Australia produces world-class research yet faces persistent translational challenges that limit commercialisation and real-world impact. Systemic barriers include low rates of translation despite high research output, limited collaboration between research and industry, under-support for SMEs, funding concentrated in early discovery, fragmented schemes, and insufficient training in product-development and regulatory requirements¹.
Vaccines and infectious diseases - areas in which Australia’s scientific capability is internationally recognised - exemplify these challenges, particularly as many interventions do not yield compelling returns on investment for the private sector. Since 2000, more than 600 vaccine-related technologies have been patented and over 100 clinical trials conducted, yet only one vaccine has reached market2. Most projects remain concentrated at Technology Readiness Levels 2–5. Despite Australia’s strengths in infectious disease research and immunology, this capability has not been fully realised. With the rise of antimicrobial resistance and the lessons of recent pandemics, infectious disease preparedness and vaccine development have become global priorities. Strengthening translation will be critical to ensure Australian research delivers tangible health impact locally, regionally, and globally.
The inaugural Australian Vaccine Value Chain Conference, which convened over 215 leaders across academia, industry, government, and investors, highlighted the need for stronger national coordination, clearer roles and accountabilities, end-user engagement, and new public–private-partnerships to accelerate translation and equitable access.
In response, the Medical Research Future Fund established Biointelect Venturer (BV) under the BiomedTech Incubator initiative, a national virtual incubator dedicated to accelerating vaccines, vaccine-related technologies and immunotherapies for the prevention of infectious disease. Over four years, BV will deploy $25 million to SMEs and spinouts at TRLs 2–6, combining funding with tailored translational support, expert mentorship, and access to infrastructure and investors. Aligning with recent national policy priorities and strategies1, 3-8, BV aims to bridge the valley-of-death between discovery and market, strengthening Australia’s sovereign capability and global health impact.