Queensland Life Sciences Industry Report 2012 (PDF, 3.5MB)

Queensland Life Sciences Industry Report 2012
56
9.SENTIMENT AND OUTLOOK
“Overall business sentiment was positive with the majority of companies
and the majority of research organisations expecting income growth over
the coming 12 months and three years.”
The survey findings on business sentiment and
industry outlook are fairly reliable indictors for
the future of the sector given that the majority of
respondents held senior executive roles in their
organisation. About 70% of respondents held the
position of CEO, Director, Managing Director or
General Manager. 16% of respondents held other
management roles such as Technical Manager,
Operations Manager, Quality Assurance Manager,
Sales and Marketing Manager. The remaining
15% of respondents held a range of 15 different
administration roles.
Approximately 52% of those responding on behalf
of research organisations held executive roles
including Director, Deputy Director, Executive Dean,
Deputy Executive Dean, or Director of Research;
and 22% held senior roles such as Research
Manager, Grants Manager, Business Manager,
and Operations Manager. The remaining (26%)
held seven different administrative roles.
9.1 Business Sentiment
9.1.1 Income Expectations
The majority of all respondents to the 2011 survey
expected their total income to increase over the
next 12 months (65%) and over the next three
years (82%).
The majority of companies expected income growth
over 12 months (65%) and three years (82%). About
13% anticipated a decrease in total income over the
next 12 months and 6% anticipated a decrease in
total income over the next three years (Figure 24).
By contrast, research organisations anticipated that
income would either increase (12 months (65%);
three years (90%)) or remain the same (12 months
(35%); three years (10%)) over both periods (Figure
24), with none expecting income to fall.
Table 49 presents the average forecast change
in income for all respondents, companies and
research organisations over the coming 12 months
and three years (the number of respondents to
each question are shown in brackets).
TABLE 49: Average forecast change in income over
12 months and three years
Average Expected Change in Income
12 months 3 years
All respondents +40.4% (n=120) +116.1% (n=121)
Companies +46.9% (n=100) +135.5% (n=101)
Research
Organisations
+8.1% (n=20) +17.9% (n=20)
Table 50 breaks down the average income change
for those specifically expecting either (a) an
increase or (b) a decrease in income.
TABLE 50: Quantum of Change Amongst those
Forecasting an Increase or Decrease in Income
(99 respondents)
12 months 3 years
N Average N Average
Those anticipating no growth
Companies 24 - 14 -
Research
Organisations
7 - 2 -
Those anticipating a fall in income
Companies 12 -39% 6 -86%
Research
Organisations
0 - 0 -
Those anticipating income growth
Companies 64 +81% 81 +175%
Research
Organisations
13 +13% 18 +20%
Figure 24: Income forecasts for companies (left) and research organisations (right), 2012, 2014
(number of respondents: companies, 100 research organisations, 21)