2 minute read
Australian-German partnership for global biotechnology leader
Biotechnology
By Maximilian Englisch, VP Global Sales, Waldner
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Waldner is fitting out the R&D laboratories at the new CSL headquarters in Melbourne
The life science industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in Australia. This development was already obvious before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, but the urgent demand for local solutions fuelled the growth in the past 18 months. With leading research and development institutions, both private as well as public and a world-renowned university landscape, Australia is globally recognised as one of the leading nations in developing treatments and diagnostics to detect and cure COVID-19 and other diseases.
The term life sciences is often used as an umbrella term for sectors including medical technologies, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics as well as digital health and biotechnology. With the latter being considered a game changer in the development of not just lifesaving drugs but also in innovating for example healthier and more resistant crops and more sustainable fuel.
Biotechnology is a technology based on the biology of living organisms such as bacteria and has been researched for decades. Synthetic Insulin for example was one of the first large developments and many have followed. Dedicated and personalised gene therapy and medication to treat certain cancers is a major focus as well as curing rare diseases. Due to their revolutionary mRNA technology, Biotech companies such as German BioNtech and Curevac are at the forefront of the fight against the current pandemic and their vaccinations are helping to save lives.
Vaccinations is also how one of Australia’s leading life science companies started over 100 years ago. CSL – Commonwealth Serum Laboratories – was established in 1916 to support the health needs of a young nation. Today, CSL is one of the leading global life science companies with R&D as well as production locations around the world. This includes the locations of CSL Behring, a German company founded by Emil von Behring who won the first Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1901. CSL acquired Behring 15 years ago and the company has since developed into a global leader in many different fields of medicine – a great example of a truly successful Australian-German partnership.
CSL is currently building their new global headquarters in the Parkville biomedical precinct in Melbourne. This state-of-the-art 35.000 square metres facility unites both the HQ functions as well as research and development on 17 floors. Trusted with the design and delivery of the scientific infrastructure is Waldner, a global leader in fitting out laboratory facilities hailing from Wangen in the South of Germany. Until completion in 2023 Waldner will be part of this exciting project and will fit out all the research areas with state-ofthe-art laboratory infrastructure after having done so in other CSL locations across Europe. Another great example of Australian-German collaboration.
About us
Waldner is a global leader in scientific infrastructure with a focus on sustainable and futureproof laboratories. Headquartered in Germany, Waldner has a global presence in all major regions worldwide, supporting clients in the life science, chemical and medical industry as well as universities and other educational institutes. Waldner has been involved in various projects in Australia over the past 20 years and maintains an office in Brisbane. www.waldner.de
