Western Australia’s life sciences sector brings together research, industry, healthcare and government to translate discovery into real-world outcomes. The sector is characterised by strong research capability, growing commercial activity, and a collaborative approach that reflects WA’s unique geographic, clinical and environmental strengths.

Life Sciences WA represents this diverse ecosystem which spans human health, agriculture, food, and the bio-based economy. We represent organisations across the full life sciences value chain, including researchers, startups, SMEs, global companies, investors, service providers and enabling institutions.

Our role is to advocate for the sector, connect capability, and support sustainable growth that delivers health, economic and societal benefits for Western Australia.

Human Health & Medical Research

Western Australia has a well-established health and medical research community supported by universities, medical research institutes, hospitals and clinical trial networks. Activity spans biomedical and clinical research; precision and genomic medicine; diagnostics and pathology; therapeutics, vaccines and biologics; and population health, digital health and data-enabled research.

MedTech & HealthTech

WA’s medtech and healthtech sector includes companies developing and deploying technologies that improve patient care, clinical efficiency and health system performance. This includes medical devices and implantable technologies; digital health, software and data platforms; remote, connected and virtual care solutions; and hospital, laboratory and point-of-care technologies.

Biotechnology & Therapeutics

Western Australia has growing strength in biotechnology, including discovery, development and manufacturing-adjacent capability. This includes drug discovery and development; biologics and advanced therapies; cell and gene-based technologies; and research translation and scale-up activity.

Agrifood, Agriculture & Aquaculture

Life sciences play a critical role in Western Australia’s agriculture and aquaculture sectors, supporting productivity, sustainability and biosecurity. Key areas include agricultural biotechnology and genetics; animal and plant health; aquaculture and marine biotechnology; food innovation, nutrition and traceability; and biosecurity and environmental monitoring.

Bio-based Industries & Enabling Technologies

WA’s life sciences ecosystem also supports emerging and enabling industries, including industrial biotechnology and bio-manufacturing; synthetic biology and bioprocessing; laboratory services, research infrastructure and supply chains; and contract research, testing and analytical services.

Western Australia’s life sciences sector is a connected ecosystem. Research, healthcare, industry and government are closely linked through shared infrastructure, talent, data, regulation and end-users.

Many organisations work across multiple domains, including health, agriculture, data, engineering and manufacturing. This enables knowledge, technology and capability to move between sectors. Advances in one area, such as genomics, digital platforms or bioprocessing, are often applied across human health, agriculture, aquaculture and environmental applications.

Common characteristics that connect the ecosystem include:

• A strong research and translation focus
• Deep collaboration between public and private sectors
• Shared reliance on specialised infrastructure and skills
• Similar development timelines and regulatory pathways
• An emphasis on real-world impact and commercialisation

Western Australia’s life sciences sector operates within a multi-portfolio government policy environment spanning economic development, innovation, health, research, agriculture and industry capability. It is shaped by a combination of whole-of-government and portfolio-specific policies that collectively influence investment, infrastructure, workforce development, research translation and commercialisation outcomes.