On June 18-21, the Skolkovo Foundation (Biomedical cluster) delegation took part in the 2012 BIO International Convention in Boston, Massachusetts. This four-day biotech conference is the largest global event for the biotechnology, attracting the biggest names in the industry. This time the convention included panel sessions on the breakthrough technologies and discoveries in bioengineered drugs, energy, agriculture and other. The Convention also features the BIO Business Forum (one-on-one partnering) and the world's largest biotechnology exhibition - the BIO Exhibition.
The 2012 conference, attended by global pharmaceutical companies, teaching hospitals, venture capital companies and over 500 biotech companies was hosted by the Biotech Industry Organization, a key US and international association of the industry. It drew more than 16,000 biotech leaders from 65 countries. Overall, more than 1,800 companies exhibited their technologies and products in 60+ pavilions within six product focus zones.
As part of the Convention participation activity the Skolkovo Foundation exhibited its Biotech cluster and organized a Skolkovo’s booth for the networking and presentation of the Foundation. Skolkovo innovation center also took part in the “Russian Pavilion” — a special joint exposition of several national biotech leaders, as well as governmental innovations development institutions and investment bodies. As it was announced within the framework of Convention events, Russia is to pledge a significant state-backed investment initiative worth of €4.5 billion until 2020 through a state-backed Targeted Investment Program.
The initiative aims at boosting the Russian healthcare industry, by creating state-of-the-art production facilities, launching innovative medicines and increasing exports. As a key exhibitor of the Russian Pavilion, the Skolkovo Foundation demonstrated Russia's commitment to transparency in cooperating with the world's biotech community for development of the healthcare industry.
The Skolkovo Foundation negotiated with several companies and organizations, which expressed their interest and are currently examining an opportunity to bring some of their R&D facilities to Russia. Among them were Cornell University Center for Technology Enterprise & Commercialization (CCTEC), Merck, a global leader in pharmaceuticals and nuclear medicine and some other Convention participants. The CCTEC of Cornell University enjoys a reputation in the Biomed and Biotech institution as an experienced in commercialization of scientific and innovative Biomed researches and products organization, which can cooperate with the Foundation in this field. Merck expressed some interest in cooperating with the Foundation in nuclear medicine, which studies application of radioactive substances in the medical diagnosis and treatment. The Skolkovo’s plans for the next BIO International Convention include enlargement of the Foundation’s presence at the Convention, with a joint business panel on innovations in Russia, coupled with RUSNANO and RVC and with active participation of the Biomed cluster residents.
And on June 22, members of the Skolkovo Foundation were co-hosting “Russian BioMed Day in the Valley,” an event offering entrepreneurs and venture capitalists the chance to learn about investment and partnership opportunities with Russian scientists, medical experts and technologists. The interactive half-day was focused on innovative technologies coming out of Russia today. “Globally we face an expanding, aging, itinerant and linked population, meaning there is an ever-expanding opportunity, not just for existing innovators, but for a growing group of researchers,” said Dr. Chris Janssen, director for science and education, Biological and Medical Technologies Cluster, Skolkovo Foundation. “At Skolkovo we are assembling an impressive array of people and resources to address the most pressing health care issues today. While visiting the U.S., members of Skolkovo’s biomedical cluster also met with scientists and researchers at Columbia University, Stanford University, and the University of Southern California to discuss medical research and technology transfer