EuropaBio sat down with new member Association of Biotechnological Companies Bioforum, to find out how they champion biotech in central and eastern Europe
INTERVIEW
About Magdalena Kulczycka
Dr Magdalena Kulczycka - has experience as a molecular biologist obtained in the laboratories of: the Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology of the Jagiellonian University (Poland), Małopolska Center of Biotechnology of the Jagiellonian University (Poland), University of California Santa Barbara (USA), Max Planck Institute in Martinsried (Germany), Lund University (Sweden), and also as an entrepreneur - founder and president of MicroBioLab sp. z o.o. She got to know both worlds well by running an investment fund, and also as a technology broker devoted to Collegium Medicum of the Jagiellonian University in the Center for Technology Transfer CITTRU of the Jagiellonian University. Currently, she is the Director of BioForum – Association of Biotechnological Companies gathering biotech companies from Poland and CEBioForum - the most important event in Central Europe connecting the world of biotechnology and business.
Interview with Dr. Magdalena Kulczycka, Director at Association of Biotechnological Companies BioForum
1) What inspired Association of Biotechnological Companies BioForum to join EuropaBio?
Since biotechnology is developed worldwide, we want to represent polish biotech companies in this development. Moreover, we want to actively influence international discussion on regulations that are created at European level since Poland is state member with fast growing biotech sector.
2) What are the policy areas which offer opportunities and potential challenges for your members?
We want to contribute in discussions in healthcare areas when it comes to registration of novel drug candidates and their clinical validation. Also, agricultural biotechnology is in the scope of our members especially regarding registration of novel solutions in this field. Moreover, we want to contribute to development of a biomanufacturing platform as polish market has big potential in this manner.
3) What are the priorities of your members in Poland?
Polish companies are looking for international partners in order to develop the know-how they created and improve it in cooperation with more experienced entities to learn the most optimal commercialization process in biotech field. Moreover, companies creating relatively young biotech market in Poland are looking for VC partners who understand the dynamics of biotech development.
4) How does Poland want to position itself within the European biotech economy?
Since our strong points are well qualified scientists and low production cost, we want to position Poland as investment site for biotechnology manufacturing which is playing important role in biotech development process. In addition, we would like to emphasize scientific and innovative potential of polish people scientists.
