Conference preview: BIO-Europe 2018

The 24th annual BIO-Europe 2018 global life science partnering event will be held from November 5 to 7, 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The venue is part of Medicon Valley, the leading life science cluster in Scandinavia, and the event is expected to bring together over 4,000 executives from more than 2,200 life science companies spanning an estimated 60-plus countries to engage in one-to-one partnering.

Partnering is now open, powered by host EBD Group’s partneringONE platform. With added features this year, such as enhanced search and a fully-responsive mobile app, partneringONE provides an opportunity to find and negotiate asset deals and strategic collaborations.

Last year’s BIO-Europe broke all records for the number of one-to-one partnering meetings, with an all-time high of 24,200. CEOs and decision-makers from 2,199 companies discussed partnerships over drug discovery. There were 5,142 licensing opportunities on offer, 152 company presentations and 106 exhibitors.

A new report by EBD Group and Pharma Intelligence, “ Pharma Partnering Trends Revealed: 2018 Edition”, is a valuable resource full of descriptions and analysis of the types of partnering deals that have been most successful in the last 18 months. Download it here to get inside information that can be applied in one-to-one meetings at BIO-Europe.

“The event programme includes more than 20 panels with industry experts speaking on business development and investment, therapeutic areas such as oncology, rare diseases and the microbiome.”

The event programme includes more than 20 panels with industry experts speaking on business development and investment, therapeutic areas such as oncology, rare diseases and the microbiome, cell and gene therapies, digital medicine, and a special ‘Startup Slam’ pitch competition sponsored by Johnson & Johnson.

“This is the first time that Europe’s biggest biotech conference will visit Scandinavia, and as a life science professional, I am certain EBD Group has chosen the right location,” said Søren Bregenholt, chairman of the Danish-Swedish life science cluster organisation, Medicon Valley Alliance.

“Whether you are looking for a new startup to invest in, a collaboration partner or new exciting science, I am sure you will find Copenhagen, and Medicon Valley, an exciting and rewarding place to visit, explore and do business.”

The event is supported by regional hosts Copenhagen Capacity; Invest in Skåne; Leo Pharma; Lundbeck Fonden; Novo Holdings; Novo Nordisk; and Novozymes.

“We are pleased to be hosted by this world-renowned group of Medicon Valley companies to bring BIO-Europe to Copenhagen for the first time,” said Anna Chrisman, group managing director, EBD Group.

“This biopharma cluster is one of Europe’s leading life sciences hubs, with 23 life science parks and incubators, over 350 biotech, medtech and pharma companies, and groundbreaking research in unmet medical needs, making it the perfect setting for the dealmaking and discovery that takes place at BIO-Europe to further global drug development.”

BIO-Europe offers executives from the global biotechnology industry direct access to service and manufacturing partners, innovative assets, and ideas from biotech companies ranging from very early stage to large, established companies. The event also allows biotech companies to meet with pharma executives and investors to propel their drug development commercialisation goals.