The Spanish Biotechnology Industry Promotes its Potential in the U.S.

The Spanish biotechnology industry will be exhibiting in full force at this year’s most important biotechnology industry event, BIO 2009, taking place in Atlanta, GA from May 18 to 21.  More than 103 Spanish companies and organizations will be exhibiting at the show, and increase of more than 50 percent from BIO 2008.

As has been done in several countries, the Spanish government has given a funding boost to R&D helping to make its biotech economy to grow more competitively and innovatively despite the current downturn.  This funding is helping the country to become a main international player in the biotechnology industry.  After a 50 percent growth in funding and a 20 percent yearly growth in activity during the last five years, Spain is currently home to nearly 700 companies devoted to R&D in cutting edge fields such as disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment and stem cell investigation.

“By 2010, it is expected that the economic importance of biotechnology will reach almost 1.6 percent of the GDP and affect more than 100,000 employees,” said José María Fernández Sousa-Faro, president of the Spanish Bio Companies Association (ASEBIO).  “Spain is focusing on biotechnology to be an engine for economic change through gradual internationalization, development and technology transfer.”

Many of the Spanish representatives will work together at BIO 2009 under the umbrella of Spain’s five bioregions: Catalonia, the Basque Country, Madrid, Valencia and Andalucía.  Covering more than 11,000 square feet of the Georgia World Congress Center, Spain will showcase breakthrough technologies and innovations in 29 conferences and presentations to be held by public and business representatives.  Spain will also be hosting a special R&D conference about Cancer Genomics, on Tuesday, May 19 in the Georgia World Congress, from 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Juan José Moreno Alonso, general director of technology and business development at the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, and chair for the Spanish delegation, Tamara Maes from Oryzon and Roberto Weinmann from Pharmamar, will explain how Spanish bio companies are fighting to find a cure for some of the world’s worst diseases, such as cancer.     

The Trade Commission of Spain, together with ASEBIO, the Genoma Public Foundation and BIOCAT, the association for the Catalonian bioregion, are coordinating Spain’s participation in the trade show.

Spain-based biotechnology companies also recently played a leading role in the first John Hopkins Biotech International Conference, on May 14 and 15 in Maryland, with the presence of foreign dignitaries and representatives from several companies.  The first day featured “BioEspaña: The gateway to Europe,” hosted at the Johns Hopkins Montgomery County Campus in Rockville, MD.  The event showcased Spain’s recent accomplishments in the field.

In the conference, speakers increased awareness of what Spain’s biotech industry has achieved.  Speakers included the following:

• Aris Melissaratos, Senior Advisor to the President, Johns Hopkins University
•  Sean Darragh, Executive Vice-President, International, Biotechnology Industry Organization
• Isabel Garcia, Executive Director, ASEBIO
• Dr. Montserrat Vendrell, CEO, BIOCAT
• Dr. Carlos Buesa, CEO, Oryzon Genomics
•  Dr. Miguel Medina, VP Research, Noscira
• Dr. Carmen Almansa, VP Drug Discovery Outsourcing, PalauPharma
• Dr. Pablo Ortiz, CEO, Digna Biotech
• Dr. Manuel Hidalgo, Associate Professor of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Institute, Johns Hopkins University
• Dr. Natalia Wright, VP of IP, Sylentis
• Dr. Juan Ballesteros, CEO, Vivia Biotech
• Dr. Eduardo Anitua, President, BTI Biotechnology
• Josep Ll. SanFeliu, General Partner, Ysios Capital Partners SGECR SA

Spanish companies and venture capitalists who are looking forward to collaborating, investing and  partnering with companies here in the U.S., opened the door for the formation of strong partnerships and alliances with their counterparts at the conference.  To foster these partnerships, the attending companies held face-to-face meetings with members of the Spanish delegation.

The conference continued on the May 15th with “Marine Biotech: An Ocean of Possibilities.”  The event’s objective was to illustrate the most important global topics in marine biotechnology research, as well as in the fields of drug discovery, bioremediation and sustainable fishing.  The Spain-based company PharmaMar-Zeltia also led a discussion based on their successful marketing strategies for their products.

For more information please visit www.hopkinsbiotechinternationalconference.com.