Reflections on the 2025 ACBC Canberra Networking Day
Business, academic and government leaders in one room — and a consistent message that healthcare, medtech and sports technology are where the opportunity now sits.
IRI joined business, academic and government leaders at this year’s Australia China Business Council Canberra Networking Day. Despite global uncertainty, the room made it clear that Australia–China collaboration still holds real opportunity, particularly in innovation-driven sectors.
Healthcare and medtech. Both countries face ageing populations and rising demand for rehabilitation and digital health services. Joint R&D, clinical data cooperation and cross-border investment platforms can move outcomes faster for patients and industry alike.
Sports technology and rehabilitation. Australia’s depth in sports medicine and China’s scale of rehabilitation demand make this a natural bridge for knowledge exchange, technology transfer and talent development.
China capability in Australia. Engaging effectively takes more than trade figures: it takes language education, cultural literacy and China-capable people across business, academia and government. It also takes journalists and storytellers who can report the real China rather than second-hand narratives.
The message of the day was that people-to-people connection remains the best investment. Technology connects us instantly; relationships are what sustain collaboration across borders.
From the day
