STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Sept. 4, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- SwedenBIO is a new industry association that will work actively to promote the successful establishment of internationally competitive biotechnology companies in Sweden. A number of the country's largest and most active biotech companies stand behind the organization, which hopes to improve conditions for biotech research.
Swedish biotechnology faces great expectations of growth and success, as is often enthusiastically noted by politicians in parliament and the government. With solid basic research, the heritage from large companies such as Pharmacia and Astra, the early success of several companies, and a growing number of new biotech firms in Sweden, there are good grounds for these expectations.
According to recent reports in international media, Sweden has the highest number of biotech companies per capita in the world. A group of internationally renowned biotech companies are joined by a growing number of new small companies.
"A growing number of financially strong and commercially successful biotech companies is essential to the industry's future in Sweden," said Mats Pettersson, President and CEO of Biovitrum and one of the initiators behind SwedenBIO. "With these companies as a base, we can make natural sciences education more attractive, attract international investments and employees, and expand the country's biotech regions."
A much stronger interest and greater commitment on the part of the Swedish government is needed to be able to take advantage of today's favorable climate and continue to be internationally competitive. In many countries in North America, Europe and Asia powerful national programs have been launched, with politicians, authorities, companies and academic research work together to promote the development of domestic biotech business.
One major objective of SwedenBIO is to gather the major employers within the biotech field for similar long term joint efforts and initiatives to support the development of Swedish biotech.
"In creating SwedenBIO, we have focused on the dominant overall issues, challenges and needs facing individual biotech companies," said Bjorn Nilsson, President of Karo Bio and SwedenBIO's newly appointed Chairman. "Sweden has the opportunity to be a major power in biotechnology.
"We are pleased by the strong support generated by SwedenBIO. Now we want to attract more members and give them a chance to influence the future direction and priorities of the association," he continued. "As part of this process, SwedenBIO will be open to various collaborations with other organizations in Sweden and abroad."
"The formation of SwedenBIO is a key factor for the continued positive development for the Swedish biotech business. Today, strong industry organizations that efficiently represent national interests are found in many important competing countries," said Nils Bohlin, responsible for consultant firm Arthur D Little's Nordic LifeScience Practice and active in the initial work with SwedenBIO.
Founding members of SwedenBIO. All of the companies below are available for information and comments:
Amersham Biosciences AB, Uppsala PerErik Sandlund, CEO Email: pererik.sandlund@eu.amershambiosciences.com Active Biotech AB, Lund Sven Andreasson, CEO Email: sven.andreasson@activebiotech.com Biovitrum AB, Stockholm Mats Pettersson, CEO Email: mats.pettersson@biovitrum.com Karo Bio AB, Huddinge Bjorn Nilsson, CEO Email: bjorn.nilsson@karobio.se Kvarnhealth AB, Taby Hans Sieverstsson, CEO Email: kvarnhealth@zeta.telenordia.se Medivir AB, Huddinge Jonas Frick, CEO Email: jonas.frick@medivir.se Melacure AB, Uppsala PerOlof Wallstrom, CEO Email: p.o.wallstrom@melacure.com Pharmacia Diagnostics AB, Uppsala Magnus Lundberg, CEO Email: magnus.lundberg@pharmacia.com
If you have any questions please contact Noonan Russo Presence on 44 (0)20 7726 4452.