This coming October, BIOTECHNICA 2008 will boast a number of changes and new attractions. Stephan Ph. Kühne, Managing Board Member at the fair´s makers, Deutsche Messe AG, promises: "The 2008 event will be more topical, offer more variety and more value than ever before." Europe´s leading biotechnology show is now being relaunched as an annual event, after having been staged in a two–year rhythm since 1991. "We are introducing new, exciting content and features to raise the high level and quality of the event", added Kühne.
Thus BIOTECHNICA will focus more on research and product development in every area of biotechnology "“ from foundation research to equipment, bioinformatics and services, as well as the five areas of application: pharma/medicine, chemical industry, environment, agriculture and food. Pioneering applications will be showcased in the large and diverse portfolio of the major exhibitors, whose ranks include Beckman Coulter, Boehringer Ingelheim, Carl Zeiss, Eppendorf, the Fraunhofer Institute, Greiner Bio–One, Merck, Mettler–Toledo, New Brunswick Scientific, Olympus, Qiagen, Sarstedt, Sartorius, Sigma–Aldrich and Thermo Fisher Scientific. These displays will be augmented by various joint displays from Germany and other countries such as Estonia, France, the UK, Korea and Austria. Due to the re–introduction of the annual schedule, BIOTECHNICA will also be able to accommodate new exhibitors from across the globe and from every area of biotechnology. First–time exhibitors this year include Abbott, Applikon Biotechnology, AXI.TECH Biopharmaceutical Engineering, Getinge Life Science, Hamamatsu Photonics, Siemens and Whatman International Ltd.
Conference program further extended
The 2008 conference program will offer more scope and added value than ever before. Not only will there be conferences dedicated to scientific aspects (BioScience) and business development (BioBusiness), but now also to policy issues (BioPolitics) as addressed by industry associations, government policymakers and representatives from the European biotech industry and economic development organizations. Accordingly, more than 400 experts from across the world will report on trends, research findings and the latest practical applications. Kühne elaborates: "This year´s program represents a concentration of major conferences, congresses, symposia and workshops within the biotechnology sector. It takes us one step closer to the aim of creating one central European meeting–place for biotechnology."
The new collaboration with the organizers of the scientific conference European BioPerspectives greatly enriches the program´s content. This leading biotechnology congress, organized by DECHEMA (German Society for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology) in tandem with twenty–one professional associations, will take place parallel to BIOTECHNICA for the first time this autumn, thus affording a sophisticated arena where experts can discuss a broad range of issues and developments in biotechnology.
Another addition to this year´s BIOTECHNICA is the forum "Science to Market", organized by the European Association of Pharma Biotechnology (EAPB), which will provide a separate meeting–place for pharmaceutical biotechnology at the event. The prime aim is to promote the scientific and research work that goes on within Europe´s pharmaceutical biotechnology sector and to create an effective interface between research and industry.
Dialogue over crucial issues within the EU
Another highlight at the forthcoming BIOTECHNICA will be the three–day event EU Biotech Days. In addition to the planned joint display representing the general directorates "Business and Industry" and "Science and Research", headed respectively by Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik, high–ranking representatives from the European parliament, EU research committees and the EU Commission will engage in conferences and panel discussions devoted to such crucial issues and controversies as the time required to license plants in the EU, stock market prospects for biotech companies, European strategies on stem cell research and genetic engineering, as well as the EU climate strategy. The main goal of these events and discussions, according to Kühne, is to structure and promote the transfer of information and knowledge within the EU.
In addition, the Biopolitical Conference (the follow–up conference to Biotechnology Days staged by the German Ministry for Education and Research) will provide an interdisciplinary summit for the biotech sector. Featuring a series of lectures, panel discussions and workshops, the event affords an ideal platform for knowledge transfer and networking between representatives from business, science and politics. The program of events is rounded off by the presentation of the bio–regions´ innovation award. Furthermore, Dr. Alfred Oberholz, Chairman of the Board of Evonik Industries, will open the conference "Industrial Biotechnology", which is being organized by "Deutsche Plattform für Industrielle Biotechnologie".
Forums in the exhibition area
Some forums will be integrated into the exhibition and thus closer to the exhibitors and their visitors. These include the Innovation Forum, which features lectures from exhibiting companies and the Life Science Spotlight, a forum in which top–flight scientists present their latest research findings. Other events held within the exhibition area are Project Forum Biotechnology (staged by the German Ministry for Education and Research), BIOTECHNICA PARTNERING and "jobvector" "“ a careers event. In order to avoid competition between these events and the exhibition, no lectures will be held in the Convention Center between noon and 2 p.m.
New partnering concept
The international partnering concept for BIOTECHNICA has also been further developed in order to ensure that scientific progress and good ideas find the right business partners. In cooperation with the EBD Group, the leading partnering specialist for the international biotech industry, the organizers have created a new professional platform open to all participants at BIOTECHNICA, including visitors and conference attendees, with the aim of facilitating business deals and contacts. Even before the show begins, exhibitors, cooperation–seeking firms and visitors can identify potential business partners and arrange meetings at the show thanks to a web information and matchmaking portal called "partnering ONE?", designed by the EBD Group. Such meetings will be scheduled to take place at the stands, in specially designated areas within the exhibition hall or in a meeting room. All the arrangements are automatically entered by the partneringONE system into the personal agenda of the participants.
Top international companies from biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, chemistry and bio–manufacturing can also take advantage of an ideal platform for private partnering at BIOTECHNICA. A personal introduction service specifically geared to the profile of these target groups brings the right people together.
BIOTECHNICA helps combat lack of qualified personnel
Demand for experienced and suitably qualified personnel across the biotech sector is already high and is expected to become even more problematic. In order to overcome the skills shortage and support companies in their quest to find qualified people, BIOTECHNICA has considerably extended the area made available to its careers event "jobvector" and will be offering attractive events designed to help in the recruitment of specialist personnel.
Hands–on science at Bio Truck
BIOTechnikum, located in Hall 9, is a real eye–catcher. This mobile information and exhibition centre on two levels is the brainchild of the Ministry for Education and Research. The full title of this initiative is "BIOTechnikum. Discovering life´s secrets "“ shaping the future." Participants are invited to experiment in practical laboratory sessions and workshops under the supervision of experienced scientists. A supporting exhibition provides insights into the basic science, fields of research and diverse applications of biotechnology.
Future–oriented keynotes and special stands
Bio–manufacturing and bioinformatics are the keynote themes at this year´s event. Germany offers good conditions for bio–manufacturing, and the cutting–edge work being done by German companies has won several international prizes and wide acclaim. Visitors to the special "Bio–manufacturing" stand in Hall 9 will learn what has been so conducive to good practice and commercial success, and discover which companies are driving this progress. Bio–informatics also plays a vital role in modern biology and medicine. The special "Bio–informatics" stand in Hall 9 affords insights into this technology and its broad spectrum of applications.
One–for–all ticket: the new super pass
A newly developed ticket system will simplify visitor registration and participation in the different sections of the BIOTECHNICA program. Every category of ticket is bar coded "“ from tickets securing admission solely to the exhibition to the super pass, which admits the holder to every part of the BIOTECHNICA program. All tickets can be read in at the check–in terminals.
Presentation of the EUROPEAN BIOTECHNICA AWARD a highlight at the opening ceremony
BIOTECHNICA will be opened on 6 October 2008 by EU Commissioner Günter Verheugen. Other speakers at the opening ceremony are Walter Hirche, Lower Saxony´s Minister for the Economy, Work and Transport, and Arthur J. Higgins, Chairman of the Board at Bayer HealthCare AG as well as at Bayer Schering Pharma AG. One of the traditional highlights of the opening ceremony will be the presentation of the EUROPEAN BIOTECHNICA AWARD, currently worth 100,000 euros. More than 400 guests from industry, science and politics are expected to attend.
No. of characters, incl. spaces: 10,256
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