More than twenty Catalan biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies participate in BIO-Europe 2012

A total of 22 Catalan companies are participating today through Wednesday in the eighteenth edition of BIO-Europe 2012, the top European meeting of the biotechnology industry that was inaugurated this morning in Hamburg, Germany, organized by EBD Group. Biocat, which is a Gold Sponsor for this year’s event, has a booth in the exhibit area to support Catalan business representatives, a group that makes up 40% of the 50 Spanish companies participating.

Midday today, Biocat is holding one of the International Seminars that, under the title Catalonia: building a competitive hub, will present the Catalan biocluster, one of the most dynamic in Spain and one of the most active areas in southern Europe in this field. Over the past five years, the rate at which new biotechnology companies have been created has oscillated between 30% and 15% on average, with a total of 481 companies in 2012.

During this event, moderated by Biocat Head of Communications and External Relations Adela Farré, four examples of noteworthy companies will be presented, giving a general overview of the best business practices that are contributing to the sector’s competitiveness and innovation. Thus, the event will feature AB-Biotics, the only Catalan biotech firm traded on the Alternative Stock Market (MAB) and which is devoted to developing biomarkers and nutraceutics, highlighting a chip that measures a patient’s predisposition to respond to the most commonly used drugs to treat depression, schizophrenia, epilepsy and bipolar disorders; the University Institute of Science and Technology (IUCT), a high-technology company that creates and develops products for the chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and has created a seed-capital fund to invest in biotechnology start-ups and boost their growth. The table will also include a representative from the first venture capital investment fund specializing in biotech in Spain, Ysios Capital Partners, and from Almirall, one of the largest Catalan pharmaceutical companies, which carries out biotechnology collaboration and investment projects.

BIO-Europe attracts international investors and the most important companies from the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors that, for three days, hold thousands of networking meetings. Nearly 3,000 delegates from 1,596 companies in 48 countries participated in BIO-Europe 2011, where some 15,000 one-to-one meetings, 20 workshops and roundtable debates with 183 company presentations were held.

BIO-Europe Spring 2013, a platform to promote the BioRegion of Catalonia

Biocat will take advantage of the platform of international contacts at BIO-Europe to promote the BioRegion of Catalonia and spread the word about the upcoming edition of BIO-Europe Spring 2013 (BES) that will be held in Barcelona from 11 to 13 March. Biocat and the Barcelona City Council head up the organizing committee for this edition of BES, with additional collaboration from the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC). Additionally, BES 2013 has already secured various sponsors, including international biotechnology firm Amgen and pharmaceutical company Almirall. 

Each year, BES attracts the top leaders in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors in Europe, North America and Asia, as well as representatives from venture capital funds around the world and the most noteworthy emerging countries to explore business opportunities, network and participate in new projects. 26 companies and organizations from the BioRegion of Catalonia, including Biocat –making up 57% of the Spanish delegation- participated in BES Amsterdam 2012, which brought together representatives from roughly 1,300 companies with 2,160 delegates from 47 countries and hosted more than 11,000 partnering meetings.

Holding BES in Barcelona offers great opportunities to draw technology and knowledge partners to Catalan companies and attract foreign investment, in addition to promoting the country as a leading international business center in the life sciences and innovation.

For more information:

Biocat:
Press office • 662 315 523 • premsa@biocat.cat
Silvia Labé  • 662 315 400 • 93 310 33 69 • slabe@biocat.cat
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