Victoria is gaining a global reputation as a major life sciences hub. The latest evidence of this was the announcement this month that BioNTech, co-developer of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, is planning to set up shop in Melbourne. 

The in-principle partnership announced by Treasurer Tim Pallas and Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford would see Victoria become home to BioNTech’s Asia-Pacific mRNA clinical research and development centre. 



In this, BioNTech will be following close on the heels of Moderna, which is already set to build its first mRNA production facility in the Southern Hemisphere at Monash University’s Clayton campus in Melbourne’s south-east. 

The Moderna facility is expected to produce up to 100 million vaccine doses each year in Australia, including COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, among others. 

These announcements are not just an economic boon for the state. They mean that in the coming months and years, there are likely to be a massive number of new job opportunities across a wide spectrum of science and manufacturing jobs. 

Australia’s “home” of mRNA therapies 

Pharmaceutical exports are Victoria’s highest value advanced manufacture export, with the state responsible for nearly 60 per cent of pharmaceutical exports Australia-wide. 

The state has invested $1.3 billion in medical research since 2014, leading to the creation of more than 100,000 full-time jobs in and related to biotech. The arrival of Moderna and BioNTech, and partnerships with other mRNA giants like Pfizer, promise to continue this trend, boosting local skills and creating new jobs. 

Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines shot to fame as the preferred method for preventing infections of COVID-19. These COVID-busters were the first approved mRNA vaccines. However, the application of mRNA therapeutics potentially has a far broader reach. Moderna for example is developing mRNA vaccines for things like dengue fever, Ebola, tuberculosis and HIV. 

According to the state government announcement, the arrangement with BioNTech would lead to the delivery of “next-generation mRNA therapeutics and vaccines for research and clinical trials, including infectious diseases, cancer medicines and personalised cancer treatments”. 

“Australia provides excellent academic research,” said BioNTech CEO and Co-Founder, Professor Uğur Şahin, “and we are looking forward to collaborating with world-class scientists and researchers to strengthen Australia’s mRNA ecosystem and jointly develop novel treatments and vaccines for people worldwide.” 

A ready-made supply of graduates 

Moderna’s choice of Monash University to house its facility is no coincidence. According to QS Subject Rankings the university is ranked first in the world for pharmacy and pharmacology and rates strongly in other areas of life science. The pharmaceutical giant will therefore be gaining easy access to a ready-made supply of top-shelf graduates. 

Its facility will form part of the Monash Technology Precinct, Victoria’s largest employment precinct outside of the CBD. 

Beyond that, the growth of Victoria’s reputation as a hub for mRNA development and for life sciences in general means there is likely to be substantial growth in opportunities for people working in, or wishing to enter, the sector. 

Operations like Moderna’s and BioNTech’s are likely to provide jobs not only in science – from research and development through to analytical chemists, micro-biologists and clinicians – but also in manufacturing and logistics. These developments present exciting possibilities for anyone looking for a career in pharmaceuticals and adjacent industries. 

Bayside Group’s specialist scientific and pharmaceutical recruiters have vast experience matching people with the right jobs in these industries. Contact us today to find out how we can help you.