoing assessment of aspects of this strategy through various mechanisms, including the science review undertaken by the Centre for International Economics on behalf of the state government. Initiatives from this strategy are still being completed and these include the development of the bioprospecting legislation, the medical research commercialisation fund and the international BioGENEius Challenge. (3) The strategy implementation is still being undertaken. The government is currently developing its new science and innovation strategy, which will guide future support for biotechnology. (4) The state’s contract with the biotechnology institute for the BioGENEius Challenge will continue until 2012. An assessment will be conducted into the outcomes of the state government’s participation in this program and the viability of continuing beyond 2012.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) In 2007–08 the previous government allocated $4.17 million over three years to the implementation of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy. To 30 June 2011 the following has been spent on the implementation of the strategy: funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation, which is narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $565 000; promoting a biodiscovery industry based on Western Australia’s native terrestrial and marine biota, $8 880; infrastructure—building critical mass, assessing and addressing gaps in physical infrastructure requirements, $113 250; Think global, act local collaboration—strengthening collaboration with international, national and local biotechnology research industry groups to build relationships and facilitate partnerships, $84 300; skilling biotechnology—innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australian biotechnology industry, $317 637; promoting Western Australia—raising the international and national profile of Western Australia’s biotechnology industry to promote Western Australia’s capabilities, $265 953; international linkages—facilitating linkages between Western Australian biotechnology companies and international markets, $464 700; funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation—narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $50 000; skilling biotechnology innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australia biotechnology industry, $125 000. This makes a total of $1 994 720. And $1 million of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation funding was reallocated in May 2009 to the Square Kilometre Array project, therefore, the revised total Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation budget is $3.17 million. (2) The Department of Commerce has undertaken ongoing assessment of aspects of this strategy through various mechanisms, including the science review undertaken by the Centre for International Economics on behalf of the state government. Initiatives from this strategy are still being completed and these include the development of the bioprospecting legislation, the medical research commercialisation fund and the international BioGENEius Challenge. (3) The strategy implementation is still being undertaken. The government is currently developing its new science and innovation strategy, which will guide future support for biotechnology. (4) The state’s contract with the biotechnology institute for the BioGENEius Challenge will continue until 2012. An assessment will be conducted into the outcomes of the state government’s participation in this program and the viability of continuing beyond 2012.
(1) In 2007–08 the previous government allocated $4.17 million over three years to the implementation of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy. To 30 June 2011 the following has been spent on the implementation of the strategy: funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation, which is narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $565 000; promoting a biodiscovery industry based on Western Australia’s native terrestrial and marine biota, $8 880; infrastructure—building critical mass, assessing and addressing gaps in physical infrastructure requirements, $113 250; Think global, act local collaboration—strengthening collaboration with international, national and local biotechnology research industry groups to build relationships and facilitate partnerships, $84 300; skilling biotechnology—innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australian biotechnology industry, $317 637; promoting Western Australia—raising the international and national profile of Western Australia’s biotechnology industry to promote Western Australia’s capabilities, $265 953; international linkages—facilitating linkages between Western Australian biotechnology companies and international markets, $464 700; funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation—narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $50 000; skilling biotechnology innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australia biotechnology industry, $125 000. This makes a total of $1 994 720. And $1 million of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation funding was reallocated in May 2009 to the Square Kilometre Array project, therefore, the revised total Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation budget is $3.17 million. (2) The Department of Commerce has undertaken ongoing assessment of aspects of this strategy through various mechanisms, including the science review undertaken by the Centre for International Economics on behalf of the state government. Initiatives from this strategy are still being completed and these include the development of the bioprospecting legislation, the medical research commercialisation fund and the international BioGENEius Challenge. (3) The strategy implementation is still being undertaken. The government is currently developing its new science and innovation strategy, which will guide future support for biotechnology. (4) The state’s contract with the biotechnology institute for the BioGENEius Challenge will continue until 2012. An assessment will be conducted into the outcomes of the state government’s participation in this program and the viability of continuing beyond 2012.
(2) The Department of Commerce has undertaken ongoing assessment of aspects of this strategy through various mechanisms, including the science review undertaken by the Centre for International Economics on behalf of the state government. Initiatives from this strategy are still being completed and these include the development of the bioprospecting legislation, the medical research commercialisation fund and the international BioGENEius Challenge. (3) The strategy implementation is still being undertaken. The government is currently developing its new science and innovation strategy, which will guide future support for biotechnology. (4) The state’s contract with the biotechnology institute for the BioGENEius Challenge will continue until 2012. An assessment will be conducted into the outcomes of the state government’s participation in this program and the viability of continuing beyond 2012.
(3) The strategy implementation is still being undertaken. The government is currently developing its new science and innovation strategy, which will guide future support for biotechnology. (4) The state’s contract with the biotechnology institute for the BioGENEius Challenge will continue until 2012. An assessment will be conducted into the outcomes of the state government’s participation in this program and the viability of continuing beyond 2012.
(4) The state’s contract with the biotechnology institute for the BioGENEius Challenge will continue until 2012. An assessment will be conducted into the outcomes of the state government’s participation in this program and the viability of continuing beyond 2012.
(1) Can the minister outline by specific project how much of the $4.17 million previously allocated for this strategy’s implementation has been spent to 30 June 2011? (2) Has the government assessed the effectiveness of the strategy; and, if not, why not? (3) When will an updated strategy for this important sector be released with a new allocation of funding? (4) Will the minister guarantee funding for the BioGENEius Challenge past 2011; and, if not, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) In 2007–08 the previous government allocated $4.17 million over three years to the implementation of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy. To 30 June 2011 the following has been spent on the implementation of the strategy: funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation, which is narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $565 000; promoting a biodiscovery industry based on Western Australia’s native terrestrial and marine biota, $8 880; infrastructure—building critical mass, assessing and addressing gaps in physical infrastructure requirements, $113 250; Think global, act local collaboration—strengthening collaboration with international, national and local biotechnology research industry groups to build relationships and facilitate partnerships, $84 300; skilling biotechnology—innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australian biotechnology industry, $317 637; promoting Western Australia—raising the international and national profile of Western Australia’s biotechnology industry to promote Western Australia’s capabilities, $265 953; international linkages—facilitating linkages between Western Australian biotechnology companies and international markets, $464 700; funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation—narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $50 000; skilling biotechnology innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australia biotechnology industry, $125 000. This makes a total of $1 994 720. And $1 million of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation funding was reallocated in May 2009 to the Square Kilometre Array project, therefore, the revised total Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation budget is $3.17 million. (2) The Department of Commerce has undertaken ongoing assessment of aspects of this strategy through various mechanisms, including the science review undertaken by the Centre for International Economics on behalf of the state government. Initiatives from this strategy are still being completed and these include the development of the bioprospecting legislation, the medical research commercialisation fund and the international BioGENEius Challenge. (3) The strategy implementation is still being undertaken. The government is currently developing its new science and innovation strategy, which will guide future support for biotechnology. (4) The state’s contract with the biotechnology institute for the BioGENEius Challenge will continue until 2012. An assessment will be conducted into the outcomes of the state government’s participation in this program and the viability of continuing beyond 2012.
(2) Has the government assessed the effectiveness of the strategy; and, if not, why not? (3) When will an updated strategy for this important sector be released with a new allocation of funding? (4) Will the minister guarantee funding for the BioGENEius Challenge past 2011; and, if not, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) In 2007–08 the previous government allocated $4.17 million over three years to the implementation of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy. To 30 June 2011 the following has been spent on the implementation of the strategy: funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation, which is narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $565 000; promoting a biodiscovery industry based on Western Australia’s native terrestrial and marine biota, $8 880; infrastructure—building critical mass, assessing and addressing gaps in physical infrastructure requirements, $113 250; Think global, act local collaboration—strengthening collaboration with international, national and local biotechnology research industry groups to build relationships and facilitate partnerships, $84 300; skilling biotechnology—innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australian biotechnology industry, $317 637; promoting Western Australia—raising the international and national profile of Western Australia’s biotechnology industry to promote Western Australia’s capabilities, $265 953; international linkages—facilitating linkages between Western Australian biotechnology companies and international markets, $464 700; funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation—narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $50 000; skilling biotechnology innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australia biotechnology industry, $125 000. This makes a total of $1 994 720. And $1 million of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation funding was reallocated in May 2009 to the Square Kilometre Array project, therefore, the revised total Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation budget is $3.17 million. (2) The Department of Commerce has undertaken ongoing assessment of aspects of this strategy through various mechanisms, including the science review undertaken by the Centre for International Economics on behalf of the state government. Initiatives from this strategy are still being completed and these include the development of the bioprospecting legislation, the medical research commercialisation fund and the international BioGENEius Challenge. (3) The strategy implementation is still being undertaken. The government is currently developing its new science and innovation strategy, which will guide future support for biotechnology. (4) The state’s contract with the biotechnology institute for the BioGENEius Challenge will continue until 2012. An assessment will be conducted into the outcomes of the state government’s participation in this program and the viability of continuing beyond 2012.
(3) When will an updated strategy for this important sector be released with a new allocation of funding? (4) Will the minister guarantee funding for the BioGENEius Challenge past 2011; and, if not, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) In 2007–08 the previous government allocated $4.17 million over three years to the implementation of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy. To 30 June 2011 the following has been spent on the implementation of the strategy: funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation, which is narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $565 000; promoting a biodiscovery industry based on Western Australia’s native terrestrial and marine biota, $8 880; infrastructure—building critical mass, assessing and addressing gaps in physical infrastructure requirements, $113 250; Think global, act local collaboration—strengthening collaboration with international, national and local biotechnology research industry groups to build relationships and facilitate partnerships, $84 300; skilling biotechnology—innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australian biotechnology industry, $317 637; promoting Western Australia—raising the international and national profile of Western Australia’s biotechnology industry to promote Western Australia’s capabilities, $265 953; international linkages—facilitating linkages between Western Australian biotechnology companies and international markets, $464 700; funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation—narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $50 000; skilling biotechnology innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australia biotechnology industry, $125 000. This makes a total of $1 994 720. And $1 million of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation funding was reallocated in May 2009 to the Square Kilometre Array project, therefore, the revised total Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation budget is $3.17 million. (2) The Department of Commerce has undertaken ongoing assessment of aspects of this strategy through various mechanisms, including the science review undertaken by the Centre for International Economics on behalf of the state government. Initiatives from this strategy are still being completed and these include the development of the bioprospecting legislation, the medical research commercialisation fund and the international BioGENEius Challenge. (3) The strategy implementation is still being undertaken. The government is currently developing its new science and innovation strategy, which will guide future support for biotechnology. (4) The state’s contract with the biotechnology institute for the BioGENEius Challenge will continue until 2012. An assessment will be conducted into the outcomes of the state government’s participation in this program and the viability of continuing beyond 2012.
(4) Will the minister guarantee funding for the BioGENEius Challenge past 2011; and, if not, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) In 2007–08 the previous government allocated $4.17 million over three years to the implementation of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy. To 30 June 2011 the following has been spent on the implementation of the strategy: funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation, which is narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $565 000; promoting a biodiscovery industry based on Western Australia’s native terrestrial and marine biota, $8 880; infrastructure—building critical mass, assessing and addressing gaps in physical infrastructure requirements, $113 250; Think global, act local collaboration—strengthening collaboration with international, national and local biotechnology research industry groups to build relationships and facilitate partnerships, $84 300; skilling biotechnology—innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australian biotechnology industry, $317 637; promoting Western Australia—raising the international and national profile of Western Australia’s biotechnology industry to promote Western Australia’s capabilities, $265 953; international linkages—facilitating linkages between Western Australian biotechnology companies and international markets, $464 700; funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation—narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $50 000; skilling biotechnology innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australia biotechnology industry, $125 000. This makes a total of $1 994 720. And $1 million of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation funding was reallocated in May 2009 to the Square Kilometre Array project, therefore, the revised total Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation budget is $3.17 million. (2) The Department of Commerce has undertaken ongoing assessment of aspects of this strategy through various mechanisms, including the science review undertaken by the Centre for International Economics on behalf of the state government. Initiatives from this strategy are still being completed and these include the development of the bioprospecting legislation, the medical research commercialisation fund and the international BioGENEius Challenge. (3) The strategy implementation is still being undertaken. The government is currently developing its new science and innovation strategy, which will guide future support for biotechnology. (4) The state’s contract with the biotechnology institute for the BioGENEius Challenge will continue until 2012. An assessment will be conducted into the outcomes of the state government’s participation in this program and the viability of continuing beyond 2012.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) In 2007–08 the previous government allocated $4.17 million over three years to the implementation of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy. To 30 June 2011 the following has been spent on the implementation of the strategy: funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation, which is narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $565 000; promoting a biodiscovery industry based on Western Australia’s native terrestrial and marine biota, $8 880; infrastructure—building critical mass, assessing and addressing gaps in physical infrastructure requirements, $113 250; Think global, act local collaboration—strengthening collaboration with international, national and local biotechnology research industry groups to build relationships and facilitate partnerships, $84 300; skilling biotechnology—innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australian biotechnology industry, $317 637; promoting Western Australia—raising the international and national profile of Western Australia’s biotechnology industry to promote Western Australia’s capabilities, $265 953; international linkages—facilitating linkages between Western Australian biotechnology companies and international markets, $464 700; funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation—narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $50 000; skilling biotechnology innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australia biotechnology industry, $125 000. This makes a total of $1 994 720. And $1 million of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation funding was reallocated in May 2009 to the Square Kilometre Array project, therefore, the revised total Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation budget is $3.17 million. (2) The Department of Commerce has undertaken ongoing assessment of aspects of this strategy through various mechanisms, including the science review undertaken by the Centre for International Economics on behalf of the state government. Initiatives from this strategy are still being completed and these include the development of the bioprospecting legislation, the medical research commercialisation fund and the international BioGENEius Challenge. (3) The strategy implementation is still being undertaken. The government is currently developing its new science and innovation strategy, which will guide future support for biotechnology. (4) The state’s contract with the biotechnology institute for the BioGENEius Challenge will continue until 2012. An assessment will be conducted into the outcomes of the state government’s participation in this program and the viability of continuing beyond 2012.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) In 2007–08 the previous government allocated $4.17 million over three years to the implementation of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy. To 30 June 2011 the following has been spent on the implementation of the strategy: funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation, which is narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $565 000; promoting a biodiscovery industry based on Western Australia’s native terrestrial and marine biota, $8 880; infrastructure—building critical mass, assessing and addressing gaps in physical infrastructure requirements, $113 250; Think global, act local collaboration—strengthening collaboration with international, national and local biotechnology research industry groups to build relationships and facilitate partnerships, $84 300; skilling biotechnology—innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australian biotechnology industry, $317 637; promoting Western Australia—raising the international and national profile of Western Australia’s biotechnology industry to promote Western Australia’s capabilities, $265 953; international linkages—facilitating linkages between Western Australian biotechnology companies and international markets, $464 700; funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation—narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $50 000; skilling biotechnology innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australia biotechnology industry, $125 000. This makes a total of $1 994 720. And $1 million of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation funding was reallocated in May 2009 to the Square Kilometre Array project, therefore, the revised total Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation budget is $3.17 million. (2) The Department of Commerce has undertaken ongoing assessment of aspects of this strategy through various mechanisms, including the science review undertaken by the Centre for International Economics on behalf of the state government. Initiatives from this strategy are still being completed and these include the development of the bioprospecting legislation, the medical research commercialisation fund and the international BioGENEius Challenge. (3) The strategy implementation is still being undertaken. The government is currently developing its new science and innovation strategy, which will guide future support for biotechnology. (4) The state’s contract with the biotechnology institute for the BioGENEius Challenge will continue until 2012. An assessment will be conducted into the outcomes of the state government’s participation in this program and the viability of continuing beyond 2012.
(1) In 2007–08 the previous government allocated $4.17 million over three years to the implementation of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy. To 30 June 2011 the following has been spent on the implementation of the strategy: funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation, which is narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $565 000; promoting a biodiscovery industry based on Western Australia’s native terrestrial and marine biota, $8 880; infrastructure—building critical mass, assessing and addressing gaps in physical infrastructure requirements, $113 250; Think global, act local collaboration—strengthening collaboration with international, national and local biotechnology research industry groups to build relationships and facilitate partnerships, $84 300; skilling biotechnology—innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australian biotechnology industry, $317 637; promoting Western Australia—raising the international and national profile of Western Australia’s biotechnology industry to promote Western Australia’s capabilities, $265 953; international linkages—facilitating linkages between Western Australian biotechnology companies and international markets, $464 700; funding the biotechnology pipeline—innovation to commercialisation—narrowing the gap in funding for early stage commercialisation of new biotechnology products and discoveries, $50 000; skilling biotechnology innovation to commercialisation—facilitating skills development for the Western Australia biotechnology industry, $125 000. This makes a total of $1 994 720. And $1 million of the Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation funding was reallocated in May 2009 to the Square Kilometre Array project, therefore, the revised total Western Australian biotechnology industry development strategy implementation budget is $3.17 million. (2) The Department of Commerce has undertaken ongoing assessment of aspects of this strategy through various mechanisms, including the science review undertaken by the Centre for International Economics on behalf of the state government. Initiatives from this strategy are still being completed and these include the development of the bioprospecting legislation, the medical research commercialisation fund and the international BioGENEius Challenge. (3) The strategy implementation is still being undertaken. The government is currently developing its new science and innovation strategy, which will guide future support for biotechnology. (4) The state’s contract with the biotechnology institute for the BioGENEius Challenge will continue until 2012. An assessment will be conducted into the outcomes of the state government’s participation in this program and the viability of continuing beyond 2012.
(2) The Department of Commerce has undertaken ongoing assessment of aspects of this strategy through various mechanisms, including the science review undertaken by the Centre for International Economics on behalf of the state government. Initiatives from this strategy are still being completed and these include the development of the bioprospecting legislation, the medical research commercialisation fund and the international BioGENEius Challenge. (3) The strategy implementation is still being undertaken. The government is currently developing its new science and innovation strategy, which will guide future support for biotechnology. (4) The state’s contract with the biotechnology institute for the BioGENEius Challenge will continue until 2012. An assessment will be conducted into the outcomes of the state government’s participation in this program and the viability of continuing beyond 2012.
(3) The strategy implementation is still being undertaken. The government is currently developing its new science and innovation strategy, which will guide future support for biotechnology. (4) The state’s contract with the biotechnology institute for the BioGENEius Challenge will continue until 2012. An assessment will be conducted into the outcomes of the state government’s participation in this program and the viability of continuing beyond 2012.
(4) The state’s contract with the biotechnology institute for the BioGENEius Challenge will continue until 2012. An assessment will be conducted into the outcomes of the state government’s participation in this program and the viability of continuing beyond 2012.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.