Western Australia’s life sciences sector is home to some of the nation’s most exciting breakthroughs in medical technology, agriculture, aquaculture and sustainability. Yet, despite its strengths, much of this innovation has traditionally been showcased in silos, with each industry operating largely within its own ecosystem.
Recognising the opportunity to connect these strengths and amplify their collective impact, Life Sciences WA, in partnership with For Blue, Innovation Cluster, and the Aquaculture Council of Western Australia, launched the BioInnovation Festival in March. Backed by Meshpoints through a $10,000 Catalyst Inspire grant, made possible through the support of Spacecubed and Lotterywest, the initiative combined three cornerstone events including the WA BioInnovation Symposium, Blue Growth Conference, and Investor Weekend, into one unified, four-day festival designed to strengthen visibility, collaboration, and investment across WA’s life sciences and blue economy sectors.
Discussing this initiative, Life Sciences CEO, Tobias Schoep shared, “Our goal was to showcase what we have here in WA and help our innovation talent connect with investors and industry so they can move their ideas forward.”
“By combining forces with partners across agriculture, aquaculture and health tech, we could create benefits of scale and attract a broader audience of investors and innovators.
Bringing together diverse partners
Partnerships were at the heart of the festival’s success. Each contributing partner brought deep expertise and networks from their respective industries, aligned by a shared mission to grow WA’s innovation ecosystem.
“Partnerships always take time,” Tobias reflected, “but this collaboration was seamless because we all had the same purpose, to grow the ecosystem and benefit WA companies.”
The result was a multi-faceted program that included:
“The investor weekend was a real highlight. It allowed investors and innovators to spend genuine time together which is what builds relationships and ultimately helps businesses grow,” Tobias shared.
A festival buzzing with connection and collaboration
Over 400 attendees took part in the inaugural BioInnovation Festival representing startups, investors, researchers, and industry leaders. Attendees travelled from across Australia, and some internationally to experience WA’s innovation ecosystem firsthand.
"The feedback was incredible. People loved the diversity, they were meeting others from completely different industries, discovering new opportunities and seeing WA’s innovation potential in a whole new light.”
The festival’s energy culminated in its final networking event, filled with lively conversations and new connections across sectors that rarely intersect.
“People were excited about what we’re doing here in WA. You had hundreds of people in the room who might never have met otherwise, that’s where collaboration really starts,” Tobias added.
The festival’s impact is already rippling across WA’s innovation ecosystem, strengthening partnerships, sparking investment, and positioning the state as a growing hub for life sciences and blue economy innovation.
“Meshpoints support has helped us come together, now we’re attending each other’s events, sharing networks, and collaborating more often,” Tobias shared. “We’ve already seen tangible outcomes, from new VC relationships to companies securing contracts and starting licensing discussions.”
Building on this success, the BioInnovation Festival will return in 2026, expanding its program with new regional workshops and partner-led satellite events hosted at the Pan Pacific Perth.
“The first year was our proof of concept. Next year, we’re growing and evolving, creating even more opportunities for collaboration, connection, and impact across the ecosystem,” Tobias concluded.
Planning for the 2026 BioInnovation Festival is already well underway. Next year’s Festival will introduce an exciting new opportunity for organisations, companies, and leaders across the ecosystem to apply to host their own satellite events, further expanding the reach and impact of the Festival across Western Australia.
Tickets will be available soon, and we encourage everyone to get involved and be part of this growing celebration of innovation, collaboration, and commercialisation in the life sciences sector.
Inspired by this project? Click here to discover more Meshpoints-funded initiatives driving innovation across WA, and join 170+ partners working together to strengthen our state’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.