CORDIA-EuropaBio 2003 Organisers announce keynote speakers and chairs for world-class conference programme

7 August, 2003: CORDIA's organisers have today confirmed the keynote plenary speakers and primary conference session Chairs for their first annual convention in Vienna, 2-4 December 2003. Through a world-class conference, exhibition and partnering forum, CORDIA is set to become the industry's largest biotech convention in Europe for trade, investment, partnership and information exchange. Full details of this exciting new conference are available at www.cordiaconvention.com . Some of the most influential figures in the life sciences industry will open the conference with the theme 'Bringing Knowledge to Life: Europe's Life Science Opportunity on a Global Scale'. The keynote speakers include: 

· Professor Leena Peltonen, Chair, Department of Molecular Medicine,
National Public Health Institute, Helsinki
· Feike Sijbesma, Chairman EuropaBio, Member of the Board of DSM
· Dr Philippe Pouletty, Vice-Chairman EuropaBio, President France
Biotech
· Ysbrand Poortman, Chairman, European Platform for Patients'
Organisations, Science and Industry (EPPOSI)

The keynote speakers will put Europe's key assets under the microscope from a political, scientific, social and industrial perspective, and will present a framework for improving the global competiveness of the European biotechnology community and for meeting society's needs more effectively.

The keynote speakers will address the burning issues of the day: 

· The need for a regulatory environment to enable the biotech industry
to bring new biomedical solutions to patients, and to foster the industry's contribution to a sustainable economy;
· The need to double effort and investment in bioscientific education
and research to ensure Europe fosters and retains its many talents and attracts the best ones from abroad;
· Improving financial measures to stimulate the creation and growth of
young innovative companies. 

"Despite Europe's excellence and initial lead in biosciences, North America is now leading the way in turning breakthrough discoveries into revenue generating applications. One of CORDIA's aims is to foster the right environment to enable Europe's biotechnology community to compete globally on a level playing field," said Mr. Hugo Schepens, Secretary General, EuropaBio.

"For the first time outside North America, CORDIA offers delegates and exhibitors the opportunity to learn from and do business with some the world's most respected names in the life sciences industry," added Schepens.

"This is the toughest environment the majority of European life science companies have yet faced; the timing of CORDIA as a learning and business forum could not be more important for the sector and has been an important motivator in developing the Conference programme," added Dr Helen Abbott, Senior Consultant at Technomark.

Overall, the conference programme features some 300 speakers in 60 parallel sessions which are divided into five streams dedicated to addressing the catalysts and barriers to growth and innovation in the healthcare, agriculture, industrial and environmental sectors. Key conference Chairs
include:

· Steen Riisgaard, CEO Novozymes, Denmark
· Andrea Rappagliosi, Vice President Corporate Health Policy &
Government Relations, Serono International SA, Switzerland
· Dr Erik Tambuyzer, Senior VP Corporate Affairs Europe, Genzyme
Corporation, Belgium
· Dr Alun McCarthy, Director Clinical Pharmacogenetics,
GlaxoSmithKline, UK
· Dr Hans Kast, President & CEO, BASF Plant Science Holding GmbH,
Germany
· Denis Lucquin, General Partner, Sofinnova Partners, France
· Dr Karen Bernstein, Editor-in-Chief, BioCentury, USA
· Dr Philippe Archinard, CEO, Innogenetics, Belgium 
· Prof. Frank Gannon, Executive Director, EMBO, Germany 
· Dr Paul Haycock, Director, Apax Partners, UK
· Jean-Francois Mouney, CEO, Genfit, France 
· Prof. Linda Nielsen, Rector, Copenhagen University, Denmark
· Dr Jean-Loup Romet-Lemonne, CEO, IDM, France 
· Dr Dinko Valerio, CEO, CruCell, The Netherlands 

CORDIA's Partnering Forum offers a unique and cost-effective environment for emerging and maturing biotech companies to showcase their science and technology breakthroughs to potential business partners and investors globally. 

CORDIA'S exhibition will combine National Pavilions from Europe, the US and Asia, with independent stands featuring leading biotech and pharmaceutical companies, and key industry advisors including VCs, lawyers and consultants. Europe's leading Biotech Associations and member companies have already taken over 50% of the floorspace and the remaining space is selling out fast. Leading names exhibiting at the event include DSM, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Genzyme, GSK, Quintiles and Avecia. 

For further information:
For all countries except Germany, Austria and Switzerland, please contact Richard Anderson at the CORDIA Press Office 
HCC De Facto Group plc 
r.anderson@hccdefacto.com  
+44 (0) 207 496 3310

For Germany, Austria and Switzerland, please contact:
Till C. Jelitto at the CORDIA Press Office
PR & D
jelitto@prd.at  
+43 1 505 70 44

Notes to Editors 
The first convention of its kind in Europe, CORDIA - EuropaBio Convention 2003 takes place from 2-4 December 2003 at the Messe Wien, Vienna, Austria.

CORDIA - EuropaBio Convention 2003, is the first Pan-European biotechnology Conference specifically tailored for the biotechnology sector. Through partnering, networking and exhibitions, it will explore and influence the issues impacting on bioscience growth across Europe including technology transfer, product development and commercialisation, regulation, capital and resourcing. 

The Convention will be an opportunity to showcase science and technology innovations, as well as providing the European industry with an unprecedented critical mass for learning, networking and doing business. 

CORDIA - EuropaBio Convention 2003 will provide an environment for small, medium and large life science and biotech companies in the sector, along with investors, regulators, policy-makers, contract service providers and advisors as well as entrepreneurial scientists and clinicians to meet up and explore the potential of their business together.

CORDIA 2003 is being organised by three partners; EuropaBio, the European Association for Bioindustries, Technomark the specialist life science consulting and investment group and Reed Exhibitions, the world's largest event organiser. EuropaBio represents about 35 member companies operating worldwide and 22 national biotechnology associations with over 1200 SME members. Industry representatives, financiers, regulators, patients, NGO's, and politicians have all been involved in preparations to date to ensure relevant, high-level conference topics and seminars.