Report from Central European Forum of Biotechnology And Innovative BioEconomy
Date: 18.5.2011
Date: May 11-12th 2011;
Venue: andel's hotel, Ogrodowa 17 street, Lodz, Poland;
This years' BioForum was a unique opportunity to become acquainted with the most significant, innovative R&D projects, which were carried out in the leading scientific facilities, laboratories and entrepreneurships in Central Europe. The grand opening ceremony of BioForum was led by prof. Tadeusz Pietrucha - the main organizer of the event and Marek Cieślak - the vicepresident of the City of Lodz.
During BioForum over 100 exhibitors from 10 countries presented their companies. More than100 R&D Projects and laboratory services were presented, and over 400 direct B2B Biopartnering business and scientific meetings took place. As an addition, over 1000 participants from 20 countries participated in Central Europe's most important biotech event.
The event had multiple layers, allowing the participants to explore multiple possibilities during the business and life science event: Exhibition and Poster Session, BioPartnering - business meetings, workshops and seminars with world renowned specialists, a competition for the best innovative company and career days prepared having in mind the students, graduates and people seeking jobs in biotechnology and LifeScience.
BioForum 2011 Organizer - Bio-Tech Consulting Ltd.
Co-organizer: The City of Lodz
BioForum 2011 Partners which are the key players in the CE LifeScience sector:
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Thanks to the dedication of the above mentioned Partners of the event - BioForum became a unique platform to present the potential of the biotechnology and LifeScience sectors of CE as well as a place where enthusiasts of biotechnology, world renowned scientists, researchers and managers exchange their experience.
BioForum had a huge echo in international, domestic and local media, including general information as well as specialist and industry oriented sources.
Exhibition session - BioForum 2011 Exhibition:
BioForum was a perfect opportunity to become acquainted with the current developments in the field of biotechnology and LifeScience.
During BioForum 2011 over 100 companies and institutes from countries including Poland, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, Singapore, Slovakia, Switzerland, Great Britain presented themselves.
The exhibition part was addressed mainly to representatives of the biosector interested in new technologies and their implementation by and into their companies. The main target for the event were also scientists from universities and institutes as well as regular and PhD students from Poland and abroad. This year BioForum has registered over 1,000 visitors, to see the exhibition and attend the satellite events. The BioForum exhibitors included companies and institutions supporting technology transfer: patent attorneys, venture capital funds, seed capital funds, technology and advanced technology parks as well as technology incubators. Scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs have shown their achievements in the fields of novel chemical substances and drugs, technologically advanced laboratory apparatus, tools for the pharma industry, genetic and molecular biology tools and solutions as well as research laboratory equipment.
BioForum 2011 Poster Presentation:
A unique element of the Central European Forum of Biotechnology - BioForum is the presentation of R&D projects with high application potential in the healthcare, pharma and biotechnology sectors.
This year during the trade fair over 100 R&D projects and research services were presented. As a part of the poster session R&D projects from Poland and CE countries were shown. Thanks to the highlight of the results of scientific research with high commercialization potential, BioForum is a unique platform of dialogue between science and business.
BioForum 2011 Seminars & Lectures
On May 11-12th 2011, during BioForum, specialist seminars, presentations and trainings were carried out. Those were concerned with the topics of: commercialization aspects, R&D project financing, how to succeed in a high risk environment, biotech industry highlight, biotech partnerships and challenges faced by biotech companies in the CE region.
Thanks to the cooperation of BioForum Partners during the lecture programme, it was possible to present the condition of the CE biotech market and its' potential.
As an addition, during the lecture programme of BioForum, special Keynote Speeches took place - presentations of world renowned specialists in their respective fields'. Those included:
- Dr. Thomas Zioncheck, Senior Director of Business Development, Genentech Inc., US. "Innovation Through Collaboration: How to Succeed in a High-Risk Industry"
- Dr. Erik Lund, Director Worldwide Licensing , Merck & Co., Inc., Sweden
"Pharma's Challenges and Opportunities in a Changing Environment"
- Prof. Wieslaw Nowiński, Principal Scientist Agency for Science Technology & Research (A*STAR), "From Neuroimaging to Brain Modeling: Brain Atlases and Their Applications", Singapore
-Mr. Ludovic Lacaine, Director, Healthcare Biotechnology, EuropaBio, Belgium
jobvector career Day
An additional event for this years' edition of the event was the jobvector career Day aimed at newcomers and experienced jobseekers of the biotech sector. Every participant of the event had the possibility to obtain feedback regarding effective employment seeking and becoming acquainted with the most interesting job offers. A very interesting issue was also the jobvector-Check, which meant free CV and cover letter assessment. Those were assessed by professional A-Tem Recruitment specialists. Over 50 people used this opportunity and enhanced their application documents. Another part of the jobvector career day was the jobvector-Forum, an interesting seminar session, which was concerned with the topics of: choosing the right profession, how to apply for a job and an overview of the LifeScience industry in Poland.
The participants were also very interested in the real time job interview, which was lead as a showcase for analysis for future job seekers attending the interview. Thanks to the comments given, future jobseekers were able to better prepare for job interviews.
Polpharma recruitment corner
Polpharma Biologics seeks employees to its' newly established R&D hub in Gdansk. During BioForum, a recruitment corner has been organized, where biotechnology, biology and students and graduates of related fields could leave their contact data and applications. Around 100 people have benefitted from this opportunity during BioForum.
BioPartnering - BioForum 2011 contact platform:
For the third time, BioForum has enabled and enhanced B2B cooperation with the aid of BioPartnering. BioPartnering are prescheduled B2B meetings among BioForum participants. The internet platform was provided by FFG, a conference IT solution provider. The platform allows the participants to book bilateral meetings.
During BioForum, 400 BioPartnering business meetings took place. BioPartnering has been widely recognized by participants as the best platform for science-business contacts.
The meetings took place in specially arranged conference rooms. A private atmosphere enhanced linking between participants, which were potential scientific / business partners or clients and providers in the biosector.
BioPartnering - ADAMED and Polpharma private business meeting rooms
The organizers of BioForum have also arranged a special place for BioPartnering meetings for their main partners - ADAMED and Polpharma Biologics - the private business meeting rooms. The rooms hosted over 60 business meetings, during which invited guests had the opportunity to present their offers and partnership propositions in different R&D fields.
Satelite Events of BioForum 2011
„Masters of Innovation" competition
The main concept behind the Masters of Innovation competition, which took place during BioForum 2011, was to emerge the company performing the best business action based on its' business model and mission statement. This was done by an international Jury consisting of: Heinrich Cuypers (BioCon Valley, Germany), Kate Gunning (BioVisability, USA), Michal Kostka (St. Anne's University Hospital Brno - International Clinical Research Center, Czech Republic), Roland Kolzowski (Life Science Business Consulting, Poland) and Oliver Murphy (Deloitte, Poland).
The competition was also aimed at aiding the participating companies, by showing an outsiders' view on the business model, pipeline and HR capabilities shown by each company. The companies, which were interviewed by the Jury were: Adamed, Celther Polska, Mabion, Read-Gene, Selvita.
The winner, which showed the best balance between the three elements discussed above, was Selvita. However, to recognize all of the companies for great presentations and business models, the Jury decided that each of the companies should be invited to the Strategic Sessions, consulting sessions sponsored by Deloitte.
„BioCompetition"
For the first time during BioForum the international BioCompetition took place. It was aimed at young scientists and students with a strong passion for biotechnology. The competition was about emerging the best idea with a commercialization potential in biotechnology, pharma and LifeSciences. Several people took part, six of whom, having the best ideas, made it to the final.
Innovative and creative drive, dedication and potential were judged in the final. The contestants were assessed by an international jury consisting of renowned specialists from the field of Biotech: dr Piotr Lassota (Member of the Board, Head of Biotechnology R&D, Polpharma), dr Siew Hwa Ong (CEO Acumen Laboratories Research, Singapore), Dr Rick Mommers (CEO CzechBio and Business development manager, Lonza, Czech Republic). The competition was a perfect opportunity to check the contestants' presentation skills. For the participants it was also a great opportunity to meet the leaders of innovative biobusiness. The winner was Lukasz Orzechowski, a student of biotechnology of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, who presented an idea to improve the properties of beer with the aid of cyclodextrins, with the use of modified brewer yeast. This method would also increase the characteristics related to calorie and carbohydrate content of beer.
Press Conference, May 11th
On May 11th, 2011, a press conference entitled 'Central European Biotech in changing business environment' took place. The press conference lasted over an hour, and gave reporters, local government representatives and representatives of biotech companies a highlight of CE biotech development, in the Lodz bioregion development context. 'A county with a high potential' - this statement could have been heard among scientists and leaders or innovative businesses from Poland and abroad. The Vicepresident of Lodz, Marek Cieślak as well as representatives and reporters of Czech, Hungarian, Polish and Asian biotech were present during the meeting.
Press Conference, May 12th
On May 12th, 2011, the second press conference took place. This time, the press conference was aimed at highlighting the main point of establishment of the Central European Biotechnology Companies Association - CEBCA. The meeting was lead by Erno Duda, Founder & President of the Hungarian Biotechnology Association, CEO Solvo Biotechnology, Hungary.
We kindly invite you to the next edition of the Central European Forum of Biotechnology and Innovative BioEconomy
May 23-24 2012, Brno, Czech Republic
In case of any questions please contact
Edyta Wodzińska
BioForum 2011 Project Manager
GSM: 795 540 329
bioforum@bioforum.pl
