Key Industry Strengths

A hub of growth and innovation

Melbourne is Australia’s largest and fastest growing capital city, boasting a strong economy with a highly skilled workforce and continued investment in our key industry sectors. Hosting business events in Melbourne provides an ideal environment to gather the world's great minds to exchange knowledge, develop ideas and contribute to continual innovation for the future. Through a collaborative approach, we provide access to research institutions, industry leaders and corporate enterprises to facilitate transformational change on a global level.

Business pathways

Australia offers companies a cash refund tax incentive on eligible research and development (R&D) expenses. Victoria is committed to reducing the regulatory burden on companies, supports growth and innovation in the health, education and technology sectors.

Global business networks

Our 23 international trade and investment offices are strategically located in Victoria's key export markets. Melbourne is in the top 5% of the world's most innovative cities in the 2022/2023 Innovation Cities Global Index by 2thinknow.

Monash University Pharmaceuticals, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Photo: DJPR

Global leadership

Victoria is home to the highest ranked university in Australia with Melbourne's universities and researchers known for pushing boundaries in several fields, including biomedical engineering, immunology, supply chain management and nanotechnology and neurosciences.

Nanotechnology at RMIT, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Photo: DJPR

Forefront of research

Victoria attracts more than 40% of Australian medical research funding and is home to three of Australia's top four largest independent medical research institutes, two of the world's 50 top-ranked universities for biomedicine with the University of Melbourne ranked #1, and Monash University #2.

Leader in life sciences & pharmacology

Victoria's life science sector is Australia’s largest with 41% of all Australian life sciences companies based in Melbourne, the highest number of biotherapeutic companies in Australia and responsible for 60% of national pharmaceutical exports.

Melbourne Brain Centre, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, Australia. Photo: Melbourne Brain Centre

Advancing neuroscience

Neurosciences, including mental health, is one of the pillars of research excellence in the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct, and home to Australia's largest brain research collaboration with its purpose-built Melbourne Brain Centre.

Regenerative Medicine unit, Hudson Institute Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. Photo: DJPR

Continual bio-science growth

Victoria's medical research sector supports more than 30,000 jobs across institutes, universities and industry, with more than 40% of Australian-based biotechnology and medical technology companies calling Melbourne home.

Pharmaceuticals, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Photo: DJPR

Thriving biotech sector

Victoria is home to more than 650 biotech companies, 10 major research institutes and teaching hospitals and nine universities.

Melbourne Biomedical Precinct

Australia's most important life science cluster, and one of only five of its calibre in the world. The precinct employs tens of thousands of people, including 10,000 researchers and about 7,000 biomedical, health and medical students located in the precinct.

League of Geeks live stream booth, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Photo: DJPR

Concentrated excellence

Victoria is home to more than half of Australia's top 20 technology companies, 8,000 information and communication technology (ICT) companies, the most ICT graduates and the largest cloud hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

People wearing VR headsets, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Research and Development credentials

Victoria has one of the largest information and communication technology research and development clusters in the Southern Hemisphere producing world-leading, commercially focused research.

Aubot, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Photo: DJPR

Forefront of global tech

Melbourne's digital capabilities in content, web and mobile applications have been a magnet for attracting top tech talent. Our tech talent pool has more software development skills than any other jurisdiction across the Asia Pacific region and is growing faster than anywhere else in Australia.

Quality control worker analysing a machine part, Victoria, Australia

Cemented legacy

With more than 100 years in automotive R&D and manufacturing, Victoria's $26 billion manufacturing industry supports more than 283,000 jobs, making it one of the state’s largest full-time employers.

Metro train lines in the CBD, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Connectivity expertise

Melbourne is home to the world's largest tram network. Melbourne trams operate across the city and offer extensive connections with metropolitan and regional trains and buses.

Worker in advanced manufacturing, Victoria, Australia. Photo: DJPR

Cross-category strength

Victoria offers expertise and broad industry capability across automobile, aviation and rail manufacturing, engineering and design, with several global companies establishing their design and engineering capacity in the state.

Yarra River and Ponyfish Island, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Carbon neutral

Victoria has set world-leading targets to cut the state's greenhouse gas emissions and achieve net zero emissions by 2045, building on trends and actions already underway.

Solar panels and wind generators, Victoria, Australia

Clean energy

Victoria boasts a strong mix of renewable energy technologies, including solar, wind and wave power. The Victorian Government has set a Victorian Renewable Energy Target of 95% renewable electricity generation by 2035, supporting all sectors of Victoria's economy to reach their net zero emission targets.

Planting a sapling in soil, Victoria, Australia

Carbon services

Victoria is a sought-after destination for carbon services throughout the Asia-Pacific region and home to the National Office of the Carbon Market Institute.

International students outside Flinders Street Station, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Photo: DJPR

Education investment

The Victorian Budget invests $217.2 million per year to ensure children across the state get a great start in life.

International students, RMIT, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Photo: DJPR

Education credentials

Victoria's 10 universities are among the best in the world, with two in the world's top 100 universities and one in the world's top 40.

Science research student at work, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Photo: DJPR

Top commercial graduates

Victoria generates the most commercial graduates across key disciplines in Australia. Universities are known for a strong culture of collaboration with industry.

Professional services & finance

Automotive engineer examines car chassis

Engineering

Medical scientists at work in laboratory

Health medical technologies & pharmaceuticals

Energy & environment

Education

information and communication technology

Information & communications technology

Shipping containers at Coode Island, Port of Melbourne

Transport & logistics

Food and Fibre

Explore further

The destination

Why Melbourne, the culture capital of Australia, is an appealing destination for event planners & delegates to attend conferences, incentives & business events.

Conference support

Access professional bidding and planning support to host and deliver a successful conference in Australia's most innovative city.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Sustainability

Find out more about Melbourne’s excellent sustainability credentials and access free sustainability planning tools and support.

Case studies

Gain insight into Melbourne's capabilities to deliver highly successful conference and incentive programs and important legacy outcomes. Learn more.

Host your business event in Melbourne

For free advice and support about hosting your business event in Melbourne, Australia submit an event enquiry form or email [email protected].