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Why the world is looking to Brisbane, Australia for the future of health innovation

9 Dec

As Brisbane’s next wave of MedTech companies prepares to take the global stage at J.P. Morgan Healthcare Week in January 2026, the international investment community is paying closer attention to a city rapidly emerging as an Asia Pacific life sciences powerhouse. 

Brisbane’s A$201 billion economy is anchored by a A$22 billion health sector, fuelled by strong population growth and a purposeful pipeline of public and private investment.  

As Australia’s fastest-growing major city, Brisbane is being reshaped by an A$18 billion health infrastructure pipeline, creating the largest interconnected health precinct in the Southern Hemisphere, spanning hospitals, universities and innovation hubs. 

This momentum is translating directly into commercial strength. Brisbane’s health industry and export capability are expanding faster than anywhere else in Australia, supported by world-class research institutions such as The University of Queensland. 

Turning innovation into investment 

At the centre of this growth sits the MedTech Global Accelerator, delivered by Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA) in partnership with Life Science Nation (LSN). The program prepares founders to launch a global funding campaign through commercial readiness and direct international investor engagement. 

Since launch, the accelerator has supported more than 30 high-potential companies to raise over A$336 million in capital. 

An additional 10 high-growth companies have now been selected for the 2026 cohort. Their technologies range from a blood test for early-stage ovarian cancer and a world-first artificial heart, to cancer-fighting compounds derived from Queensland rainforests, each with potential to transform global healthcare. 

Be part of Brisbane’s next global MedTech wave 

Collectively, these companies represent Brisbane’s next generation of globally scalable health technologies as they prepare to showcase to international investors in San Francisco in January 2026. 

MedTech Global Accelerator Cohort

BEDA offers investors and partners early access to these vetted innovators through its official MedTech Innovation Showcase Compendium. 

Join the Brisbane, Queensland Investor Innovation Showcase on Monday, 12 January 2026, 9am–12pm, at Marriott Marquis, in collaboration with Trade and Investment Queensland and LSN. 

Register for the Investor Innovation Showcase today. 

BEDA serves as one of the front doors to Australia’s rapidly expanding clinical trial ecosystem, connecting partners to Queensland’s world-class trial sites, hospitals, universities and research institutions. Through this statewide, highly networked framework, BEDA helps fast track access to clinical research capabilities from Phase I to Phase IV. 

Why global investors are watching Brisbane, Australia: 

  • 43.5% R&D tax incentive 
  • Clinical trials run up to 3x faster than USA, 2x faster than UK 
  • Variable payroll tax rates in Australia 
  • Closest export hub to Asia 
  • Fastest planning approval on Australia’s east coast 
  • Host of the 2032 Olympic & Paralympic Games 
  • Top 40 Innovation City worldwide 
  • Highest innovation hub density in Australia (140 per capita) 
  • Direct access to Asia Pacific markets 
  • Health sector projected to grow 36% by 2032 
  • Leading clinical trials: 160+ sites, 40 CROs statewide 

With world-class research, deep clinical capability and fast-growing commercial opportunities, Brisbane is positioning itself as one of the most compelling gateways to Asia Pacific health innovation, and a city where early investment could deliver significant global reach. 

BEDA CEO Anthony Ryan said Brisbane’s MedTech ecosystem has accelerated at remarkable pace. 

“Brisbane has grown up fast as a MedTech city,” Mr Ryan said.  

“Today, everything connects in one place, from research and hospitals through to manufacturing and global investors. That full pathway is what makes this such a powerful time to be building and investing here.” 

He said global attention is now firmly on Brisbane. “We are seeing serious interest from around the world,” he added. “The infrastructure is ready, the talent is here and the companies coming through our accelerator are built to compete globally.” 

Infrastructure driving faster translation 

Brisbane’s Inner-City Knowledge Corridor serves as the heart of the city’s research and development, linking together institutions involved in research, hospitals, clinical care, manufacturing, and commercial activities. 

Combined with Brisbane Airport, this corridor forms a “golden triangle,” connecting research and development to export opportunities and giving businesses access to the vast $90 trillion Asia Pacific market. 

Together, these assets enable companies to move from discovery to clinical validation and commercial manufacturing within a single urban corridor – accelerating collaboration, speed to market and global scalability. 

Learn more about the city’s key health infrastructure driving Brisbane’s biomedical ecosystem:  Health Innovation Infrastructure Showcase 

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You are Invited! Join Kansai Life Science Accelerator Program (KLSAP) Demo Day at RESI JPM 2026 

2 Dec

By Claire Jeong, Chief Conference Officer, Vice President of Investor Research, Asia BD, LSN

Join us for a special showcase of Japan’s most promising early-stage life science innovators at the KLSAP 2025 Demo Day, presented by the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster (KBIC). This dynamic session will feature three finalists from the Kansai Life Science Accelerator Program alongside eight KBIC startups and alumni. Companies will deliver focused pitches highlighting new advances in therapeutics, medical platforms, diagnostics, and digital health, followed by live Q&A with global investors.

Hosted during RESI JPM 2026, this session is an excellent opportunity for investors, BD teams, and innovation scouts looking to connect with high-potential Japanese technologies poised for global expansion.

📅 January 13, 12:00–2:00pm PST
📍 Golden Gate C3 Room, Marriott Marquis San Francisco

Agenda: 
12:00–12:03 Opening – KLSAP Overview

12:03–12:45 KLSAP 2025 Demo Day 
Featuring 3 Finalist Companies (7 minute pitch + 6 minute Q&A with investor panel) 

C-Biomex GeneMedicine ixgene

12:45–12:50 KLSAP 2025 Demo Day Closing – KBIC Introduction 

12:50–1:53 KBIC Startups and Alumni Speed Pitches 
Featuring 8 startups (5 minute pitch) 

aceRNA-Technologies Celaid CellFiber
CynosBio FerroptoCure linqmed
quadlytics

1:53–2:00 KBIC Session Closing 

RSVP to Attend

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RESI JPM 2026 IPC Finalists 

2 Dec

By Max Braht, Director of Business Development, LSN

Max-Braht-Headshot

Life Science Nation is pleased to announce the finalists for the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC) at RESI JPM 2026. Taking place over two full days in San Francisco, RESI JPM will once again bring together early-stage life science and healthcare innovators with a global community of investors seeking opportunities across drugs, devices, diagnostics, and digital health (4Ds). 

This year’s IPC will run as a continuous track, with finalists presenting in dedicated sessions held every hour across both days of RESI JPM 2026. These startups will showcase technologies poised to address key challenges across the 4Ds and advance the next generation of healthcare innovation. 

The IPC gives founders a rare opportunity to pitch directly to active investors, including VCs, family offices, corporate venture groups, and angel networks. Presenting companies receive actionable feedback, participate in meaningful conversations with investors, and gain visibility among the hundreds of attendees in the RESI partnering community. 

Finalists will also present their technologies in the RESI Exhibition Hall, creating additional touchpoints for networking and ongoing discussion throughout the conference. 

About the RESI Innovator’s Pitch Challenge 

The IPC remains a defining element of all RESI conferences. Each pitch session brings together a coordinated panel of investors who deliver interactive, constructive feedback designed to help founders refine their fundraising narrative. IPC participants receive conference registration with full access to partnering, exhibit space in the RESI Exhibition Hall, and the opportunity to compete for a complimentary registration to a future RESI event. 

Join Us at RESI JPM 2026 

RESI JPM 2026 will feature a two-day, in-person experience in San Francisco, offering expanded opportunities for partnering, investor panels, workshops, networking, and an IPC track running every hour across both days. Full event details, including registration and program updates, can be found at the RESI Conference website. 

Meet the RESI JPM 2026 Innovator’s Pitch Challenge Finalists: 

Register for RESI JPM >>

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Explore the RESI London 2025 Program Guide 

25 Nov

By Dennis Ford, Founder & CEO, Life Science Nation (LSN)

DF-News-09142022The official program guide for RESI London 2025 is now available! Redefining Every Stage of Investment (RESI) is designed to connect life science and healthcare innovators with a global network of investors across diverse funding strategies, from Seed through Series B and beyond.

This guide provides a complete overview of what to expect throughout the conference, detailing the content and layout for our in-person event on December 4th. Inside, you’ll find the full agenda, speaker bios, panel descriptions, and essential information to help you navigate your RESI experience. Whether you’re participating in investor meetings, the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge, workshops, or ad hoc networking, this guide is your resource to stay organized and maximize your time at RESI London.

Access the full guide here:

Register for RESI London

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RESI London Innovator’s Pitch Challenge Finalists 

18 Nov

By Claire Jeong, Chief Conference Officer, Vice President of Investor Research, Asia BD, LSN

The Innovator’s Pitch Challenge showcases early-stage companies developing breakthrough technologies across key sectors of life sciences.

The Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC) returns to RESI London with a full lineup of pioneering startups presenting across multiple themed sessions. Each finalist will pitch to panels of relevant investors and industry leaders, gaining practical feedback and creating valuable connections with partners actively seeking new technologies. The IPC provides fundraising companies with a platform to elevate their visibility and engage with a global network of investors and strategics.

If you are attending RESI London, make time to see these pitches and meet the founders throughout the day. Delegates participating in partnering can also schedule one-on-one meetings with the finalists. Full event and registration details are available at resiconference.com/resi-london.

Meet the RESI London Innovator’s Pitch Challenge Finalists

Session 1 | 9:00 – 10:00 AM | Therapeutics

Session 2 | 10:00 – 11:00 AM | Diagnostics Tools & Platforms

Session 3 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Therapeutics

Session 4 | 1:00 – 2:00 PM | Therapeutics & Medical Devices

Session 5 | 2:00 – 3:00 PM | Therapeutics

Session 6 | 3:00 – 4:00 PM | Medical Devices

Session 7 | 4:00 – 5:00 PM | R&D and Enabling Technologies
Register for RESI London

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From Lab to Market: Why Life Science Companies Are Drawn to Singapore 

12 Nov

By Claire Jeong, Chief Conference Officer, Vice President of Investor Research, Asia BD, LSN

LSN is proud to announce our partnership with Enterprise SG for RESI JPM 2026, to foster meaningful conversations on global life science innovation, investment and cross-border collaboration. Learn how Singapore is a dynamic launchpad for innovation and home to cutting-edge startups ready to collaborate on your next breakthrough. Join us at our upcoming panel on January 12 to find out more! 

As global healthcare challenges intensify, innovative biomedical technologies from Asia are stepping up to drive change, translating life science research into real-world solutions. Increasingly, investors, corporates, startups, and healthcare systems around the world are seeing the urgency in bridging the East and West to improve healthcare outcomes and deliver value-based care.

Singapore, located at the heart of Asia, is a dynamic hub for biomedical innovation, driven by a strong network of global investors, researchers, mentors, and innovators. With decades of sustained government investments and a robust talent pipeline from world-class universities and research institutes, it is home to over 500 biomedical and medtech companies. The ecosystem has attracted venture capitalists and venture builders like MPM BioImpact, Polaris Partners, and Flagship Pioneering, as well as global pharma leaders such as Pfizer, Roche, and Johnson & Johnson. These players work closely with government agencies, like Enterprise Singapore, that drive startup development, provide patient funding, expertise, infrastructure, and networks crucial for producing globally competitive solutions.

Singapore’s strategic position as a bridge between Asian and global markets enables it to play an outsized role in driving biomedical advancements. This works both ways, as a gateway for global companies to access the growing opportunities in Asia, and as a springboard for regional companies to expand worldwide. For example, through partnerships with healthcare organisations like Cedars-Sinai and Mayo Clinic in the US, Enterprise Singapore supports Singapore startups to test and scale their solutions in overseas markets, facilitating a bi-directional flow of innovation to improve healthcare for communities.

Join Enterprise Singapore at the ‘Asia Cross Border Investments Panel’ to explore how cross-border capital, talent, and technologies are converging to drive breakthroughs in precision medicine, innovative therapies, and next-generation diagnostics. The panel will take place on January 12, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at RESI JPM by LSN, held at the Marriott Marquis, San Francisco. Learn from prominent industry leaders how transcontinental partnerships, including those with Singapore, are shaping the future of healthcare innovation – from discovery to global commercialisation.

To join the conversation, please contact Claire Jeong, VP of Investor Research, Asia BD, at c.jeong@lifesciencenation.com.

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ApexBrasil and ABIQUIFI Deepen Strategic Alliance with Life Science Nation to Globalize Brazil’s Life Science Ecosystem and Leveraging the RESI JPM January Event 

28 Oct

By Dennis Ford, Founder & CEO, Life Science Nation (LSN)

DF-News-09142022

São Paulo – Boston | October 2025

Brazil is taking a significant step toward global integration in the life sciences. Last week, ApexBrasil (the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency) and ABIQUIFI (the Brazilian Association of Pharmaceutical Inputs Industry) hosted Life Science Nation (LSN) and Ganesha Labs in São Paulo for a week of meetings, workshops, and strategic dialogues with key stakeholders from across the national innovation and investment landscape. 

The visit culminated during the Corporate Venture in Brasil 2025 Conference, held in São Paulo and co-hosted by ApexBrasil, which gathered leading investors, corporate venture leaders, development agencies, and innovation stakeholders to strengthen Brazil’s position in the global market. 

At the conference, LSN’s CEO, Dennis Ford, delivered a masterclass on running global fundraising campaigns and building two-way innovation bridges between regional science and global capital. This was followed by a panel discussion, “Where Brazil Is and Where We Should Aim Towards,” featuring KX Ventures, IKJ, Sebrae, Ganesha Labs, and Life Science Nation, and moderated by Marcos Valadares of ABIQUIFI. 

Over several days surrounding the conference, ApexBrasil and ABIQUIFI facilitated a series of high-level introductions that connected LSN and Ganesha Labs with leaders from accelerators, investment groups, and research institutions across Brazil. These discussions focused on aligning Brazil’s growing innovation infrastructure with global commercialization frameworks and investor networks. 

The São Paulo visit capped two years of collaboration between the organizations, during which ApexBrasil and ABIQUIFI have sent multiple cohorts of Brazilian life-science companies to LSN’s Redefining Every Stage of Investment JPM events and LSN Labs training programs. 

Together, they have provided Brazilian entrepreneurs with a structured path to international investors and licensing partners, and a deeper understanding of how to prepare and execute a global fundraising campaign. 

This ongoing collaboration is laying the groundwork for Brazil to become a formal anchor node in the LSN Global Partnering Ecosystem. This worldwide network links regional innovation hubs to global capital and corporate partners. Through continued coordination, the parties aim to establish a lasting two-way innovation bridge between Brazil and LSN’s international ecosystem, enabling Brazilian technologies to access global markets while channeling international investors and strategic partners into the country’s rapidly expanding life-science sector. 

According to Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO of Life Science Nation, 

“Brazil’s scientific depth and entrepreneurial momentum make it one of the most exciting emerging markets in life sciences. ApexBrasil and ABIQUIFI are doing exactly what global investors want to see—creating a coordinated pathway that connects local innovation with international capital and commercialization opportunities. LSN is proud to help Brazil take this next step.” 

Norberto Prestes, CEO of ABIQUIFI, emphasized the export and funding side of the bridge: 

“Brazil has a rich foundation of science and talent. Our goal is to help these innovations secure the visibility, funding, and partnerships they need to reach international markets. The collaboration with LSN provides the structure and access needed to make that happen.” 

Debora Lima of ApexBrasil highlighted the importance of bringing international investors into the Brazilian ecosystem: 

“Our mission is to connect Brazil with the world—to bring investors, partners, and collaborators to see firsthand the innovation emerging here. Working with LSN allows us to open new channels for global capital to engage directly with Brazilian startups and research institutions.” 

About Life Science Nation

Life Science Nation (LSN) is a global matching and partnering engine that connects early-stage life-science companies with investors and licensing partners through its integrated ecosystem—including the LSN Investor & Licensing Partner Database, the RESI Conference Series, and LSN Labs Accelerator. LSN has supported more than 400 companies in raising over $5 billion in verified funding worldwide.

About ApexBrasil

ApexBrasil promotes Brazilian products and services abroad and attracts foreign investment to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy, strengthening national competitiveness and international presence.

About ABIQUIFI

ABIQUIFI represents the Brazilian Pharmaceutical Inputs Industry, advancing innovation, quality, and competitiveness across the national health and life-sciences sector.

Registration now open:

  • RESI London 2025 (Dec. 4, 8&9) – [Register]
  • RESI JPM 2026 (Jan.12-14, 19&20)– [Register]
  • RESI Europe 2026 (March 23-25) – [Register]

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