The Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) has announced a new bursary program aimed at supporting the next generation of bio-innovation leaders, marking its 30th anniversary with a long-term investment in research and industry collaboration.
Developed in partnership with Life Sciences Queensland, the three-year initiative will provide targeted funding to early/mid-career researchers working across health, biomedical and agritech sectors, with a focus on strengthening industry engagement and accelerating research impact.
The bursary forms part of BCEC’s Convention Advocates Partnership legacy program, recognising the role international and national conferences play in connecting people, ideas and commercial outcomes. Since 2010, the Advocate network has helped secure 163 conferences for Brisbane, generating $358 million in economic impact and reinforcing the city’s reputation as an Asia-Pacific hub for innovation.
BCEC General Manager Kym Guesdon said the initiative reflects the Centre’s long-standing collaboration with Queensland’s research community, using conferences as a catalyst for innovation transfer. LSQ Chair Professor Trent Munro added that investing in researchers at a critical career stage will help position Queensland as a global leader in life sciences and bio-innovation.
Program guidelines and application details are expected to be released in coming months via the LSQ website.