SAVE THE DATE: EUROPABIO OPEN DAY, 14 JUNE 2007
To find out about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Rebecca Weaver  r.weaver@europabio.org

EuropaBio's "The Invisible Revolution" now showing on google video and youtube

We welcome your feedback!
To view the dvd on youtube, please click here.
To view the dvd on google video, please click here.

Public Policy Director, Dirk Carrez talks about EuropaBio's Industrial/White Biotechnology Policy Agenda for Europe
Dirk Carrez, Public Policy Director for EuropaBio talks to theparliament.com about the recently published Industrial / White Biotechnology Policy Agenda for Europe. The Policy Agenda addresses EuropaBio’s position that the EU needs a Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy to help drive the industry forward.

EuropaBio is a proud supporter of BioVision & BioSquare
The 5th edition of BioVision (March 11 – 14, 2007 - in Lyon, France) will gather leading international experts from science, industry and society to debate and agree actions for change. The Forum will review a number of critical current issues: from the ethical and scientific conditions of stem-cell research for regenerative cell therapies to the application of nanotechnologies to health and environment fields, from the development of bio energy solutions in response to global warming to water rarefaction. Ten Pre-conferences were held during 2006 to set the stage for the debate and to ensure that the Forum goes beyond stimulating dialogue and examines concrete and necessary actions. EuropaBio has negotiated a special discount for members. For more information, please contact Rebecca Weaver, r.weaver@europabio.org or click here to see the EuropaBio webpage announcing EuropaBio participation at BioVision and BioSquare.

ISAAA report shows that global area of biotech crops continues to climb
The 2006 International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) report shows that in 2006, the global biotech crop area increased 12 million hectares or 13% to reach 102 million hectares for the first time. Growth for the period 1996 to 2006 is equivalent to a 60-fold increase, the highest adoption rate of any crop technology. Additionally, the number of farmers planting biotech crops reached, for the first time, 10.3 million, from 8.5 million farmers in 2005. By 2015, ISAAA predicts more than 20 million farmers will plant 200 million hectares of biotech crops in about 40 countries. To visit the ISAAA website, please click here.

ENVI votes "Yes" on on Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products
On January 30th, the European Parliament's ENVI committee voted  to approve a report on Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products with a plenary vote to follow on March 13, 2007. Please click here to see related EuropaBio press release.

EU Environment Council fails to support the rights of Hungarian farmers wanting to grow biotech crops
EU environment ministers, meeting in Brussels on 20 February, voted with a qualified majority, against its proposal to remove the so-called national safeguard clause, which allows Hungary to maintain its ban on the sale and use of Zea mays L. Line MON 810 maize on its territory. Please click here to see related EuropaBio press release.

 

Two recent publications examine Europe's patent system
Discussion Paper: Does the cost of patenting affect the demand for patents?
Written by the Chief Economist of the EPO, the paper addresses the cost factor in patent systems and assesses whether and to what extent the cost of patenting affects the demand for patents. To view the publication, please click here.

The economics of the European patent system
Co-authored by economists from the OECD and the EPO, the book contains an overview of the patent system and how it works in practice. It looks to provide a systematic analysis of the European patent system and provides new insights into how patent policies in Europe could be more closely aligned with other innovation policies. For more information, please click here.

Richard Branson to launch Virgin stem cell bank
British entrepreneur Richard Branson is to add a stem cell storage company to his Virgin empire. Parents will be able to store cells from the blood in their baby's umbilical cord in the hope they could one day be used to treat certain blood diseases. Some scientists think stem cells -- master cells in the body that can grow into any cell type or tissue -- could one day be used to treat illnesses such as Alzheimer's and heart disease. Branson said the Virgin Health Bank will store samples for both public and private use. The cost is 1,500 pounds ($2,952).

European Commission proposes stricter fuel standards to combat climate change and reduce air pollution
The European Commission has proposed new standards for transport fuels that will reduce their contribution to climate change and air pollution, including through greater use of biofuels. The changes underscore the Commission's commitment to ensuring that the EU combats climate change and air pollution effectively. The proposed standards will not only make the fuels themselves 'cleaner' but will also allow the introduction of vehicles and machinery that pollute less.
 

EU looks to philanthropy for research
In the search for greater funding to support European research and development, the European Commission is turning to philanthropy. The EU executive announced on 23 January the creation of an expert group that will draw up guidelines aimed at helping universities attract donations, noting the wide variations in member states' performance at present. While these philanthropic sources - such as foundations, trusts, and non-profit associations - currently fund more than 16% of university R&D expenditure in the UK and Sweden, the EU average is as low as 4.2%. The expert group, whose membership is made up mainly of representatives of higher education institutions and charitable foundations, is to be chaired by Bill Wakeham, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Southampton, UK. Its guidelines, due in November, will address a range of issues linked with the "interactions of universities with private donors," including an analysis of fundraising strategies used in the EU and elsewhere.

28 February 2007: YIC Seminar: How tax incentives can boost the competitiveness of European high tech industry; Stockholm, Sweden
For more information, please contact Per Vretblad at Per.Vretblad@sik.se

6-9 March: World Biofuels Markets, Brussels.
For more information, please contact Annie Ellis, annie.ellis@greenpowerconferences.com or visit http://www.greenpowerconferences.com/wbm/register.html

11-14 March 2007 - BioVision & BioSquare; Lyon, France
Registrations are open on : www.biovision.org  and www.biosquare.com
EuropaBio Special registration rates for Members, also ask EuropaBio for details of the sponsoring package. For more information, please contact Rebecca Weaver, r.weaver@europabio.org

20-21 March: Smart Feedstocks for Industrial Products
Bioscience for Business is a new national Knowledge Transfer network in the UK. It encompasses all non-red biotechnology and aims to add benefit by integration of the communities in academia and industry responsible for biotechnology resesarch into land and marine plants and microorganisms.The first major conference and workshop of this organisation will be held at Oxford University on 20-21st March 2007. Please visit the website for further details.

21-24 March: World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing; Orlando, Florida (USA); http://www.bio.org/worldcongress

26-28 March: DIA (Drug Information Association) EuroMeeting; Vienna, Austria
Major EU conference for pharmaceutical and biotech industry. For more information, please click here. 

29-30 March:  London Edge Initiative: Life Science; London, UK
The London Edge Initiative: Life Sciences showcases UK and international quoted and pre-IPO companies in the healthcare sector to institutional investors. To register or for enquiries please contact: Tel: Mary Clark or Halina Kukula on +44 (0) 20 7307 5340; Email: londonedge.lse@capitalmsl.com Fax: +44 (0) 20 7307 5331

 

6-9 May: BIO International Convention, Boston                                                  
For more information and to register, please click here.

13-15 June 2007: New frontiers in the quality of medicines, Strasbourg
This meeting will explore international co-operation and synergy in quality standards;  the perspectives for co-operation and partnership with regulatory agencies, the PDG Pharmacopoeias and industry; and an action plan for the future with recommendations from industry. For more information, please visit: http://www.edqm.eu/site/page_673.php

17-19 June: Genomics in Business 2007, Amsterdam
Genomics in Business 2007 is an international conference that explores the business potential of genomics applications in the agro-food biotechnology industry. Members of EuropaBio may receive a discount of € 200 off the prevailing registration fee. To receive the discount, complete the online registration form www.genomicsinbusiness.com  and check the box indicating that your company is a member of EuropaBio.

18 June 2007: BioFinance Europe,  London, UK
A pan-European conference on alternative finance options for bioscience companies. Organised by the BioIndustry Association (BIA), this event will bring senior US and European financiers together with CEOs from some of the most innovative bioscience companies in Europe to explore alternatives to traditional VC and equity financing.  Further details are available on http://www.biofinanceeurope.org

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