Summary report from Biotechnology and Finance Forum now available
A summary report of the second conference of the Biotechnology and Finance Forum is now available. It includes information on the main points of discussion from the March 1999 event, which took place in Lyon, France. The event ran concurrently with the international life sciences forum 'Biovision' and the Biotech investment forum, and aimed to emphasise the mobilisation and networking effort on all players in the biotechnology field. In turn, the organisers hope this will help to develop entrepreneurial initiatives further and promote small biotechnology research-based firms in Europe. The Biotechnology and Finance Forum is a joint venture between the European Commission and the European Association of Securities Dealers that was set up principally to link the ability to discover to the ability to produce. In terms of the current EU position on biotechnology policy, this is particularly relevant to the 'Cell Factory' Key Action of the EU's Fifth RTD Framework Programme. Approximately 1200 people attended the joint event, and participated in productive discussions, which are outlined in the summary. This gives more detail of some of the main points to emerge, such as a need for more support for young entrepreneurs and for broader dissemination of information about intellectual property rights for scientists.