Dr Mikael Hirsch

1
Biotechnology Demystified
Dr Mikael Hirsch CSIRO Biotechnology
Coordinator Industry Panel for Science
Teachers 25 November 2005
2
Introductions

• Mikael Hirsch, Biotechnology Coordinator
• Policy and regulatory coordination across CSIRO
• Marketing of CSIROs biotechnology capabilities
• Advice to Australian governments and the OECD
• Director of AusBiotech the Industry
  Organisation
• CSIRO - Australias premier research organisation
• 110M biotechnology research portfolio
• Spread across 600 projects in 11 Divisions
• Focus on basic and strategic RD
• 75 agricultural/environmental biotech

3
Some recent newspaper headlines

• MP digs in for long fight against embryo cloning
• The Age,10 November 2005
• Designer baby fear on cancer test
• The Australian, 9 November 2005
• UQ team helps tap into the alcoholic brain
• Australian Biotechnology News, 10 November 2005
• EU authorises imports of GM maize for use in feed
• Reuters, 3 November 2005
• Growers not liable for GM traces
• FarmOnline, 7 November 2005

4
(No Transcript)
5
CSIROs Biotechnology Vision

• Biotechnology offers a window of opportunity for
  Australia by delivering
• Improvements in our health and wellbeing
• Safer and more competitive food systems
• Prosperity through jobs and new industries
• A more sustainable environment
• Over the next five to ten years the function of
  every molecule in every cell type is likely to be
  described it will deliver new insights into the
  molecular makeup of biological systems

6
(No Transcript)
7
But what is biotechnology
Societal acceptance of new products
8
Defining biotechnology

• OECD
• The application of science and technology to
  living organisms as well as parts, products and
  models thereof, to alter living and non-living
  material for the production of knowledge, goods
  and services

9
OECD uses 5 indicative categories

• DNA level (genomics GMOs etc)
• Proteins and molecules
• Cell and tissue culture and engineering
• Process biotechnologies
• Sub-cellular organisms (gene therapy)

10
OECD statistics are incomplete

• But what about these areas?
• Marker assisted animal and plant breeding
• Diagnostic tests and medical devices
• Tools in bioinformatics and statistics
• Basic genetic and biological research
• Biofuels and biomass replacing fossil fuels
• Waste management and bioremediation
• Government investments and support
• GMO regulation and risk assessments
• Teaching, training and consultants

11
In reality it is . . .

• Not just lifesciences but delivery of new
  products
• Focus on commercialisation of life science the
  D in RD
• High technology industry driven by high quality
  science
• BOTH an emerging sector AND transforming existing
  industries through new technologies
• More than genomics companies feeding the pharma
  industry
• Blurring of existing boundaries, e.g. energy and
  manufacturing
• Public good RD flowing into agriculture and the
  environment
• Developing area of the global economy
• Focus for Government investments and policy
  development
• Part of the innovation system together with ICT
  and nanotech

12
(No Transcript)
13
National biotech capability statement

• Released at AusBiotech 2005
• All-of-government approach to broaden national
  strategic planning
• Define what national capability really means
• Agreement on sectorial framework
• Work ahead
• Understanding connectivity with established
  industries
• Analysis of underlying issues and business models
• Develop economic metrics to measure impact
• Determine return on government investments

14
Four major sector-based domains
Biomedical
Agribiotech
Cross-cuttingcapabilities
Environmental
Industrial
15
National capabilities - biomedical
Biomedical
Therapeutics
Medical devices
Vaccines
Preclinical Clinical Trials
Diagnostics
16
National capabilities - agribiotech
Agribiotech
Food Crops
Fibre Crops
Animal Health Breeding
Aquaculture
Nutraceuticals / Functional Foods
17
National capabilities - environmental
Biological Control of Pests
Water Treatment Management
Bioremediation
Environmental
Biodiscovery
Detection Systems
18
National capabilities - industrial
Biofuels
Biomaterials
Biomining
Industrial
Food Processing
Chemicals Enzymes
19
National capabilities - cross cutting areas
Bioinformatics
Cross-cutting Capabilities Enablingtechnologies

Nanotechnology
Bioprocessing
Proteomics
Genomics
Phenomics
Molecular Discovery
20
Underpinning factors

• Public acceptance
• Regulatory regimes
• Linkages
• Champions
• Government programs
• Infrastructure and skills
• Ready adopters of new technology
• Research and development
• Geographic location

21
(No Transcript)
22
Science the engine driving the industry

• Excellence in basic and strategic research is
  essential to drive industry development
• Australias biotech RD effort
• 0.3 of worlds population
• 3 of global research outputs
• 8th globally of publications per capita
• More PhD students per capita than US, UK, Canada
• 10th in the US patent system
• Biotech GERD US1 billion
• Biotech BERD US500 million

23
Australias biotechnology industry

• Becoming recognised as a separate sector
• Size of industry is ranked sixth globally
• 400 core biotech companies
• 300 medical device companies
• 6000 full time employees
• Many biotech companies are spin-offs
• AusBiotech the industry organisation
• Only four years old and growing
• Now 2400 members

24
Government support for biotechnology

• National Biotechnology Strategy
• Legislative reviews of stem cells and GMOs
• Market and business development support
• Part of the national innovation system
• National Research Priorities
• World class infrastructure projects
• State government investments
• State research agencies
• Economic development focus

25
Australia far away from the action

• (world map)

THE WORLDs LIGHTS AT NIGHT. As energy use
approximates GDP, this image is a composite view
of population and wealth on planet Earth.
Although Australia is the 6th wealthiest nation
on Earth (OECD), we are a long way from the
action.
26
Some Resources for Teachers

• Biotechnology Online school resources
• www.biotechnology.gov.au
• CSIROs gene technology website
• www.csiro.au
• Gene Technology Information Service
• Toll free call (Australia-wide) on 1800 631 276
  or email gtis-australia_at_unimelb.edu.au
• Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries
• www.abpischools.org.uk/resources/poster-series/bio
  tech/

27
(No Transcript)