MACQUARIE University and Vitex Pharmaceuticals have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a long-term strategic partnership, with the aim of advancing Australia's life sciences industry.
The partnership marks a significant step in fostering collaboration between academia and industry with the shared goal of building a sustainable and innovation-led pharmaceutical ecosystem across Australia.
Speaking at the signing of the MOU, Professor Dan Johnson, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Enterprise), highlighted the alignment between the university's research ambitions and the industry's evolving needs.
"This agreement marks an exciting step forward in uniting our academic strengths with industry leadership," he said.
"Together with Vitex, we aim to catalyse innovation and ensure that Australian research has a direct and sustainable impact on global health."
For Vitex, the MOU represents a continuation of its commitment to investing in Australia's sovereign manufacturing capability and scientific workforce.
Reflecting on the significance of the partnership, Dr Aniss Chami, CEO of Vitex Pharmaceuticals, said, "As an Australian company committed to quality and innovation in therapeutic manufacturing, we are proud to partner with Macquarie University to develop a talent pipeline, advance R&D, and build a circular and resilient pharmaceutical economy."
The long-term vision of the two parties revolves around creating a highly skilled, industry-ready workforce; expanding academic and industry research collaboration; supporting the commercialisation efforts of start-ups and SMEs; and exploring how the sector can move towards a more sustainable, circular model of pharmaceutical development and production.
In formulating the MOU, emphasis was placed on building shared research capabilities in therapeutic development and manufacturing, and generating new economic thinking to support sovereign capability in health and medicine.
Professor Leonie Tickle, Dean of Macquarie Business School, noted the broader impact the partnership would have on Macquarie Business School's mission.
"This partnership reflects our vision to bring academia and industry together in practical and transformative ways," she said.
"It demonstrates how business education, research and industry collaboration can solve real-world challenges."
Shared initiatives in the pipeline include the potential development of new institutions or centres focused on pharmaceutical innovation. KB
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