Queensland biofutures mission gathers momentum

Queensland’s ambition to become a global bio-industrial hub, creating jobs and new business opportunities in regional and rural areas, has taken a major step forward today.

Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy Leeanne Enoch announced the $5 million Advance Queensland Biofutures Commercialisation Program (BCP) is now open to receive expressions of interest from national and international applicants.

“We have the fundamentals in Queensland to see the emergence of this exciting and potentially lucrative new industry,” she said.

“Our universities and research institutes are producing leading research and development on advanced biofuels, biochemicals, bioplastics, emerging specialised energy crops and germplasm improvement, among a range of research projects.

“The Biofutures Commercialisation Program sets out to increase the capability and scale of the biofutures industry in Queensland.”

The BCP will attract national and international bioindustrial expertise to partner with Queensland researchers and/or businesses to scale-up and test new or improved technologies and processes from the pilot or demonstration scale in Queensland.

The Palaszczuk Government will provide funding up to $250,000 for projects at pilot scale of development, and up to $1 million for projects at the demonstration scale of development.

In 2014, a joint Deloitte Access Economics and Queensland University of Technology study projected that by 2035 an industrial biotechnology and bioproducts sector could contribute $1.8 billion to Queensland’s gross state products and support almost 7000 jobs in the state, particularly in regional and rural Queensland.

“If we get this right, we are looking to reap some big rewards for Queensland down the track in terms of jobs and business opportunities. Our $5 million commitment to get bio-industrial products off the lab bench and into the marketplace is a key investment in our economic future,” Ms Enoch said.

The Advance Queensland Biofutures Commercialisation Program is part of the Queensland Government’s Queensland Biofutures 10 Year-Roadmap and Action Plan.

Expressions of Interest open today. For more detail visit advance.qld.gov.au/bcp

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