Melbourne's Strengths

Melbourne's Innovation Strengths

Melbourne is Australia’s fastest growing capital city, boasting a strong economy with a highly skilled workforce and continued investment in our key growth pipelines particularly medicine, science, education and technology.

We provide access and a collaborative approach through our research institutions, industry leaders and corporate enterprises to facilitate transformational change on a global level. Hosting business events in Melbourne provides an ideal environment to gather the world's great minds together to exchange knowledge, develop ideas and contribute to continual innovation for the future.

Our credentials and support across sectors, government and partners make Melbourne the ideal choice for business events.

Support for Economic Growth

Economic incentives

Australia offers companies up to 45 cents in the dollar, cash refund tax incentive on eligible research and development (R&D) expenses rated as one of the most generous in the world by KPMG

Business pathways

Victoria is committed to reducing the regulatory burden on companies, particularly in R&D sectors and supports growth and innovation in the health, education and technology sectors

Global business networks

Victoria has 18 business offices globally working with international companies to tailor service packages that best suits their needs

Education for an Innovative Future

Education investment

Victoria spends 36% (AU$82 billion) of its gross state product on education and training

Education credentials

Victoria boasts 10 universities including 2 of the world’s top 100 universities; 13 vocational and education training institutions; more than 1,100 registered training organisations

Leaders in science

Victoria produces the largest number of science graduates in Australia annually, and has Australia’s highest number of PhD biotechnology graduates

Acclaimed International Rankings

Monash University

Monash University Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is ranked 1st in Asia Pacific and 4th in the world in the 2016 QS World University Rankings

Top 20 Biomed Ranking

Melbourne has two universities in the Global Top 20 biomedicine rankings – Monash University and University of Melbourne

Biotechnology Innovation

Australia has been ranked in the top 5 in the world for biotechnology innovation in the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Scientific American Worldview

LEADER IN MEDICAL RESEARCH

Forefront of research

Victoria has attracted more than 40% of the Australian medical research funding and is home to three of Australia’s top four largest independent medical research institutes.

Leader in Life Sciences

Victoria's life science sector is Australia’s largest with 41% of all Australian life sciences companies based in Melbourne

Advancing neuroscience

Melbourne is home to Australia’s largest brain research collaboration with its purpose-built Melbourne Brain Centre

THRIVING BIOTECHNOLOGY SECTOR

Continual bio-science growth

The Victorian biotechnology sector is thriving, employing more than 20,000 people and generating global revenues in excess of AU$10 billion

Home of biotech sector

Victoria is home to over 650 biotech companies, 10 major medical research institutes, 10 major teaching hospitals and 9 universities, with two universities in the global top 20 biomedicine rankings

Melbourne Biomedical Precinct

Australia’s most important life science cluster and one of only five of its calibre in the world, employing 28,000 people including 10,000 researchers in 30 biotech, engineering and medical facilities

BOOMING TECHNOLOGY HUB

Concentrated excellence

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

R&D credentials in ICT

Victoria has one of the largest ICT research and development clusters in the Southern Hemisphere producing world-leading commercially focused research

Forefront of Global Tech

Ranked in the Top Tech City by Savills 2017 Tech City report, our digital capabilities in content, web and mobile applications have been a magnet for attracting tech talent

SUSTAINABLE ECO-CITY

Carbon neutral

Melbourne has a target of being carbon neutral by 2020 by delivering a range of sustainable programs across transport, urban city spaces, design and infrastructure

Clean energy

Melbourne and Victoria boast a strong mix of renewable energy technologies, including solar, wind and wave power, as well as world-class research and development

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

POWERHOUSE IN TRANSPORT ENGINEERING & DESIGN

Cemented Legacy

Victoria has more than 100 years in automotive research and development, and manufacturing taking a vehicle through the entire design and engineering spectrum

Cross category strength

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 Victoria

Connectivity expertise

Melbourne is home to the world’s largest tram network operating across the city and offers extensive connections with metropolitan and regional trains and buses

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