Bio Asia 2005, the global bio-business forum will be hosted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh and the All India Biotech Association-Southern Chapter at Hyderabad from February 10 to 12, 2005. The summit will be inaugurated by AP Chief Minister, Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy.

True to its theme of 'Bringing Asia and the Global Biotech Community together by bridging the development divide', the summit will witness the convergence of global thought leaders, academicians, experts of the Indian and international biotech industry who will discuss challenges, experiences, investments, best practices and customer expectations in the biotech industry.

The summit will underscore the potential opportunities that India offers to biotech companies seeking to expand their operations both nationally and internationally.

More than 75 eminent scientists and business leaders from diverse backgrounds will present and exchange views on issues such as IPR, contract research and clinical trials, agri-biotechnology, public-private partnership, vaccines, phytoceuticals, biodiesel, venture capital funding etc.

There will be special focus on sessions such as current opportunities in Asian biotechnology, wherein speakers from Iran, Thailand, Australia, China, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia and Pakistan will speak about the opportunities and trends in biotechnology in their respective countries.

The Bio-Partnership forum explores the opportunities available in the biotech and biopharmaceuticals sector in the US with an eminent panel of speakers headed by Dr Robert Naismith, CEO of Life Science Analytics, USA.

There is also another special session devoted to Germany with representation from the German government and several biotech and pharma companies.

A delegation from Biotech International (BTI), USA, consisting of six CEOs of important companies and prominent scientists are participating in BioAsia conference and B2B meetings. A special session on Bioentrepreneurship forum-opportunities in biotech and bio-pharmaceutical sectors in the US has been arranged, which will provide excellent platform for interaction between US and Indian companies during B2B meetings. Likewise another delegation from World Biotechnology Forum of USA consisting of five prominent industrialists are participating in B2B meetings and in different sessions of the conference.

The forum will also witness other prominent speakers like Dr William Haseltine, president of Hasel-tine Associates; Dr MK Bhan, secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India; SN Zindal, director general, Software Techno-logy Parks of India; Dr Ravi Sodha, head-Business Development, Novartis Pharma, AG; Dr Daniel Spasic from Trial Form Support of Sweden; Dr M Vidyasagar, executive vice-president, Tata Consultancy Services.

BioAsia 2005 will play host to over 30 trade delegations from YSA, Germany, UK, Italy, France, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Israel, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, Australia, Singapore, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The Business Forum has already attracted trade delegations from 15 countries including 50 delegates. One-to-one interaction has been arranged on all the three days of the event, and MoUs and agreements are likely to be signed on the last day. These interactions will facilitate collaborations, strategic alliances, contract research, contract manufacturing, outsourcing of products and processes to and fro between the seekers and providers, both Indian and international, for technology, products, equipment, services and financing etc in the areas of emerging trends in biotechnology.

Collaborations being sought by developing countries are particularly in the areas of vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, agri-biotech, stem cell research, clinical and pre-clinical research.

The CEO Conclave will be held on February 10, 2005, which will see a congregation of over 300 distinguished business leaders, scientists representing the life sciences industry from around the world. Dr Girish L Telang, CEO, Roche Scientific Company India will be the speaker.

The International Trade Show at BioAsia is focused on enabling business transactions, facilitating exhibitors from all over the world to showcase their products and services.

Various sponsors and exhibitors have already booked the exhibition space, prominent among them are Sun Microsystems, Bharat Biotech, Sygenics, International Biotech Park, Manipal Group, VINS Bioproducts Limited, Ocimum Biosolutions, Sequenom Inc, Suven Life Sciences, Amkette Analytics, ICRISAT, Gujarat State Biotech Mission, MIDC etc. More than 40 exhibitors are expected to take part in the event.