The organisers of CORDIA EuropaBio 2003 have revealed the list of keynote speakers for the meeting, claimed to be the biotechnology industry's largest convention in Europe for trade, investment, partnership and information exchange.
Some of the most influential figures in the life sciences industry will open the conference, which has the theme 'Bringing Knowledge to Life: Europe's Life Science Opportunity on a Global Scale'.
The keynote speakers include:
- Professor Leena Peltonen of the Department of Molecular Medicine, National Public Health Institute, Finland;- Feike Sijbesma, chairman of EuropaBio and member of the board of Dutch chemicals company DSM;- Dr Philippe Pouletty, vice-chairman of EuropaBio and president of France Biotech; and- Ysbrand Poortman, chairman of the European Platform for Patients' Organisations, Science and Industry (EPPOSI) in the Netherlands.
According to the organisers, the speakers "will put Europe's key assets under the microscope from a political, scientific, social and industrial perspective, and will present a framework for improving the global competitiveness of the European biotechnology community and for meeting society's needs more effectively."
Among the key issues to be addressed at the conference is the need for a regulatory environment to enable the biotech industry to bring new biomedical solutions to patients, and to foster the industry's contribution to a sustainable economy.
In addition, there is a pressing need to double effort and investment in bioscientific education and research to ensure Europe fosters and retains its many talents and attracts the best ones from abroad.
"Despite Europe's excellence and initial lead in biosciences, North America is now leading the way in turning breakthrough discoveries into revenue generating applications. One of CORDIA's aims is to foster the right environment to enable Europe's biotechnology community to compete globally on a level playing field," said Hugo Schepens, secretary general of EuropaBio.