BIO heightens support partnership with Australian biotech

The US Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) is set to further increase ties with the Australian biotech community and with AusBiotech, the major Australian biotechnology industry organisation, after BIO's announcement of major support for the AusBiotech 2003 Conference.

AusBiotech is delighted that BIO has extended its support, and particularly for the Business Partnering and Investment Forum of the conference, to be held in Adelaide in August. AusBiotech 2003 will be the biggest biotechnology business conference in the Southern Hemisphere this year.

'BIO's support is indicative of Australia's growing position in global biotech and AusBiotech's developing relationship with BIO. It is also an important message that the Asia-pacific region is set to achieve new heights in the coming decade, with Australia firmly taking a leading position, as identified in the Ernst and Young global report,' said Dr Tony Coulepis, Executive Director, AusBiotech.

Caroline Ruggieri, Manager of International Relations for BIO sees Australia playing an expanding role in the world scene. 'We believe that in again supporting AusBiotech 2003 - it will help drive industry partnerships between Australian and US companies, and the relationship between BIO and AusBiotech,' she said.

The AusBiotech 2003 Conference has attracted significant key speakers, which include Richard Haiduck, a Director with Burrill and Company, who has over 25 years experience in 'deal making' between life sciences companies.

Richard will join Dr Russell Howard, the CEO and co-founder of Maxygen in California, Dr Maire Smith, CEO of Manchester Innovation Ltd (MIL), a new UK incubator, Michael Moodie, Co-founder and President, Chemical and Biological Arms Control Institute, US, and Professor Huajian Gao, from the Max Planck Institute of Metals Research in Stuttgart, Germany as key speakers.

The theme of the AusBiotech 2003 Conference 'Invention to Product' reflects the nature of Australia's maturing and entrepreneurial biotech industry, towards driving outcomes from the excellence of Australia's biotechnology research.