- Published:
- Friday 1 July 2022
Innovative biotech company Ginkgo Bioworks has officially opened its Melbourne office, bolstering Victoria’s position as the national leader in mRNA research and manufacturing.
Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford welcomed Ginkgo executives as they opened the doors to their new base for Australia and New Zealand operations.
The new office has been established by the Andrews Labor Government through mRNA Victoria allowing the local biotech sector to partner with Ginkgo and their world leading cell engineering platform.
Headquartered in Boston, Ginkgo has developed a cell engineering platform that can deliver breakthroughs to a wide range of sectors, including pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, and food and agriculture, and is keen to tap into Victoria’s biomedical manufacturing capabilities.
Ginkgo’s innovative cell programming has supported breakthroughs in diagnostics and vaccine design, as well as ongoing research and development of living medicines, therapeutic proteins, and gene and cell therapies.
The company also played a key role in the COVID-19 response and global biosecurity efforts, partnering with Moderna and Aldevron to optimise production of raw materials for making mRNA vaccine.
The new office will be located at Melbourne Connect in Parkville, a purpose-built innovation hub designed to connect researchers, students, government and industry.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford
“Ginkgo Bioworks is the largest synthetic biology company in the world and we are thrilled to welcome them into our biotech community of researchers, product developers, founders and investors.”
“Local companies will be able to access the breakthrough technologies Ginkgo is capable of – further cementing Melbourne’s reputation as a world leader in these fields.”
Quotes attributable to Senior Director Business Development, Ginkgo Bioworks, Natalie Curach
“Ginkgo Bioworks is committed to working with best-in-class partners to build the infrastructure for a global bioeconomy.”
“We look forward to engaging with the biotech community in Melbourne and in Australia more broadly as we unlock the potential of synthetic biology to solve some of the most pressing challenges facing our world today.”