Biotop-report 2013

26

BioTOPics 46 | September 2013 

BioTOP-Report

 Global Business 

ogy and to provide experts from both countries with a platform 

for intensive exchange and discussion of possible cooperative 

ventures.

In the context of a joint presentation of the regions Ontario and 

Québec in August 2012, many representatives from the region 

were able to familiarise themselves with the focus areas of re-

search and production in the field of cardiovascular diseases in 

Canada and meet experts from there in the Canadian Embassy. 

In return, a delegation of Canadian entrepreneurs attended this 

year’s Berlin-Brandenburg Technology Forum on In-vitro Diag-

nostics on 5-6 June 2013, thereby extending the international 

dimension of the previously European event to overseas (see 

page 19).

Innovative projects of scientists and companies from Britain and 

Berlin-Brandenburg in the fields of nano- and regenerative medi-

cine were already presented in June 2012 in the British Embassy. 

In addition, BioTOP made a major contribution to the programme 

design of the successful delegation tour on the occasion of the 

state visit of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg in Berlin.

Focus on New Markets: South America and Japan

The BRIC states (Brazil, Russia, India and China) are markets of the 

future with huge populations, high growth and partly vast invest-

ments in their technology and research infrastructures. In Ber-

lin-Brandenburg, too, biotech companies are setting their sights 

on these countries and potential BRIC cooperation partners. In 

2012, BioTOP participated in two delegation tours arranged by 

the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to South 

America to prepare the ground for future cooperation projects. 

BioTOP was an active participant in German-Columbian govern-

ment discussions in Bogotá in June as an expert for the devel-

opment of cluster structures in the life sciences sector, and in 

August 2012 we presented a talk on the BioRegion Berlin-Bran-

denburg and, in particular, the region’s bioeconomics activities 

during an exploratory visit to Brazil sponsored by the BMBF and 

devoted to the theme of bioeceonomics. As a follow-up, represen-

tatives from the BioRegion took part in the “German – Brazilian 

Partnering Event on the Way to a BioInnovation Hub” on 26 and 

27 November 2012 in Sao Paulo and submitted several project 

applications for the tender invitation “Bioeconomy International”.

Japan was another target country for international networking 

in2012. For many years, the Japanese pharmaceutical industry 

was mainly interested in cooperation with US biotech companies, 

but Europe is gradually gaining in importance as a partnering 

region. This made it all the more pleasing to see that Industry 

Research Division of the Japanese „megabank“ Mizuho Corporate 

described the Bioregion Berlin-Brandenburg as one of Europe’s 

leading regions for biotechnology in its report “Life Sciences and 

Biotechnology Industry Clusters in Europe” which was published 

in February 2013.

Customised Services and Support based on Needs

Biotechnology is shaped by global research and marketing coop-

eration, so that companies are exposed to international compe-

tition from the start. Biotech companies in Berlin-Brandenburg 

understand that and regard the expansion and consolidation of 

their international activities as a key component of their business 

operations. Nonetheless, entry into European and overseas mar-

kets is often difficult and raises a range of uncertainties especially 

for small and mid-sized companies (SME).

To take proper account of the needs of the players in the Health-

Capital cluster Berlin-Brandenburg in its future internationalisa-

tion strategy, BioTOP conducted a major survey of SMEs, hospi-

tals and institutes in the life sciences sector in 2012. The survey 

also included app. 70 biotech companies in the region which 

were interviewed about their international business activities, 

existing forms of cooperation with foreign partners, their future 

target markets and their need for support as regards funding or 

presentations at fairs and exhibitions. The preliminary evaluation 

has already shown: Not even the smallest company can afford 

to ignore the theme of internationalisation today and pursue a 

purely regional or national business strategy. Supporting com-

panies in their internationalisation efforts must be the aim of all 

our activities.

Dr. Tohru Noji

Head of Global Corporate Advisory Europe 

Industry Research Division at 

Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd.

London/UK

Having performed a detailed cluster analysis of several Euro-

pean clusters, we perceive the Biotech Cluster of the German 

Capital Region as one of the leading in terms of business 

facilitation efforts and support. It offers the best conditions 

for becoming a fertile breeding ground for collaborations 

between Japan’s industry and European biotech partners.

Upcoming Events 2013 - 2014

11-12 September

Workshop, Exhibition, Training Courses

6

th

 Workshop on Monoclonal Antibodies

Basel 

24-27 September

Conference, Exhibition, Training Courses

Pharmaceutical Freeze Drying Technology

Düsseldorf 

8-11 October

Conference, Exhibition, Training Courses

Pharmaceutical Cold Chain Integrity

Berlin 

4-8 November

Workshop, Conference, Exhibition, 

Training Courses

The Universe of Pre-filled Syringes 

and Injection Devices

Basel 

18-19 February

Conference, Exhibition

Microbiology Endotoxins RMM

Berlin

11-12 March

Conference, Exhibition

Parenteral Packaging

Brussels

The international non-profit organization PDA is the leading global provider of science, technology and regulatory 

information and education for the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical community. With more than 10,000 

members who are active in the development, manufacture, quality control and registration of medicinal products 

worldwide, our aim is to develop scientifically sound, practical technical information and resources to advance 

science and regulation for the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry as well as regulatory bodies.

PDA‘s events include conferences, meetings, and workshops held worldwide, where manufacturers, suppliers 

and scientists of the industry and governmental bodies meet to discuss major issues of mutual interest. This 

exchange of technical knowledge and expertise assist the advancement of pharmaceutical science and techno-

logy in the interest of public health.

PDA develops technical information, e.g. Technical Reports 

(www.pda.org/Publications),  comments  on  drafts  of  au-

thority guidelines, organises events like congresses, work-

shops, Interest Group Meetings and training courses.

Become a member, join committees and events, and take 

advantage  of  the  exchange  in  expertise  among  experts 

from the entire world.

Our members belong to the global players of the pharma-

ceutical  industry,  biotechnology  companies,  start-ups, 

suppliers, and authorities.

Topics include everything which is important to the manu-

facture and quality control of pharmaceutical products.

Some of the multifarious activities include process valida-

tion, monitoring, development of freeze drying cycles, GMP 

concept for gene-therapy products, virus deactivation and 

visual inspection of products.

Find  more  information  about  all  upcoming  events  on  our 

website  under  europe.pda.org  or  under  www.my-PDA.eu 

for your mobile devices.

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