CSL Limited Annual Report 2022/23 37 Global collaboration for innovation Thriving biotech ecosystems worldwide rely on multiple interconnected elements for success: exceptional research and development capabilities, state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities, financial investment for innovation across the development lifecycle, effective translation and development of research into commercially viable outcomes and, most importantly, a culture of collaboration. CSL’s R&D portfolio focuses on innovation in new products, improved products and manufacturing expertise, ensuring CSL’s continued growth. In pursuit of these goals, CSL recognises and embraces that we cannot, and should not, do it alone. When collaboration becomes the driving force behind progress in biomedical ecosystems, it brings benefits to various stakeholders including universities, research institutions, pharmaceutical companies and, crucially, patients. Thus, CSL continues to identify and build strategic collaborations that align with our therapeutic areas of focus and enhance our chances of bringing forward beneficial disruptive innovation. Jumar Bioincubator, Australia’s preeminent biotech incubator, is situated within our new Global Headquarters and Centre for R&D in Melbourne. It is the first and only incubator in Australia co-located with a leading biotechnology company. This has been made possible with financial and in-kind support from CSL, the University of Melbourne and TheWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), who have formed an incorporated joint venture to establish and operate the incubator, plus initial investment from Breakthrough Victoria, an independent company administering the Victorian Government’s landmark A$2 billion Breakthrough Victoria Fund. Operated independently by Cicada Innovations, Jumar Bioincubator offers comprehensive support to biotech start-ups, enabling them to translate groundbreaking biomedical discoveries into tangible commercial outcomes. Spanning two levels of CSL Melbourne, the incubator will encompass 1,400 square metres of purpose-built laboratory space with support facilities and 1,700 square metres of office and collaboration space. Jumar Bioincubator will be able to accommodate up to 40 early stage companies from around Australia and internationally and will be embedded alongside seven floors of leading-edge laboratory and clinical manufacturing space supporting CSL’s own R&D programs. Beyond providing cost-effective, cutting-edge ‘wet-lab’ facilities, equipment and office space, Jumar Bioincubator delivers a wide range of services including educational programs on commercialisation, facilitated access to investors, industry mentoring, and access to curated service providers. By capitalising on the investments already made in the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct, Jumar Bioincubator aspires to position Australia as a globally recognised hub for biotech translation and commercialisation, complementing the precinct’s renowned reputation for exceptional medical research. Co-located within CSL Melbourne means Jumar Bioincubator residents will be working in an innovationdriven environment alongside a large and focused CSL R&D team, enabling opportunities for peer-collaboration, learning and sharing of ideas. Dr Andrew Nash, Chief Scientific Officer and Senior Vice President, Research Identifying early stage external innovation opportunities, such as new technologies and assets, is essential for CSL’s research portfolio to grow and diversify in the future. To expedite the commercialisation of promising discoveries that can address unmet patient needs, the Research External Innovation Team have established the CSL Research Acceleration Initiative (RAI) to form partnerships between CSL and research organisations worldwide. By fostering long-term collaborations with talented academic scientists, the RAI promotes innovation and offers crucial early funding as well as access to CSL’s R&D experts. Over the past four years, CSL has successfully established over 30 new collaborations with entrepreneurial scientists in Australia, Europe, and the United States through the RAI. Furthermore, CSL has strategically partnered with selected incubators, accelerators and venture funders worldwide to expand its access to external innovation. These partnerships include Baselaunch, a Swiss-based venture builder that collaborates with scientists and entrepreneurs across Europe to develop cutting-edge therapeutics. In the United States, CSL joined forces with StartX, a global non-profit community consisting of over 800 companies affiliated with Stanford University and the Philadelphia-based Science Center; whilst in Australia, CSL is an investor in the Brandon BioCatalyst fund, which provides support for the development and commercialisation of early stage biomedical discoveries. Through these collaborative efforts and initiatives, CSL expands its global presence and strengthens its connection with innovative scientists and provides CSL with a significant competitive advantage in accessing ground breaking discoveries to build a sustainable and diverse R&D portfolio of promising biotherapies across various therapeutic areas. Each year, CSL works to establish longer term strategic partnerships that will benefit CSL, CSL’s academic partners and most importantly, our patients. • CSL and WEHI celebrated an important milestone in May 2023 with the opening of newly refurbished laboratories for the Centre for Biologic Therapies (Centre). The Centre combines WEHI’s expertise with CSL’s experience in biologic drug discovery and development and its worldclass human antibody library which will be the engine room of biologics discovery at the Centre. With its new laboratories within the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Centre provides access to expert biologic discovery and optimisation capabilities accelerating drug development into the clinic, ultimately addressing a current gap in Australian medical research. The partners will contribute equal funding to the Centre, with a combined investment of A$10 million over five years.
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