Europe'a first Cordia biotech convention has been declared a success by the organiser, and a date for December 2004 in Cannes has been confirmed
Cordia 2003, the new European biotech convention and the first of its kind in Europe, closed its doors last Thursday in Vienna after what the organiser says was a highly successful first event.
The European biotechnology industry was well represented, with companies, investors, and national organisations from more than 37 countries.
The participants praised the quality of the conference sessions, where high profile speakers debated the present and future issues affecting every aspect of biotechnology: R and D, manufacturing, financing, partnering strategies, and regulatory policies.
Speaking at the opening plenary, Ireland's deputy prime minister Mary Harney said: "Biotechnology will be the industry of the century." However, she added that Europe and the European Union have a lot of work to do to reach the goals for building competitive economies.
Kristin Sandereid, CEO of Predimed, Norway, who attended the conference declared: "This has been an excellent event for networking and business development.
"We have met people here who we have been trying to see for months".
"The quality of visitors at Cordia was excellent" added Duncan McGregor, research manager at Isogenica, UK.
The organisers have announced that Cordia 2004 will take place in Cannes, in the prestigious Palais des Festivals, from 30 November to 2 December 2004.
