Growing Together: How Australia and Singapore cooperation can drive the bioeconomy
Description:
At a first glance, Australia and Singapore could not be more different. Different in size, population, economy models, natural resources… But the differences signify complementary competencies that may help both countries embrace the bioeconomy and grow together in a synergistic manner. Australia and Singapore are homes to ambitious entrepreneurs, successful investors, and talented scientists and engineers. This forms the ideal mix for impactful innovation that can benefit the whole region.
This event, jointly organized by the Centre for Entrepreneurial Research and Innovation (CERI), Synthetic Biology Australasia (SBA), and the Singapore Consortium for Synthetic Biology (SINERGY) aims to bring together innovators from the Australian and Singaporean ecosystem, highlight our success stories, and find ground for better collaboration so the countries can Grow Together and drive the regional Bioeconomy.
Draft agenda:
3.00pm: Meet and greet
3.15pm: Tour of CERI facilities
4.00pm: startup presentations, in person and online
5.00pm: Welcome addresses by organisers and guest(s) of honor
5.15pm: Panel discussion “Growing Together: How Australia and Singapore cooperation can drive the bioeconomy”
6.00pm – 7.00pm: Networking reception
Panelists:
Maddison McCoy, UNSW Founders
Maddison holds a bachelor’s degrees in law (Hons) and bachelor of biological sciences, as well as a Master of Philosophy from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Transitioning from academia to industry, Maddison worked at the SynBio startup, Nourish Ingredients. She worked as a synthetic biologist on strain engineering then transitioned to project management and finally in the commercial team. Currently Maddison works at UNSW Founders, an innovative arm of the UNSW’s Research and Enterprise division dedicated to fostering entrepreneurial spirit within the University. There, Maddison manages a pioneering accelerator program, SynBio10x, nurturing the next wave of synthetic biology Startup Founders.
Andrew Barker, Lixa
Dr Barker has over 35 years of experience in life sciences with international corporates and as an R&D executive. With origins in bacterial genetics, he has worked across diverse sectors including med-tech, pharma and biologics. He successfully developed technologies for VC-funded start-ups and listed biotech companies and more recently has worked in consulting, supporting the growth and funding of Life Sciences companies. He has strong networks across industry, universities and government. In his spare time, Andrew attempts to grow Australian native trees from seed.
Jason Whitfield, Main Sequence Ventures
After spending nearly a decade as part of the Australian Synthetic Biology research ecosystem, Jason transitioned to a role supporting researchers create impactful startup companies. In 2022 with UNSW Founders and Main Sequence, Jason started SynBio10x, Australia’s first SynBio focused accelerator program. This program has already seen 10 companies over two cohorts and led to over $20 million in company fundraising. Recently, he transitioned to a full-time role as investment associate with Main Sequence, bringing his SynBio expertise to deep tech investing and growing bioindustries in Australia.
Kostas Vavitsas, SINERGY
Dr. Kostas Vavitsas is Assistant Director at A*STAR and the Manager of the Singapore Consortium for Synthetic Biology. He received his PhD in Biotechnology from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and has held research positions at the University of Queensland, Australia, and the University of Athens, Greece. Kostas has worked as science writer and editor and was previously a freelance consultant in Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology.
Soichiro Tsuda, bitBiome
Soichiro Tsuda joined bitBiome in October, 2020 and has been in his current CTO role since September 2022. He has expertise in interdisciplinary research across biology, engineering, and mathematical modelling. At bitBiome, he is leading biomanufacturing application developments using bitBiome’s microbial single cell genome sequencing technology and our microbial genomic database.
Previously, he worked as a Lord Kelvin-Adam Smith Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow, UK (2012), a JSPS LEADER Fellow (2019), and the General Manager of Application Development at On-Chip Biotechnologies, Co. Ltd. He received a Ph.D. in Biology from Kobe University in 2007.
