Report on the first conference of the Biotechnology and Finance Forum
A report on the first conference of the Biotechnology and Finance Forum which was held in conjunction with the Biotechnology Innovation Forum in Brussels, Belgium, from 12 to 14 May 1998, is now available. The forum, a joint initiative of the European Association of Securities Dealers and the European Commission, DG XII, aims to develop interactions between the biotech research industry and financial spheres. The report presents the objectives and general information on the conference, providing summaries of the main speeches and panel discussions. Highlights of the Biotechnology Innovation Symposium are also included presenting national and regional initiatives such as the German "BioRegio" initiative and the Irish technology management scheme "BioResearch Ireland". Information contained in the annexes provides a list of the participants, contact details for the advisory group to the Biotechnology and Finance Forum and a presentation of the EU's Innovation and Technology Equity Capital project (I-TEC). The key messages of the conference are summarised and include: - Promoting the emerging trends in science through research and development; - Exploiting the potential of the European Biotech market, which could be worth some ECU 100 billion in ten years if properly developed; - Redressing the lack of investment in the sector and ensuring that European technology capital markets avoid fragmentation; - Promoting education and training, and establishing better links between industry and universities.