The WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub was delighted to welcome and support a delegation of Singapore biotech companies that touched down in Perth on Monday last week, kicking off a three-day program designed to connect visiting startups and innovation leaders with WA’s biomedical ecosystem.
Organised by ACE.SG, the national voice for the Singapore startup ecosystem and a key trade association representing the interests of startups in Singapore, in collaboration with Invest and Trade WA and the Department Energy and Economic Diversification (DEED), the delegation reflects the deepening relationship between WA and Singapore. It builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed by DEED (previously the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation) and ACE.SG in late 2024, which aims to strengthen collaboration and knowledge exchange between the two regions.
The three-day visit offered Singaporean companies the opportunity to meet with a range of WA organisations to better understand opportunities in the state, research capabilities, funding pathways, and commercialisation support services. At the same time, it provided WA stakeholders a chance to learn about exciting technologies being developed in Singapore, and how our ecosystems might work together in the future.
On Monday morning, following a briefing from WA Government, WALSIH Directors Dr Tracey Wilkinson and Professor Kevin Pfleger introduced the delegates to WALSIH’s mission and activities to grow jobs, funding and opportunity for WA’s biomedical sector. This was followed by site visits to the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Linear Clinical Research, and The Kids Research Institute. For the visiting companies, the day was not just about seeing facilities – it was about meeting the people driving innovation in WA and gaining a window into WA’s areas of strength like collaborative biomedical research and early-stage clinical trials.
The evening concluded with the sold-out event ‘Singapore biotech delegation Welcome Reception x WA Spotlight’, held in partnership with WALSIH, ACE.SG, Invest and Trade WA, and Spacecubed as part of the WALSIH’s monthly WA Spotlight series.
The event featured two engaging sessions. The first introduced attendees to ACE.SG and Enterprise Singapore (the government agency championing enterprise development in Singapore) as well as the four visiting companies – ConnectingDNA, Mesh Bio, Auristone, and Singapore Biodesign (A*STAR) – who shared insights into their technologies. The second session brought local innovation stories to the stage, with a conversation between Dr Matthew Oldakowski and Dr Intan Oldakowska (founders of Earflo, REX Ortho and founding directors of Perth Biodesign) and Oliver Bazzani (current Director of Perth Biodesign and Biodesign Australia).
Their discussion highlighted:
It was also fantastic to hear DEED’s Acting Director General Simone Spencer make concluding remarks about the success of the evening.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the delegation explored more of WA’s innovation sector, meeting with universities, incubators, investors, and support organisations. WALSIH provided additional guidance to the companies about commercialisation opportunities in WA, including access to non-dilutive funding, regulatory support, and connections to clinical partners and trial networks. Dr Wilkinson and our Head of Commercialisation Dr Roop Judge had 1-on-1 meetings with each of the companies exploring how WALSIH can support future partnerships in WA
With so many parallels between the WA and Singapore ecosystems, and a shared commitment to advancing health innovation, this delegation is a timely and welcome opportunity to forge deeper connections. We’re excited to see what collaborations will grow from these conversations, and to continue showcasing what WA has to offer the global life sciences community.
