Summit discusses innovating Life Sciences for a Sustainable Future
On 18–19 September 2025, leaders from government, academia, and industry gathered at Melbourne Connect, University of Melbourne, for the Swedish-Australian Sustainable Innovation, Technology and Design Summit, hosted by the Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce (SACC) in partnership with University of Melbourne, Team Sweden partners, Embassy of Sweden in Canberra & Business Sweden, the two-day event explored how collaboration and innovation can accelerate the transition towards a sustainable future.
As a proud partner of SACC, Getinge joined fellow global and local organisations to share expertise, exchange ideas, and advance solutions across health, technology, infrastructure, and design.
Getinge’s role in driving health and sustainability
Highlighting the importance of sustainability within life sciences, Darren Pavitt, Senior Director Sales & Service APAC, Life Science, represented Getinge in a high-level panel discussion on 'Innovating Health & Life Sciences for a Sustainable, Resilient Future'.
Moderated by The Hon. Jaala Pulford, Chair of MTPConnect, the session brought together leaders from AstraZeneca, Sobi, the University of Melbourne, and the Victorian Government. Panellists discussed how health and life sciences organisations can innovate responsibly to reduce their environmental footprint, strengthen resilience, and deliver better outcomes for both patients and the planet. Speaking on the importance of Getinge’s participation, Darren noted:
It is important for Getinge to participate in the Swedish Australian Sustainable Innovation Technology & Design Summit because we are committed to providing essential products and services that benefit the Australian community. Our contributions to life science innovation, the production of medicine, and our strong presence in contamination control for research are pivotal to advancing healthcare and scientific progress across medical/bio-medical research, animal science, plant science and agricultural science.
For Getinge, participation underscored the commitment to sustainability across the life science and healthcare value chain. Key innovation and sustainability initiatives focus on enhancing efficiency in Getinge Life Science product offerings. With set Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) targets that are validated and internationally recognised. Life cycle assessments (LCA) and ESG frameworks are used to evaluate the sustainability of products throughout their lifecycle.
The “elephant in the room” – confronting the healthcare challenge
A key theme raised was the “elephant in the room”: while hospitals and research facilities strive to reduce their environmental impact, much of the footprint is tied to the products and technologies they rely on every day. These products consume energy, water, and raw materials throughout their lifecycle which are factors often outside the direct control of the facilities.
Getinge emphasised that tackling this challenge requires industry-wide collaboration and innovation, where manufacturers, policymakers, and healthcare providers work together to design and deliver solutions that balance patient safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
A platform for global collaboration
The summit program spanned a wide spectrum of innovation areas, from electrification, smart buildings, and food systems to AI, public safety, and sustainable urban design.
Events such as this provide valuable collaboration opportunities. By working with scientists, engineers, industry partners, and academia, Getinge can share knowledge, explore new partnerships, and collectively drive forward the agenda of sustainable innovation and technology for life sciences. The summit also highlighted the strength of collaboration between Sweden and Australia, showcasing how shared expertise, technology, and values are supporting progress towards a more sustainable future.