MVA newsletter no 8, August 2006
EDITORIAL
Amateurish evaluation of Medicon Valley
By Managing Director Stig Jørgensen, Medicon Valley Academy
Tuesday 22 August Copenhagen Business School (CBS) published the report ‘Øresundsregionalisering – Medicon Valley.’ The report is based on interviews with nine Danish individuals in different professional positions in Medicon Valley. The report concludes that Medicon Valley lacks international penetration, venture capital (national as well as international) and that the labour market in Medicon Valley is not integrated across Øresund. Interesting conclusions but based on a very superficial and unscientific methodology.
Let me make few comments on the three conclusions:
First of all, I find it very unjustifiable to make critical statements on the Øresund region without any interviews with Swedish professionals. Secondly, it is definitely not our experience that the international recognition of the Medicon Valley brand name is low. Numerous individuals and bioregions from all over the world visit Medicon Valley every year to make studies on how Medicon Valley has reached such a strong brand position. Thirdly, the venture capital investments in Medicon Valley companies are at the highest level since the 2000 euphoria. More than DKK 1.2 Billion have been invested in Medicon Valley companies during the first half of 2006. The number of international investors involved in these investments has increased dramatically. Thus, hard facts reject the conclusion from the CBS report.
Fourthly, in the CBS report the assumption on the lack of integration of the labour market in Medicon Valley is based on figures from 2003. Nevertheless, I agree in the conclusion. The labour market in the Øresund Region is not yet fully integrated. Structural, cultural and geographical reasons explain a great part of it. However, I expect that the integration will increase during the next years. Medicon Valley Academy will within the next months take a new initiative that aims to expose the job opportunities in Denmark to the very well educated Swedish academics.
It is very unfortunate that CBS has succeeded in getting substantial media coverage on ‘Øresundsregionalisering – Medicon Valley’. To develop Medicon Valley further, we need discussions and suggestions based on solid scientific evaluations on the region. This report does not contribute to this discussion.
Read the Medicon Valley Academy press release (in Danish) “Det er en OM’er, CBS!”
MVA NEWS AND ACTIVITIES
Top of Biomarkers Symposium: Research - Development – Registration
31 August / Ørestad / Copenhagen
It is still possible to register for this event, which is co-organised with BioLogue and the Danish Medicines Agency. The symposium will focus on ongoing preclinical and clinical research as well as international regulatory aspects on introducing biomarkers into drug development and clinical use. The programme includes speakers from EMEA and FDA. Read more
Cost Effective and In Compliance in Biotech and Pharmaceutical Production
12 September / Turning Torso / Malmö
This conference sets out to demonstrate cases where the pharmaceutical industry has implemented Six Sigma and lean techniques and realised the similar benefits than other industries are enjoying.
Organisers: Kemivärlden Biotech together with ISPE, Medicon Valley Academy and Semcon. Read more
Roundtable: Bioincubators of the future
25 September / Biomedical Center / Lund University
Roundtable on competences, capabilities and strategies of successful bio incubators. Diagnosis and future directions of bio-incubators in the Øresund cross border region. Two new bioincubators will soon be started in MediconValley, one in Lund (Autumn 2006) and one in Copenhagen (2008).
The roundtable aims at discussing the expectations on these from the universities, the innovation systems and the start-up companies, from the regional as well as the European perspective. Read more
BioTech Forum + ScanLab 2006
26 - 28 September 2006 / Bella Center / Copenhagen
Main conference 27-28 September on IMI related topics, partnering on all three days, company presentations and additional events on Framework Programme 7, East meets West, Joining the Global Bioeconomy Community, early clinical development of anticancer drugs and Investor workshop. Read more
FP7 workshop - Helping SMEs & Researchers prepare for FP7 European R&D projects
28 September / Bella Center / Copenhagen
SMEs go LifeSciences and Passport (incl. Medicon Valley Academy) organises this free workshop. The 7th Framework Programme (FP7) will be presented with details on services provided by those two support initiatives. After the practical training on project proposal preparation and project consortium building, a discussion forum will give an opportunity to deal with special topics in groups divided by technological interest. An important benefit will be to make contacts that may be valuable when the FP7 calls are announced. Read more
Early Clinical Development of AntiCancer Drugs
27 September / Bella Center / Copenhagen
An afternoon seminar on practical issues relating to the early stages of drug development - from pre-clinical studies to the conduct of clinical phase I/II studies. The seminar is organised by the Section of Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Society of Denmark in collaboration with Medicon Valley Academy and PhaseOneTrials A/S. Free participation for MVA members. Read more
Medicon Valley Addendum to Dagens Industri in October 2006
It is time for Medicon Valley to present itself in the biggest Swedish business paper. MVA members can participate by booking a normal ad or an article.You will be contacted by Skandinavisk Marknadsmedia, or you can phone Oskar Nylander at +46 704 97 88 48 or mail to oskar@marknadsmedia.se
MEDICON VALLEY NEWS IN JULY-AUGUST 2006
July was very warm and sunny in Medicon Valley, but the news flow did not dry out completely. This is a resumé, more information can be found at www.mva.org
MVA and Norgenta North German Life Science Agency agreed on cooperation in two strategic projects, The European Drug Discovery Linkup and Innovative Medicines Initiative (Medicon Valley offer to host the secretariat), respectively. Read more
Professor Lise Lotte Højgaard (Copenhagen University/ Rigshospitalet) was appointed chair of the European Medical Research Councils (EMRC). Read more
The Swedish government has decided to invest 175 million SEK in biotech and medical research, requiring as much in private co-funding. 85 SEK are earmarked for increased research collaboration between industry and academia, 35 MSEK for a postdoc-program, 25 MSEK for supporting commercialization of university research results, and 30 MSEK for clinical research collaborations. Read more
The Clinical Research Center at Malmö University Hospital was inaugurated. The CRC is the largest project ever by Lund University and Region Skåne to stimulate advanced medical research and education in Malmö. Read more
Lund University won 8 of 20 new “Linné-programs” from the Swedish Research Councils. Three were in medicine, for research on diabetes, neuronanoscience and stem cell research. Read more (in Swedish)
MEMBER NEWS
BoneSupport named finalist in patent strategy competition. Read more
Synarc to combine with Center for Clinical and Basic Research A/S, CCBR. Read more
Santaris Pharma announced global collaboration with Enzon. Read more
Genmab named finalist for the European Biotechnica Award 2006. Read more
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Life Sciences Partnering China & Europe
18 & 19 September / Beijing, China
The China Partnering Event will take a delegation of about 30 top European life sciences businesses, pharma companies, development agencies and investors to Beijing. The rationale behind the events is the recent emergence of biotech in China as an emerging player on the international market. Promoting international cooperation and facilitating partnerships will advance the Biotech sectors in both regions. The emphasis will be facilitating contacts with viable partnering prospects within China. Read more
Optimal Biomanufacturing & Process Analytical Technology
2 October / London, UK
An ideal opportunity to learn about the many aspects of biomanufacturing and to find out current best practice in our industry. Organised by SIK, The Nordic Biomanufacturing Network (NbiNet) and IChemE. Read more
BIOInvestor Forum
18 & 19 October / San Francisco, US
Join leading investors and management from top life sciences growth companies at BIO InvestorForum 2006 in San Francisco. The Trade Commission of Denmark, Los Angeles invites biotech companies from the Medicon Valley region to participate in this unique partnership, investor and networking event. Read more
NEW MVA MEMBERS - see complete list of members
C4 - www.C4.dk - C4 is the commercial organization of the municipality of Hillerød – the region capital of Copenhagen and North Sealand from January 2007. C4 is based upon four central pillars: Education, Commercial development, Cultural events and Tourism.Furthermore C4 Hillerød is responsible for guidance of entrepreneurial individuals who want to start their own business. C4 Hillerød is located in C4 Knowledge and Development Centre in the industrial area of Hillerød town close to pharmaceutical companies such as Biogen Idec and Novo Nordisk. The C4 Knowledge and Development Centre is housing 60 small knowledge based companies. The Centre includes a broad range of consultancy and networking offers similar to incubation centres.