EDITORIAL
Join us in branding Medicon Valley
The Medicon Valley brand has been built on the regions impressive pipelines and excellent research. It is now essential that this foundation is reinforced through the consistent and continuous branding of the region. In 2007, Medicon Valley Academy will strengthen the Medicon Valley brand through the use of several exciting tools. The foremost of these tools is a film that portrays Medicon Valley in 2016 as one of the worlds leading bioregions. A region which produces world-class research, technology and products. Medicon Valley Academy will use the film to spread the word about Medicon Valley world wide - and we hope that all members will join us. Read more
MVA PROJECT NEWS
Medicion Valley presentation in Dagens Industri
Medicon Valley with emphasis on the Swedish part of the region will be presented in an Appendix in Swedish, to be sent out with the Swedish business paper Dagens Industri on 13 March. Included in the Appendix are articles about the new research infrastructure, BRIC in Copenhagen, CRC in Malmö and the BioIncubator at BMC in Lund. Other featured articles describe the impressive deals recently made by Genmab A/S and BioInvent AB.
Two new medtech companies, SchizoDetect in Lund and VibrosenseDynamics in Malmö will also be profiled. Finally, there is information about MVA and our plans for the next decennium, and an interview with the founder and owner of the fastest growing company last year - Daniel Spasic from Trial Form Support.
For more information, please contact Stina Gestrelius, sg@mva.org.
Biotech and business alliances in Japan
How do you break the cultural barriers between Japan and Scandinavia? How do you find top scientific competencies in Japan? Answers to these and other essential questions were given by Japanese and Danish speakers at the seminar, Biotech Business Alliances with Japan the 12 February 2007.
The business and scientific opportunities in Japan are huge and therefore Medicon Valley has signed a letter of intend with the Kansai region where the level of life sciences and business activities are high. The letter of intend is part of a formal agreement between Kansai and the Medicon Valley region initiated by FBRI and MVA. The mission is to boost the interaction of knowledge and resources between the two regions.
The seminar Biotech Business Alliances with Japan was the first step towards creating a larger knowledge on how to exploit the opportunities of the Japanese life science region. The speakers brought in different relevant topics. The cluster of biotech activities in Kobe was presented as well as the overall figures of the Japan life science activities. The delegates got key point of entries to the Japanese bioregion. Finally, CEO Kirsten Drejer, Symphogen, made a entertaining presentation on how the alliance with the Japanese company Meiji was developed. MVA will follow up on the successful seminar with more matchmaking meetings between Japanese and Medicon Valley biotech. Read more about the ambassador programme, and the seminar.
MVA MEMBER NEWS
The Swedish Government proposes support for locating the ESS in Lund
The Swedish Government has proposed support for locating the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Lund. The ESS would be one of the largest research facilities in the world and the investment amount will be around EUR 1,2 billion. In research and industry product development, there is often a need to study the interior qualities of objects and the structure of materials. One way of doing this is using neutrons to "X-ray" objects. To do this, enormous neutron sources are required. Nothing like this exists yet in Europe. Two such facilities are however currently being built in the USA and Japan. The Government of Sweden is now inviting other European countries to take part in the construction of the next-generation neutron source, the European Spallation Source (ESS), in Lund. Read more
New BRIC research: Gene-family regulate stem cells
Researchers from Biotech Research & Innovation Centre (BRIC) at the University of Copenhagen have now identified a gene-family that is essential for regulating the differentiation potential of stem cells and normal development. This provides new perspectives for the development of cancer drugs. Read more
Free access to diabetes research tool
International public-private collaboration has created a comprehensive database to unlock the genetic basis of type 2 diabetes, which affects more than 170 million people world-wide.
Novartis, The Broad Institute, and Lund University have completed a genome-wide map of genetic differences in humans and their relationship to type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders. All results of the analysis are being made accessible, free of charge on the internet to scientists around the world. Read more
CAT Research Park to establish new entrepreneur fund
CAT Research Park has established a fund of over EUR 70 million for entrepreneurs within life sciences. CAT Research Park owned by Risø National Laboratories, The University of Roskilde and The Technical University of Denmark among others is to create a new venture fund from which new companies can collect millions in seed-investments. Read more
Create a joint Øresund Region globalization council
Imagine Denmark and Sweden cooperating within international branding! Thomas Frostberg, Chief Editor at the Øresund regional newsservice Rapidus, has advocated a joint Nordic sales message. The joint sales message would be used to brand the competencies of the region when Danish and Swedish Ministers visit other regions and countries. Thomas Frostberg encourages a joint Danish-Swedish globalization council. The council should differ from other already existing national councils by representing both innovative enterprises and entrepreneurs. Read more(in Danish)
OTHER NEWS
Get access to Life Science in Silicon Valley through Innovation Center Denmark
Innovation Center Denmark is located in the Silicon Valley Life Science Cluster in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. The centre facilitates the entry of Danish companies into Bay Area and connects Danish universities with Stanford University, UC Berkeley and other world-leading universities. The center's services for companies include market assessments, business plan reviews, entry planning, capital connection and networking. Furthermore Innovation Center Denmark's Technology and Research Attaché helps Danish universities connect to research groups and centers, organizes workshops and study trips, and evaluates the commercial potential of technology.
Innovation Center Denmark is a joint effort between the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. The center represents a new commercial and research mission to build a Danish presence in technological hotspots of life science, ICT and Renewable Energy around the world. For contact information click here.
ACTIVITIES IN MEDICON VALLEY
Medicon Valley Life Science Career Day 2007
26 March 2007/ Malmö University Hospital/ Sweden
Our life science cluster is growing and so is the need for qualified researchers. MVA is therefore arranging its annual Career Day in collaboration with Naturvetarförbundet, Dansk Magisterforening, Proffice, ÖresundDirekt, Öresund Entreprenure Academy and others. So, if you are looking to employ life science people in the near future or simply want to create awareness about upcoming possibilities at your company, this is your chance to do so.
Program, Partners and Prices can all be found at the Career Day webpage. Read more
Legal Life Science Conference
27 March 2007 / Venlighedsvej 10 / Hørsholm / Denmark
Legal Life Science 2007 is hosting a conference on legal issues relevant for the pharmaceutical and biotech industry featuring among others speakers Morag MacDonald from Bird and Bird Law Firm in London. She, in conjunction with Morten Max Rasmussen, Bavarian Nordic, will present practical experiences of resource-intensive patent cases. Moreover, the conference gives participants the opportunity to participate in a roundtable discussion about grants together with the Danish Medicines Agency and Pfizer Denmark. The conference is organized by IBC Euroforum and the law firm Plesner. MVA-members get a reduction of 15%. Read more
The Festival of Research 2007
27-28 April 2007 / Copenhagen / Denmark
Join the Danish Festival of Research and learn more about the research in your region. At the festival you have the opportunity to interact with businesses, research institutions, museums, municipalities and many others while learning about Danish Research. These institutions will open their doors and talk about current events in research as well as the impact of research on our everyday lives. The programme is open to everyone and offers lectures, business visits, hands-on events and much more.
If you have an idea for a research related event that you would like to carry out yourself, please participate in the programme. You can invite to guided tours, debates, lectures and much more. The only requirement is that research is the issue. Another opportunity is to book a scientist to come and give a lecture. Read more
CIP FORUM 2007: Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship
20-23 May 2007 / Göteborg/ Sweden
Join the knowledge-based business community at CIP FORUM 2007: Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship. CIP FORUM 2007 will gather more than 100 world-class speakers and have 60 presentations in plenary and parallel sessions. CIP FORUM 2007 also offers over 20 Workshops/seminars, 15 Executive Roundtables and the first ever European ICM Gathering.
MVA has the pleasure to announce that MVA members will receive 25 % discount on the conference by using the discount code 7015-6884. Read more
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Life Sciences Partnering China & Europe Programme: China Partnering Event II
16-17 April 2007 / Shanghai / China
The Chinese Partnering Event II will take a delegation of top European life sciences businesses, pharma companies, development agencies and investors to Shanghai in order to facilitate contacts with viable partnering prospects within China. Chinese Partnering Event II is part of the Life Sciences Partnering China & Europe programme, which is a European Commission initiative aiming to promote partnership, joint ventures and collaboration between emerging European Biotech SMEs and their development agencies promoting the European biotech industry and the Chinese life science industry. Read more
Swedish-American Entrepreneurial Days
16 - 18 April 2007 / Chicago/ USA
Opportunity for Medicon Valley Companies to present and participate in the Swedish/Scandinavian-American Entrepreneurial Days in Chicago 18 April. The event is an important network between the United States and Sweden/Scandinavia. Seminars and presentations by trade and industry leaders will provide a view of the future of life sciences as well as insight into recent developments, research, and commercialization opportunities. For more information please contact Stina Gestrelius sg@mva.org. Read more
BIO International Convention
6-9 May 2007 / Boston Convention & Exhibition Center Boston / MA / USA
The BIO International Convention consists of four information-packed days to present new ideas, form bold ventures and create global benefits for the biotech industry.
The BIO International Convention offers attendees an opportunity to meet face-to-face with every key player in the biotechnology industry. Program participants include researchers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and others scientific luminaries. Read more
NEW MEMBERS
Kühl + co A/S
Kühl+co works with portals, intranet, extranet, web, application development and integration assignments. The core competencies of Kühl+co are development and production of Design and Communication assignments.
Proffice Life Science
Proffice Life Science support Biomedicinal and Biotech companies with optimal staffing. Proffice Life Science are actively working in both recruitment and hiring of personnel within all sectors of life sciences, including research and development, production, clinical trials, validation, regulatory affairs, and marketing and selling. Proffice Life Sceince offers professional assistance in the recruitment process and/or in temporary staffing. Proffice Life Science sponsor's the Medicon Valley Life Science Career Day 2007.
Validation & Inspection Europe AB
Validation & Inspection is now established in the Skåne region. Validation & Inspection is specialists within the Quality Assurance and Commissioning & Qualification field for the Pharmaceutical/Biotech and Medical Devices industries.