Europe's leading biotechnology show is about to open its doors once again - the international trade fair Biotechnica will be taking place at the Hannover Exhibition Center from 9 to 11 October 2007
Now in its 15th year, the international industry get-together will offer an effective platform for showcasing new trends and developing contacts.
Biotechnica is the only show attended by all biotechnology sectors and is now therefore regarded as the leading event for the European biotech industry.
New features this year include a top-level partnering forum that will be held in cooperation with the US-based Technology Vision Group (TVG), one of the world's leading organisers of matchmaking and partnering events.
A principle focus of the partnering forum is red biotechnology - drug-device combination therapy.
Focusing on biopharmaceuticals, the event offers companies the ideal means of discovering new approaches in the highly-complex interdisciplinary technology between biotechnology and medicine and provides a short-cut for developing contacts.
Display categories.
Biotechnica 2007 showcases the entire spectrum of the industry.
It will zoom in on future-related themes in pharmaceuticals/medicine, environment, nutrition and the industrial use of biotechnological methods.
Deutsche Messe is expecting more than 900 companies from some 30 countries at Biotechnica 2007, which will be opened on the evening of 8 October by the vice-president of the European Commission, Gunter Verheugen.
In 2005, 850 exhibitors presented their products and services to more than 12,000 trade visitors.
To further improve the quality and service for exhibitors and visitors, organisational changes have been made to the upcoming Biotechnica.
The event will now take place in the state-of-the-art Halls 8 and 9 to the south of the exhibition grounds and thus offer a wealth of biotechnology products and services under one roof.
The convention centre next door - offering first-class conditions with highly-flexible rooms and state-of-the-art presentation technologies - is available for the lecture program.
Partnering forum of Biotechnica 2007.
This year, Deutsche Messe will be organizing a partnering forum for the first time in cooperation with the Technology Vision Group (TVG) from Santa Cruz, California.
Participants can look forward to a high-ranking network event on the theme of drug-device combination therapy.
The programme of lectures, expert discussions, company presentations and networking areas enables biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, investors, and research institutes to identify strategic partners directly.
There are two elements to the partnering event - an exclusive online platform that was activated two months in advance of the trade fair and a face-to-face gathering during the trade fair in the convention centre, which is located adjacent to the Biotechnica halls on the Hannover exhibition grounds.
The event is aimed at decision-makers from industry, research and development, and venture capital companies, who will gather together in professional surroundings.
The partnering platform enables companies to work together to make further inroads towards product development.
It is also the fourth pillar of the Biotechnica programme - which allows high-tech companies that do not offer any products or services to benefit from the Biotechnica industry get-together.
The lecture programme for Biotechnica 2007.
Another highlight of this year's Biotechnica is the conference program.
In addition to the partnering event and the innovation forum (company and product presentations by exhibiting companies), more than 20 other specialist events will be taking place in rooms in the convention centre that are specifically designed for conferences.
The scheduled shows include the continuation of the erstwhile BMBF biotechnology day under its new title, German biotechnology days, the Merck forum, and the vaccine development days.
Other themes include white biotechnology, regenerative medicine, nanobiotechnology, plant and food biotechnology, and biomass.
And of course, the successful Jobvector career days job exchange is also being held at Biotechnica once again.
Prize money for European Biotechnica Award increased by euro60,000.
The value of this award - a well-established competition in the European biotechnology sector - has once again been increased significantly for Biotechnica 2007.
For the first time it carries prize money of euro100,000, which makes it the world's most attractive competition for strengthening the commitment of fledgling biotechnology companies.
For the fifth time, Deutsche Messe will present this award to a successful biotechnology company during the opening ceremony for this year's Biotechnica on 8 October 2007.
In previous years, the three first-placed companies shared prizes to the value of euro40,000.
Small and medium-sized European biotechnology and life science companies can apply for the European Biotechnica Award.
They should:.
Have been active on the market for at least two years.
Number between 30 and 350 employees.
Generate a maximum total annual sales volume of euro50 million.
Be financially independent (a maximum of 25 percent of the company's capital is in the hands of a large corporation; except venture capital firms).
Already be involved successfully in the biotechnology and life sciences market.
The key requirements for participation are innovative products and services and associated concepts and business ideas.
Application forms can be downloaded.
Important date: The closing date for registration is 1 June 2007.
It is definitely worth taking part, says the organiser because, as well as the prize money, the finalists can win an exhibition stand at Biotech China 2008 in Shanghai, a comprehensive consulting package from CapGemini, the IPO Welcome Package from Deutsche Borse (the German stock exchange), advertisements in European Biotechnology News and membership of the European Association for Biotechnology, EuropaBio.
