BIOTECHNICA 2013: Europe’s central platform for biotechnology

       –     From medicine to food and industry: all the latest biotech trends on display in Hannover

       –     Focus on the bioeconomy: the biologization of industry

 

Hannover, Germany. For a long time, the food industry considered and treated fruit peelings, crustacean shells and whey as waste products. Yet these “leftover” substances often have a lot to offer in terms of their chemical make-up, and the biotech industry can put them to good use – for example in the manufacture of high-quality cosmetics. This is just one example of the fast opportunities created by biotechnology. And BIOTECHNICA 2013 will soon be showing all of the latest fruits of this highly innovative sector. Once again, Europe’s leading trade fair for biotechnology, the life sciences and laboratory equipment is poised to make Hannover the central hub of the European biotech industry, for three action-packed days from 8 to 10 October. For the first time BIOTECHNICA is featuring an official Partner Country: Switzerland, a country which enjoys worldwide renown as a leader in biotechnology.

 

“Biotechnology is a fascinating industry with huge potential for innovation”, says Dr. Jochen Köckler, Member of the Managing Board at Deutsche Messe AG in Hannover. “BIOTECHNICA shows us where the biotech industry is today, and where the road takes us next in terms of building a sustainable bio-based economy.” At the heart of BIOTECHNICA are technologies and innovations that have come out of research and development, as well as practical applications in the four key areas of medicine, food production, industry and the environment. Visitors can also find out about specialized services for the biotech and pharma industry. Furthermore, BIOTECHNICA is seen as a vital platform for bringing together scientific innovators and business investors. Around 600 exhibitors from 28 countries will be taking part in BIOTECHNICA 2013. Speakers at the opening ceremony on the eve of the show include Olaf Lies (Minister of Economic Affairs, Labor and Transport for the German State of Lower Saxony), Dr. Frank Mathias (Chairman of vfa bio) and Harald Borrmann (Managing Director of Switzerland’s Roche Diagnostics AG).

Prof. Dr. Andreas Liese, Institute of Technical Biocatalysis, Hamburg University of Technology, Member of the Board, DECHEMA Biotechnology Community, Chairman of the Biotransformations Committee, Frankfurt/Main, Dr. Volker Heinz, Managing Director, German Institute of Food Technologies (DIL),Quakenbrück, Dr. Jochen Köckler, Member of the Managing Board of Deutsche Messe AG, Hannover, Domenico Alexakis, Executive Director, Swiss Biotech Association, Zurich and Ralf Herrmann, Vice President, Portfolio Management, Eppendorf AG, Hamburg

Focus on the bioeconomy

A keynote theme of this year’s BIOTECHNICA is the bioeconomy. “The bioeconomy is an important wealth creator with strong growth potential”, says Köckler. “Securing a steady supply of healthy food for the world’s population, sustainable agricultural production, the industrial utilization of renewable resources and the development of renewable energy are some of the key challenges facing the international community as it seeks to move away from an oil-based economy towards a bio-based economy.” In this declaration from its National Research Strategy “BioEconomy 2030” the German Federal government sets out the clear goal of making Germany a leading center for research and innovation in the bioeconomy, and a key driver of global structural change. BIOTECHNICA shows just how many sectors of the economy are already relying on renewable biological resources to produce goods in sustainable and efficient ways.

 

In order to highlight specific topic areas, BIOTECHNICA is rolling out a new presentation format with a series of marketplaces, each focusing on a central theme of the industry. These themes are: Personalized Medicine Technologies, Biotechnology in the Food Industry, and Industrial Biotechnology.

 

Exploring new frontiers with personalized medicine technologies

The marketplace “Personalized Medicine Technologies” is about nothing less than the future of medicine. When the focus is not just on diseases and therapies, and the specific characteristics of individual patients are taken into account, this opens up a whole new world of possibilities for diagnostics and therapy, as well as for the prevention of auto-immune diseases, cancer or infections. At BIOTECHNICA 2013 suppliers and users will be discussing the current status of personalized medicine technologies. This includes new insights into molecular processes, new immunological and biochemical testing systems, and the latest developments in medical imaging techniques. Exhibitors will be research institutes and universities, representatives of the pharmaceuticals industry, biopharmacy, the diagnostics industry, biobanks and laboratories – all presenting their ideas, products and processes in the area of diagnostics and therapeutics. The show also provides excellent networking opportunities. The four top German clusters for personalized medicine are teaming up with the Association of Research-based Pharmaceutical Companies, the biotechnology industry association BioDeutschland and Germany’s Diagnostics Manufacturers’ Association to present an exciting program of lectures and talks.

 

Big challenges facing the food industry

This year’s BIOTECHNICA features an extended range of offerings in the field of food biotechnology. At the marketplace “Innovation in Food” visitors will find everything they want to know about how biotechnology can help food manufacturers produce safer, better-quality food with reduced environmental impact. Today’s food industry is facing major challenges: food scandals leave consumers feeling helplessly exposed to risk, and so they call for more government controls and greater transparency on the part of food manufacturers. At the same time many consumers want to be able to buy things like tropical fruits all year round, and at low prices. But food safety and availability come at a price. Added to that is a growing awareness among consumers regarding food allergies, and a greater understanding of the need to respect the environment in their kitchens and homes. At BIOTECHNICA the biotech industry will be showing what alternatives it has to offer for the production of food. Meanwhile suppliers and producers as well as users and scientists will be getting together at various conferences to discuss recent developments and their consequences.

 

Industrial biotechnology gathering momentum

The food industry is just one sector that uses biotechnology on an industrial scale. At the BIOTECHNICA marketplace for “Industrial Biotechnology” it soon becomes clear how important biotechnology already is for many different branches of industry. Cosmetics and cleaning products are just two areas where biological systems are used to manufacture a whole range of different products in sustainable ways. At the same time biotechnology is developing new sources of raw materials. Industrial biotechnology – also known as “white” biotechnology – is fast gathering momentum. In Germany there are more than 60 companies working almost exclusively in industrial biotechnology. Big firms such as BASF, Evonik, Bayer and Henkel have been employing a combination of biotechnological and chemical processes for some time now, reflecting a growing trend towards the “biologization” of industry.

 

Attractive supporting program adds an extra dimension

In addition to the trade fair itself, BIOTECHNICA offers an attractive supporting program of conferences and other events. One of the highlights is the presentation of the 10^th EUROPEAN BIOTECHNICA AWARD during the official opening ceremony for the show. The theme of this year’s competition was “Integration of Biotechnology into industry”. The Award will go to a European company that uses biotechnological processes and has successfully marketed the resulting products.