MVA Newsletter no 1, January 2007
EDITORIAL
Medicon Valley Academy has a vision for the Life Science cooperation in the Oresund region – Medicon Valley shall be among the five most attractive bioregions in the world.
The goal is ambitious, but not unrealistic. The Medicon Valley region already has a strong brand and we have the potential to be in top five. To reach our goal we need to be world class in everything we do – in research and education, in innovation and business and in our ability to attract the best talents.
Medicon Valley Academy goals for 2007
This vision for Medicon Valley is defining the daily work of Medicon Valley Academy (MVA). Everything we do must support this vision. Thus, all our projects are aiming towards a stronger Life Science collaboration, network building and knowledge sharing in the region. In MVA project news below you will find the status for 2006 on some of these projects. MVA will continue this work in 2007, focusing on the following three areas.
Firstly, MVA is working to prepare the region to participate in the EU research programme Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI). The programme gives Life Science players the possibility of participating in cutting-edge research programmes and establishing contacts with top scientists from around Europe. Aside from the preparatory work, initiatives are being carried out to increase the chances of a Medicon Valley location for the central IMI secretary. See MVA project news below for more information on this.
Secondly, MVA has taken the first steps together with Copenhagen Capacity and Region Skåne in developing a Medicon Valley information portal. When international players seek new partnerships in Medicon Valley industry and science, they look for benchmark information and data: Industry pipelines, clinical trials, research networks, international science groups etc. With an information portal we can gather all of this information and make it accessible for any regional and international players. In this way we secure an efficient and strong point-of-entry for your potential partners and investors.
Thirdly, MVA is developing a global network programme - the Medicon Valley Ambassador Programme - through the exchange of Life Science ’Ambassadors’ between Medicon Valley and other bioregions. For a period of 2-3 years the Life Science ambassadors will exchange location and position within the partner region, creating new networks and collaboration between the two regions. The first deal has just been signed with the Japanese Life Science cluster of Kobe. This deal will be launched at a meeting in Copenhagen on 12 February with participation of the Japanese ambassador in Denmark and the managing director of the Kobe Life Science cluster. The goal for 2007 is to reach similar agreements with Shanghai, Korea and Singapore. The Medicon Valley Ambassador Programme is all yours – the greater use of the network, the greater results for the region.
These are the headlines for 2007. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information on the above mentioned projects or on any other pending project. As always we appreciate your input on how to further develop Medicon Valley into a world class bio region.
Best regards,
Stig Jørgensen, Managing Director
sj@mva.org
MVA PROJECT NEWS
IMI - achievements 2006
Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) is the forthcoming EU research program for modernizing the methodologies used in medicine development. The IMI projects will be public-private partnerships between academy and industry, and will include the participation of other stakeholders such as regulatory authorities, hospitals and patient organizations.
MVA initiated the IMI work group in 2005 with co-funding from the Nordic Innovation Center. Thanks to support from the Pharma Industry Associations of Denmark and Sweden, a wider range of meetings were held during 2006:
- Patient Recruitment and Clinical Trials (January)
- Top of Biomarkers (together with BioLogue, August)
- Predictive Toxicology; CNS Biomarkers; and Diagnostics, at Biotech Forum (September)
- Building Open Innovation Platforms in Bioscience (together with ScanBalt, November)
- Knowledge Management (December)
- Round table about Education & Training (December)
At present, the timetable for IMI assumes a final decision by the EU Commission in October (2007), and the first calls are to be published by the end of the year. Together with our supporters, MVA advocates transparent decisions about IMI, both regarding the localization of the HQ and the general governance.
If interested presentations, resources and extensive information on IMI are available at MVA. Please contact Stina Gestrelius at sg@mva.org or visit the IMI homepage for further information.
Øresund Diabetes Academy - achievements 2006
Øresund Diabetes Academy (ØDA) unites diabetes researchers, doctors, patients and industry in the region to strengthen the regions leading position within diabetes.
During 2006, MVA together with the ØDA Steering Committee, established five grants for Øresund Diabetes PhD-projects, arranged Øresund Diabetes Day in November and initiated a project to investigate the potential formation of an Øresund Clinical Diabetes Database. Steps have been taken to establish ØDA as an independent organisation. By January 2007 ØDA will begin recruiting members to form a strong regional arena for the benefit of diabetes research and treatment.
For more information, contact Anna-Karin Alm, aka@mva.org
Passport and Seventh Framework Programme - achievements 2006
The Seventh Framework Programme for research and technological development (FP7) cleared its final hurdle on 18 December 2006 when it was adopted by the EU-Council. This means that it is now possible for SMEs to apply for different calls. The first Life Science related call deadlines are 19 April 2007. It is also possible for SMEs apply for grants to prepare FP7 project applications. read about FP7 here
Many SMEs have the potential to join EU projects but few know how to do so. The Passport inititiave provides a fast-track route to developing proposals for EU funding. Read more about Passport here.
For further information, contact Anette Birck on ab@mva.org.
MVA in Partnership Agreement with Morrison & Foerster
Medicon Valley Academy has signed an exclusive Global Law Firm Partnership Agreement with the American law firm Morrison & Foerster. The agreement will strongly support the development of the Medicon Valley Ambassador Programme mentioned in the editorial. The agreement will give a funding boost to MVA’s international network relations and help bring in world-class competencies within patent, licensing, M&As and other legal aspects. Read more about the Morrison and Foerster deal here
MVA launches a Knowledge Management network in 2007
As a spin-off of the MVA Knowledge Management Seminar held on the 6 December 2006 MVA now plans to launch a knowledge management network. The network has been initiated upon member request and will begin in 2007.
The knowledge management seminar focused on the possibilities and limitations of today’s knowledge management projects, technologies and platforms within biotechnology and medicines development. Topics reflected the strategic plan for the Knowledge Management pillar in the major upcoming EU project, the Innovative Medicines Initiative.
If you are interested in the presentations from the seminar they are available on the KMS site. If you are interested in participating in the Knowledge Management Network or have questions to the network, please contact Martin Andersson at ma@mva.org.
MVA MEMBER NEWS
Largest university in Scandinavia a reality
The merger agreement between the Danish University of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University and the University of Copenhagen became a reality on January 1st 2007. This means that the University of Copenhagen is the largest university in Scandinavia – in terms of the research community size.
The university will employ more than 5.500 researchers and counts 37.000 students. Following the merger two new faculties has come into being: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Life Sciences. Read more here
2006 a record year for investment in biotech
Genmabs DKK 12 billion agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is the largest deal ever signed between a biotech firm and pharmaceutical company. As a result of this agreement the Danish biotech firms in Medicon Valley raised DKK 5 billion in 2006. This figure represents a larger capital injection than all previous years, including the 2005 comeback-year.
“With the Genmab’s and GSK agreement we reach a record high in investments”, says project manager Niels Gerner Larsen from Medicon Valley Academy. Even without the Genmab deal, the Medicon Valley companies attracted DKK 2,2 billion in 2006 compared to DKK 2,05 billion in 2005. Read more here
Investments in Scanian companies rose in 2006
In 2006 the number of investments in Scanian companies rose, both in number and amount. Both developing and developed companies managed to attract large investments. This sets new expectations for 2007, where the sale in earnest must begin. The venture business have to consider, how they may find new companies to make investments in, given the fact that seed-investments decreases. Read more here
CASE STORIES
MVA members – great investment potential
The Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation seeks new investment projects within Life Science with special interest in MVA members. Deadline for manifestation of interest is the 15th of January. The participants must be Danish business enterprises or enterprises with a Danish department. Read more here
2006 a vintage year in Danish biotech
The development of Danish biotech is reaching an all-time high only toppled by the record year of 2000. With a record amount of venture capital, two IPO’s and growth in the biotech industry analysts and investors gave the Danish biotech industry a thumbs up in 2006. Read more here
How to brand Medicon Valley
When branding Medicon Valley there is a need for simple, strong and consistent messages. It is necessary to work closely with other brand assets in the region and to build strategic partnerships thus providing a short cut for adding unique associations toward the region. These were some of the recommendations from the place-branding expert David Brook, when he visited Medicon Valley in December. Read more here
ACTIVITIES IN MEDICON VALLEY
EU FP7 Training Session for SMEs (Beginners) – still open for registration
17 January / Arne Jacobsens Allé 15 / Ørestaden / Denmark
You still have the opportunity to participate in a highly informative training session aimed at helping SMEs to access EU Framework Programme 7 funding. Among many relevant topics, we will provide you with answers to the tricky IP questions as well as testimonies from EU FP6 experienced SME, ENKAM Pharmaceuticals. For programme and registration click here
Success through knowledge – A conference on clinical trial management
23 January 2007 / Arne Jacobsens Allé 15 / Ørestaden / Denmark
This seminar will provide information about innovative strategies within the drug development process. This event will provide advice in how to navigate through the difficulties of this process, and how to develop strategies that will help you to meet your business goals and position your organisation for optimal value. Read more here
Project manager coaching
1-2 March 2007 / Arne Jacobsens Allé 15 / Ørestaden / Denmark
The Life Science sector requires project management skills that may not be included in traditional courses. This is the conclusion of MVA’s project management network, which has participants from 25 companies. The network is now offering its first course. It will be organized in collaboration with Leif Andersson from Proicio in Uppsala. The course is intended primarily for current project managers with the goal to help you become an even better project manager within life science. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
BIO-Europe Conference
5-7 March 2007 / Milan / Italy
The BIO-Europe Spring event features a combination of one-on-one partnering meetings and company presentations. Healthcare will be the centre of attention, but the 2007 event will also take a close look at industrial biotechnology and its interface with the world of healthcare. Read more here
Life Sciences Partnering China & Europe Programme
April 16-17 2006 / Shanghai / China
China Partnering Event II - Shanghai (PR of China), the basis for this event is the recent emergence of China as a player on the international biotech market. Promoting international cooperation and facilitating partnerships will advance the biotech sectors in both regions. The emphasis is on facilitating contacts with viable partnering prospects within China. Read more here
BIO International Convention
May 6-9 / 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 in 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 here