As the world emerges from the pandemic, it is critical to reflect on what has been learned and how to make strategic and sustainable investments for the future. Australia must identify and prioritise local investments, co-designed with stakeholders, and collaborating with the global life sciences sector. 

Effective investments have the potential to deliver benefits across the ecosystem, promoting discovery and early-stage research, clinical trials and the delivery of world class healthcare and preventive health for the wellbeing of all Australians. 

Pfizer’s white paper, Response and Resilience: Lessons Learned from Global Life Sciences Ecosystems in the COVID-19 Pandemic, highlights learnings from across the world of the favourable characteristics of the life sciences sector to respond to the COVID-19 challenge. A roundtable was held in Sydney on 25 March 2021 to discuss aspects of Australia’s response to the pandemic.