Innovation is at the forefront of the Springfield community
The Greater Springfield region has built a reputation for being a smart, innovative city.
The region’s three precincts in the education, health and innovation industries offer opportunities for ground-breaking research, training and design to happen right on our doorstep.
Here are some of the exciting, forward-thinking businesses and initiatives coming to Springfield in 2023 and beyond.
The new home of biomanufacturing in Queensland
Springfield is fast becoming the home of biomanufacturing in Queensland. With the establishment of BioPark Australia by the Springfield City Group, the region will become a place where multiple biologic industries thrive.
Three biotech powerhouses are already planning their move to BioPark Australia – Southern RNA, Aegros and Cytivia. Southern RNA, a biotech company soon-to-be based in the precinct, is currently located on Yoga Way and about to commence the production of materials used in lifesaving vaccines.
Once fully established, BioPark Australia has the potential to offer a ‘Fill and Finish’ module where bulk products are divided into vials for use in a dispensary/pharmacy specialist storage (including very low temperature) areas for biologics.
In further positive news, consultancy RPS Group projects that by 2036, there will be almost 7,000 workers in these select skilled industries (engineers, scientists and ICT professionals) working within the Greater Springfield corridor.
Image Credit: Springfield City Group
The power of drones
What was once commonly used for capturing incredible aerial videography or photography is transforming the way we shop and test pathology samples here in Springfield.
A network of 10 drones will soon be shuttling pathology samples from the Moreton Bay islands to the Springfield Mater Pathology testing labs under a new partnership between Mater and Australian drone logistics company Swoop Aero.
This fleet of drones can travel distances of more than 175 kilometres on a single battery charge, and can carry up to 10 pounds of medical cargo.
These remarkable devices are set to be in our skies from as early as next year.
The rooftop car park at Orion Springfield Central will also soon be home to a drone delivery fulfilment hub after forging a partnership with Wing.
Shoppers can go onto the Wing app, look at the store it’s servicing, pick out the item they require (up to a kilogram), and then order it. Much like a click and collect service, the item is packed and prepared, but instead of the customer coming to collect it, the item is taken to the rooftop to be connected to a drone by a tether. The drone can travel up to 110 kilometres per hour to reach its destination. This service is also set to take flight in 2023.
Innovative and contemporary healthcare in the heart of our community
Already home to a thriving network of medical and allied health services, Springfield is taking further steps to provide residents with innovative, contemporary healthcare.
Expanding on the existing Mater Private Hospital in Springfield, a new 174-bed public hospital is set to be built and ready for operation in 2024, which will include an Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, Maternity Services and increased procedural areas.
A medical research precinct is also planned for Springfield’s ‘Health City’, which will bolster the knowledge of Queensland’s health workers and increase manufacturing capabilities for the medical industry.
In further positive news, a new Mater Health Hub will open its doors in July 2023, which will provide clinical and allied health services and broader community programs that seek to improve residents’ health literacy. Some of the features of this facility include state-of-the-art simulation rooms for student training, a childcare centre, café and gym. Currently under construction, the Health Hub will be the new home to Mater Education once complete - the largest non-government training organisation of nurses in the Sunshine State.