New research centre gives Queensland a unique foothold in global markets

The Palaszczuk Government’s injection of $3.25 million over three years to a new world-class medical innovation centre will ensure Queensland is at the forefront of global medical imaging technology. 

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, joined by Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy Leeanne Enoch, today officially opened the new ‘TRI Innovation and Translation Centre in collaboration with Siemens Healthcare’, a collaboration between Queensland’s Translational Research Institute (TRI) and global medical devices developer and manufacturer Siemens Healthcare.

The Queensland Government has invested $3.25 million over three years to the centre as part of the Advance Queensland Future Jobs Strategy to open the door to new industry/research collaborations, tackle the big innovation challenges and build industries with global growth potential.

Ms Palaszczuk said a key focus of the new centre was on strengthening the working relationship between business and research.

“Government and medical research institutes can’t commercialise a medical innovation and make it available worldwide. Only organisations like Siemens Healthcare can achieve that,” the Premier said.

“By partnering with business, we can get critical research out of the lab and into the marketplace, and that means future jobs for Queenslanders.

“I had a very constructive meeting with representatives from Siemens during my US trade mission last year and I’m delighted to say that out of that meeting and the hard work of TRI and Siemens, this initiative has been borne.

“The fact that Siemens has partnered with Queensland shows how highly we are viewed in the global technology sector.”

Ms Enoch said the new centre would not only reap big benefits for patients but will also incorporate Queensland innovations in imaging technology into Siemens Healthcare imaging systems around the world.

“Advance Queensland sets out a pathway for future economic prosperity in Queensland based on innovation,” Ms Enoch said.

“This collaboration between Siemens Healthcare and Queensland researchers could be extremely lucrative, with the global market for magnetic resonance imaging systems expected to reach almost US$5814 million by 2020.

“This clearly demonstrates the value of innovation to our economy as well as the importance of collaborating with key international companies, like Siemens Healthcare, in gaining access to global markets.”

Ms Palaszczuk praised Translational Research Institute CEO Professor Carolyn Mountford for her role in establishing the partnership with Siemens Healthcare.

A world-leading expert in magnetic resonance, Professor Mountford said the collaboration with Siemens Healthcare would give the TRI the capability to develop the imaging technology and protocols needed to evaluate new targeted therapies as well as a new cancer vaccines being developed by TRI founder and University of Queensland scientist Professor Ian Frazer.

President Asia Pacific for Siemens Healthcare Elisabeth Staudinger said Queensland was a powerhouse when it came to medical imaging research and development.

“It makes sense to us to collaborate closely with Queensland researchers with the aim of improving Siemens technologies,” Ms Staudinger said.

Ms Staudinger said Siemens Healthcare had a strong track record in integrating the latest research into its products.

The TRI Innovation and Translation Centre in collaboration with Siemens Healthcare also involves the University of Queensland, Queensland Health, QUT and Mater Research and will look to partner with QIMR Berghofer and the Hunter Medical Research Institute in Newcastle.

[ENDS] 1 March 2016

Media contact: 0437 837 976

Siemens Healthcare: Michael Meyer, 0407061558, michael.mime.meyer@siemens.com