BIOTECHNICA 2007 On Course for Continuing Growth 15th International Trade Fair, Conference and Partnering for Biotechnology (9 - 11 October).

* This Year's Show Surpasses its Predecessor of 2005

* Growing International Participation

* Biggest Conference Program since the Inception of BIOTECHNICA

HANNOVER, Germany -- Europe's leading trade fair for biotechnology - is on course for continuing growth: "It's bigger, it's more varied, and it's more international", says Stephan Ph. Kuhne, member of the Board at Deutsche Messe in Hannover, Germany. "The new format with its four key elements is designed to sharpen up the show's profile and enhance its appeal." One of the high points this year is the most extensive conference program in the history of the show. "The key issues for the biotech industry today will be addressed by experts from 14 nations in more than 20 forums and 400 lectures. This year's visitors will discover the most exciting BIOTECHNICA in the 22-year history of the show", claims Kuhne.

863 exhibitors from 32 countries (2005: 849 exhibitors from 30 nations) have booked their stands for the upcoming show, which runs from 9 to 11 October 2007 in Hannover. Their presentations will occupy a total of more than 13,000 square metres of display space, or four percent more than in 2005. "The growth in exhibitor numbers, floor space and international appeal underlines the fact that BIOTECHNICA is the most important European business platform for the biotech industry", emphasizes Kuhne. This year's show will be officially opened on 8 October by Gunter Verheugen, Vice-President of the European Commission.

Headline themes

So-called "drug-device combination therapies" are this year's hot topic, with massive market growth forecast for this segment. As the name suggests, these combine a pharmacological substance with a medical product that acts as a delivery system. The global market for stents - tiny tubular implants that are used to support the walls of blood vessels - is currently growing by an average of around 11 percent a year, as a study by the American analysts at BCC Research has shown. According to their calculations, these products will be generating sales worth eight billion US dollars by the year 2010.

Another major theme is the field of biomedical research known as regenerative medicine, which encompasses stem cell research and the cultivation of tissue and cell layers (= tissue engineering). Stem cells are becoming increasingly important in the battle against serious and hitherto incurable diseases, and could hold out the promise of a cure for cancer, heart disease or autoimmune diseases.

Another area of great interest at present is so-called "white biotechnology", which can substantially improve industrial processes through the use of biological molecules. Typical applications can be found in the chemical, textile or food industries - for example, in the production of fibres, chemicals or fuels made from starch, cellulose or vegetable oils.

Meanwhile nanobiotechnology is also destined to play an increasingly important role in the future in medical engineering, medical therapy and diagnostics, as well as in pharmaceutical research. Through the use of tiny sensors it is now possible to detect the smallest changes in biological processes, such as a rise in protein concentrations in the human brain. This means that diseases such as Alzheimer's, diabetes or Parkinson's can be diagnosed and treated at a much earlier stage.

At the same time microsystems technology is coming increasingly to the fore in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases as well as in microsurgery and intelligent implants. Biochips that can be used virtually anywhere enable doctors to get diagnostic results quickly without resorting to elaborate laboratory testing. The focus is also on plant biotechnology, food biotechnology and environmental biotechnology. In fact, BIOTECHNICA 2007 presents the whole spectrum of biotechnology - from basic biotechnology, bioinformatics, products and services to the five principal areas of application - pharmaceuticals and medicine, industry, nutrition, agriculture and the environment.

Growing international participation

This year 589 exhibitors from Germany will be at the show (2005: 581), including such leading names as Sartorius, Merck and Boehringer Ingelheim. From outside Germany a total of 274 companies will be present with stands (2005: 268), including market leaders such as Roche, Qiagen, Perkin Elmer and GE Healthcare. The majority of foreign companies come from Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the USA, followed by Russia and France. There is a notable increase this year in exhibitor numbers from immediate European neighbours France, Austria and Switzerland. All the major biotech nations also have their own national pavilions at the show. Other national group presentations are coming from America and the Asian/Pacific region. The exhibitor presence at BIOTECHNICA 2007 spans four continents in all.

The top five Federal German states

Baden-Wurttemberg tops the league table of German states with 103 exhibitors, followed by North Rhine-Westphalia with 93 exhibiting companies and organizations. In third place is the "home state" Lower Saxony, with 67 exhibitors. Bavaria and Hessen rank in fourth and fifth place, with 61 and 59 exhibitors respectively.

New four-part presentation formula

The 15th BIOTECHNICA has far outgrown the conventional trade show format. "Today's BIOTECHNICA is the central European platform for strategic alliances, new business deals and knowledge transfer. It's the meeting place of choice for international experts from science, industry and government", says Kuhne. Underpinning this is the new four-part presentation formula: Exhibition, Conference program - which has been greatly extended for the upcoming show - BIOTECHNICA PARTNERING event and EUROPEAN BIOTECHNICA AWARD, widely regarded as the most prestigious competition aimed at motivating young biotech companies in Europe. Moreover, this year's BIOTECHNICA is taking place in Halls 8 and 9 at the southern end of the exhibition grounds - conveniently close to the Convention Center, where the Conference program will be staged.

Biggest Conference program in the history of BIOTECHNICA

This year's Conference program is the most extensive in BIOTECHNICA's history, with no less than 20 high-powered congresses featuring over 400 lecture presentations by experts from 14 nations. The combination of scientific lectures, the "Innovation Forum" (corporate and product presentations by exhibiting companies) and the new BIOTECHNICA PARTNERING, with the focus this year on "drug-device combination therapies", is an ideal setup for companies looking for suitable joint-venture partners and interesting business models. Decision-makers from industry, the R&D community and venture capital companies, whose paths would not otherwise cross in the normal course of events, are brought together here with business in mind. Among the big names participating in the PARTNERING program are sanofi-aventis, Novartis, Boston Scientific, GE Healthcare and WestPharmaceuticals.

In parallel with BIOTECHNICA, Deutsche Messe is for the first time hosting the "German Biotechnology Days", the follow-on event to the BMBF Biotechnology Days organized by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. At the "Tri-national Cluster Conference" - the first Central European summit for the white biotechnology industry - the leading clusters in Germany, Austria and Switzerland will be giving an overview of the key trends and developments in this fast-growing sector. The first "German-Brazilian Forum" is designed to promote scientific and business partnerships in the interests of bilateral bio-business. Other topics addressed at the Conference include regenerative medicine, plant and food biotechnology, the utilization of biomass and nanobiotechnology. Meanwhile the "BIOTECHNICA jobvector" serves as a valuable source of information and contacts for budding young scientists on their way to biotech careers.

Awards for the best new work in biotechnology

This year Deutsche Messe will be presenting the EUROPEAN BIOTECHNICA AWARD for the fifth time. Now worth a total of 100,000 euros, this award goes to the three European companies judged to be the top innovators in biotechnology and the life sciences. Prizes are given for the best new products, services, concepts and business ideas. The winner out of the three finalists - the biopharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic A/S, Denmark, the biotechnology company Genmab A/S, Denmark, and Britain's Renovo Group Plc - will be announced at the prize-giving ceremony that takes place as part of the official opening of BIOTECHNICA 2007 on 8 October in Hannover. The prizes will be presented by Gunter Verheugen, Vice-President of the European Commission, who will also deliver the inaugural address. Other speakers include the Premier of Lower Saxony, Christian Wulff, and Dr. Karl-Ludwig Kley, Chairman of the Board of Merck KGaA. The opening ceremony will be attended by more than 500 international guests from industry, science, R&D and government.