Europe's biggest biotechnology fair has extended its international portfolio and recently celebrated the launch of the new overseas fair Biotech China, which took place from 4 to 6 July 2007
The premiere of this new highlight for the biotech sector was a tremendous success, says the organiser.
Located in Shanghai, China's most important business centre, the event will now take place every year.
The new Biotech China is the result of cooperation between existing events in China - Biotechnica Asia, Biotech and Pharm China, ISCL (International Scientific Instruments, Chemical Reagent and Laboratory Equipment Expo) - as well as the top-flight scientific congress Bio-Forum.
The decision of the organiser Deutsche Messe Hannover to collaborate with the World Expo Group Shanghai Modern International Exhibition (SMIE) as well as Shanghai Technology Convention and Exhibition (STCEC) has laid the basis for access to all areas of the biotech and pharmaceuticals industries.
Thus, it says that right from the start, Biotech China has the potential to become the most important platform for biotechnology on the entire Asian market.
Biotech China confirmed all hopes by producing good results from the very start.
134 exhibitors from 17 countries showcased their products and innovations over the three days of the fair.
The line-up of companies included such prestigious names as market leaders Millipore, Qiagen, Sartorius, Whatman, Varian, PerkinElmer, Corning, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Bruker Daltonic and Sarstedt.
Most of the exhibitors came from China, followed by contingents from the USA and Japan, but companies from as far afield as Mexico, Germany and Switzerland were also represented.
In terms of visitor attendance the figures were also impressive.
Around 4853 visitors from 19 countries took part in a programme comprising a combination of a three-day exhibition, an innovations forum and a two-day congress.
It proved an ideal opportunity to gain a clear overview of individual product areas and new developments.
The venue for the new Biotechnica event is the Shanghai International Exhibition Center (Intex), a complex that enjoys a central location.
The exhibitors were extremely satisfied with the new trade show.
Michael Rosenbaum, vice president marketing, Labnet International, commented: "Labnet is forecasting significant growth in our China business in the next five to ten years.
"Not only was Biotech China an excellent opportunity to build brand recognition in this very brand-conscious market, but we also met our distributors from China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and - believe it or not - Chile.
"Shanghai is the perfect meeting point for conducting business in biotech".
According to Bruno Pot, director of business development at Belgian software producer Applied Maths: "We experienced, also in China, that biotechnology software is needed more than ever.
"We ran out of brochures and business cards before the end of the fair and we leave a huge job for our local partner Light Ace HK to follow up all those leads, many of which were of high quality".
China boasts currently the world's sixth biggest economy and is the fourth most powerful trading nation.
Alongside Japan, China is the dominant economic force in Asia.
It is also the most highly populated country in the world - with a population of 1.3 billion it has more inhabitants than the USA and Europe together.
At present, life expectancy for men is 70 and 74 for women.
With average income growing at an historically unprecedented rate of over 10 percent per annum for more than twenty years, the vast majority of the population now has access to modern medical care.
An extensive health insurance and pensions system is being developed, while a massive public program to construct modern research establishments and medical centres of excellence has been launched.
Other areas experiencing strong growth include the introduction of biotech processes in agriculture and alternative sources of energy.
The world's biggest single market is not only interesting from a sales potential - it is also a promising location for research and production.
Shanghai, like many other modern cities in China, boasts modern biotech industrial parks where research establishments and international biotech and pharmaceutical companies benefit from a perfect infrastructure and ideal conditions.
This represents a huge potential for orders for biotech companies.
"Alongside Biotechnica in Hannover, the decision to establish the event in Shanghai as well was obviously the right step towards the further successful development of Biotechnica.
"China provides the perfect base for gaining access to the entire Asian market.
"The new Biotech China offers exhibitors an ideal platform for new business leads on the vibrant Chinese market.
"The ties to the highly successful Biotechnica also facilitate the increasing international exchange and outreach of the biotech community", says Stephan Kuhne, member of the board of Deutsche Messe in Hannover.
Close cooperation with ministries, research institutes and regional associations has further enhanced the value and appeal of Biotech China.
Top representatives from regional government and industry accepted the invitation to attend the opening ceremony, where Zhang Ao from the Shanghai People's Municipal Government congratulated the organiser for its successful efforts to launch Biotech China.
Shanghai will host Biotech China again from 28 to 30 May 2008.
The German biotech industry will be present again in 2008 with a joint display that has the support of the national government's overseas fairs development programme.
