Fourteen companies join EuropaBio, increasing the industry’s membership base and representation in Europe “Important issues in the agro, industrial and healthcare sectors still remain in Europe, so having the sector well represented in Brussels means the industry can actively contribute to the political environment and help convince policy makers to build the bio-economy,” says Feike Sijbesma, Chairman of EuropaBio, the EU association for bioindustries. “It is important too to give feedback to policy makers on what the European biotech industry thinks about issues and rules. The diversity of the new organisations joining EuropaBio will strengthen the association and add to its already extensive network.”

The small and medium sized companies joining EuropaBio come from different industry sectors that are using biotechnology. Some are making plastics, others are producing medicines to meet unmet medical needs for the developing and developed parts of the world. A new Regional cluster brings with them leading edge new emerging biotech companies.  An end to Europe’s cluttered events calendar for biotech companies might also be in sight with the introduction of events organisers to the association as associate members. This gives events organisers a platform to work together, agree the calendar and directly work with the industry.

“Small and medium sized enterprises with a new line of approach and daring projects greatly determine the strength of the European Biotechnology sector. They are in general the motor of scientific and economic progress in Europe, and therefore of the Lisbon agenda,” says Johan Vanhemelrijck, EuropaBio’s Secretary General. “SMEs have a special place in EuropaBio because they are represented by their own “Emerging Enterprises Council”. This distinguished form of membership empowers companies that want to put their efforts in a European context to have their own voice within the association.”

EuropaBio has also committed itself to supporting the Biotechnica-award that is given each year to a high performing biotech SME. EuropaBio offers Biotechnica nominees a free one-year EuropaBio membership, giving them the opportunity to network with large and small life science companies - the first of these companies to be given EuropaBio membership is German biotech MorphoSys AG.

“The blend of young innovative companies and more established companies, brings in a very effective mix of experience and expertise that puts EuropaBio in the unique position to represent the full diversity of the European biotech industry at EU and national level.” says Johan Vanhemelrijck, Secretary-General of EuropaBio. “The membership of event organisers will further facilitate the participation of industry in important events.”

EUROPABIO's NEW MEMBERS

Bioton S.A., Poland
Bioton S.A.. is a developing Polish company of the biotechnology sector, manufacturing clinically important modern drugs, including recombined human insulin and its pharmaceutical forms, preparations from the cephalosporine, aminoglycoside and macrolide groups.

Crucell, the Netherlands
Crucell N.V. is a biotechnology company focused on developing vaccines and antibodies that prevent and treat infectious diseases, including Ebola, influenza, malaria and West Nile virus.

CSM / Purac, the Netherlands
PURAC is the world's largest and most experienced producer of natural lactic acid, lactates and gluconates with factories in Brazil, Spain, the U.S. and the Netherlands, where its management and staff departments are located. PURAC is a subsidiary of CSM, an international food ingredients and confectionery company.

MorphoSys AG, Germany
MorphoSys develops and applies innovative technologies for the production of synthetic antibodies, which accelerate drug discovery and target characterization. The company's proprietary Human Combinatorial Antibody Library (HuCAL ®) technology is used by researchers worldwide for human antibody generation. MorphoSys was Biotechnica-award finalist in 2004.

PamGene, the Netherlands  
PamGene is a post-genomics Dutch biotech company translating its patented microarray technologies into complete products like high-throughput instruments for fast genotyping, gene-expression and proteomics applications. Rewarded with the Deloitte & Touche Rising Star award in 2002, the prize for young innovative companies with an exceptionally good business plan and effective marketing of their products through the number of clients and turnover achieved.

Rottapharm, Italy        
Rottapharm is an international pharmaceutical group based in Italy. The Group aims to discover, develop and distribute new original drugs for the treatment of major diseases.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

Barabas Zoltan Federation of Biotechnology
This Hungarian biotech federation aims at the promotion and support of biotechnology in all possible fields to benefit the Hungarian economy. This implies an interactive dialogue with all stakeholders as well as the development of activities to promote R & D and public acceptance of biotechnology in general.

 

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

Consilium, Belgium
Consilium is a new consultancy firm set up by former EuropaBio Secretary General, Hugo Schepens as a service company to some national associations.

FlandersBio, Belgium
FlandersBio is the Flemish Biotech Cluster. Its mission is to act as a driving force for the sustained growth of the Flemish Biotech industry players – some 40 companies plus institutions, capital and service providers. FlandersBio aims at building the critical mass that by itself will attract further companies, investors, services, suppliers, as well as a pool of skilled labour.

 

EVENT ORGANISERS

 

BioNale, The Netherlands
BIOnale - a biotech event - was initiated in 2003 under the patronage of the Dutch EU Presidency to focus on developing the Life Science and Biotech environment in Europe.

Biotechnica 2005
The Biotechnica International Trade Fair for Biotechnology has entered into associate membership of EuropaBio. It is an excellent meeting-place for experts from the fields of industry, science and politics. Its international character, its audience with a high proportion of decision-makers and its American and Asian partner countries provide an excellent basis for exchanging know-how and international partnerships /matchmaking.

 

BioVision, France
The World Life Sciences Forum BioVision (Lyon-France), is a unique international platform, bringing together representatives from society, science, and industry in equal numbers, to discuss, debate and put forth proposals on the major international issues concerning the future of health, food and the environment.

Cordia
Cordia 2005 is the high-level business conference and international exhibition for the biotechnology industry that is being held in October 2005 from 09/10/2005 to 13/10/2005. Along with conference and workshop sessions, Cordia will be developing a unique combination of partnering opportunities and networking events for delegates from Europe, the US and Asia.

Technology Vision Group LLC
Founded in 1992, Technology Vision Group LLC has been at the forefront of life science business innovation, with clients in over 30 countries. For over a decade Technology Vision has been developing innovative methods to help life science and associated technology companies in the fields of IT, medical devices, and healthcare services.

EuropaBio represents 8 associate members, 40 corporate members operating worldwide and 24 national biotechnology associations (totalling some 1500 SMEs) involved in research and development, testing, manufacturing and distribution of biotechnology products. EuropaBio, the voice of European bioindustries, aims to be a promoting force for biotechnology and to present its proposals to industry, politicians, regulators, NGOs, and the public at large.