Spotlight

press release 2009

First Minister Rhodri Morgan AM will open BioWales 2009, one of the largest bioscience events outside London, when it returns to the Vale Hotel Resort in the Vale of Glamorgan near Cardiff on March 18 and 19 following another great success earlier this year.

This Welsh Assembly Government sponsored event started in 2002, and showcases the Welsh bioscience sector to an international commercial and academic audience that in 2008 brought together 450 delegates, over 40 exhibitors, and 225 one-to-one brokerage meetings that gave rise to numerous fruitful collaborations.

It reflects the significance of the bioscience sector in Wales, an industry worth £1.3bn and employing 15-20,000 people. The First Minister said: “Bioscience will be a key strategic industry for the future of Wales and is already an increasingly important part of the Welsh economy. Wales is in an ideal position to exploit the growing need for research and development into life sciences. The Assembly Government is determined not only to highlight the excellent work already being carried out here, but also encourage more companies to establish their bases in Wales.”

This year the keynote speech was made by Nobel Laureate Professor Sir Martin Evans and plans are already in place for the line-up of speakers for 2009 with increasing numbers of delegates coming across from Europe and the US for the event.


Plans for 2009 include:

• Trends in In Vitro Diagnostics with speakers from major companies.
• The state of the art in In Vivo Imaging by PET and MRI.
• Finance Session led by Professor Sir Christopher Evans with contributions from Fusion IP and Finance Wales.
• An introduction to what is new in Wales through the ever popular Futurewatch session.

Dr. Bob Wallis of MediWales, the networking organisation and representative body for the Welsh bioscience and health technologies sectors, said: “BioWales 2008 was our biggest and most successful yet, and we have every reason to believe next year’s event will continue the trend. We will again deliver a high quality speaker programme, vibrant trade fair and purposeful brokerage event. 

The BioPartnering event is being co-ordinated by the Enterprise Europe Network, previously known as the Wales Innovation Relay Centre, and organisers are looking to emulate last year’s event which produced a number of successful collaborations.

Event project manager Dr. Sharon Thomas said: “BioWales 2008 was our biggest and most successful yet, and we have every reason to believe next year’s event will continue the trend. We will again deliver a high quality speaker programme, vibrant trade fair and purposeful brokerage event.

Online registration is now available, and more details of our conference programme will come on stream over the next few months.”

BioWales 2009 will feature:

• an impressive conference programme
• a BioPartnering event with pre-arranged, one-to-one brokerage meetings to discuss potential collaboration projects and new technologies
• an exhibition and networking opportunity to share ideas and build profile

The BioPartnering event is being co-ordinated by the Enterprise Europe Network, previously known as the Wales Innovation Relay Centre, and organisers are looking to emulate last year’s event which produced a number of successful collaborations.

Dr Sharon Thomas again: “The BioPartnering event at BioWales has a proven track record in bringing people together in technical match ups to do business. Following last year’s event we have evidence of several collaborations taking shape, and that has to be good news for this sector in Wales.”

The delegate registration fee is £50. To book online or for more information on BioWales, please go to www.biowalesevent.com where there is a direct link to brokerage registration.                                 

Ocotber 7 2008

Further press information: Tim Powell 07939 571 553