This year’s theme was ‘Stand Up for Science’ but the world’s largest biotechnology conference covers so much more and attracted companies, investors and policy makers from around the globe – including, of course, those representing the Nordics.
Although partnering is the main reason why most companies’ management team attend the event, BIO is also the place where many countries position themselves as biotech strongholds and promote their key strengths in life science. The Nordic countries did not have pavilions this year but it is likely that this will change in 2024.
The Nordic countries did not have pavilions this year but it is likely that this will change in 2024.”
BIO (the Biotechnology Innovation Organization) is the world’s largest advocacy association, representing member companies, state biotechnology groups, academic and research institutions, and related organizations across the United States and in 30+ countries. This explains the multitude of topics covered in the sessions, spanning policy discussions, patient advocacy, new technologies, regulatory issues, business development & finance and several disease areas.
Media attendance was exceptionally high, with no fewer than 140 journalists registered. The first convention 30 years ago had 1,400 delegates, but this has grown to around 19,000 this year.
The main sponsoring companies of the convention, including GSK, Amgen, Merck and Sanofi, together with contract manufacturers such as Samsung Biologics, had the largest company stands. Photo: Ola Björkman
Partnering is central but BIO is about so much more
According to a small survey the author of the article sent to some of this year’s Swedish delegates, partnering is by far the most important reason to attend BIO. The responders typically devoted 70-100% of their time to partnering and took part in 20-30 meetings during the event. But there are other aspects that define the convention. Co-founder of Viedoc Technologies AB, Sverre Bengtsson, captured the essence of BIO:
“We attend many conferences during the year but BIO is unique in so many ways – the scale, the duration, the exhibitions, the events – and all colleagues and friends you have met and made during the years are likely to be there. Thorough preparation and razor-sharp focus on what you want to achieve at the partnering is vital. You have 30 minutes and the clock is ticking unto the “gong” sounds when you have 5 minutes left until the next meeting. Wow, that feeling, the adrenaline, the excitement and all the follow-up actions, I just love it! I look forward to next year’s BIO in San Diego,” Bengtsson said.
Thorough preparation and razor-sharp focus on what you want to achieve at the partnering is vital.”
The partnering takes place in a corner of the huge exhibition hall. The rest of the space is populated by country pavilions, large and small, as well as company stands of varying size. The main sponsoring companies of the convention, including GSK, Amgen, Merck and Sanofi, together with contract manufacturers such as Samsung Biologics, had the largest company stands.
Exhibitors from the Nordics were Swedish Recipharm, NorthX and AcouSort, Danish NIL Technology, Norwegian ArcticZymes and Finnish Biovian and Paras Biopharmaceuticals.”
Exhibitors from the Nordics were Swedish Recipharm, NorthX and AcouSort, Danish NIL Technology, Norwegian ArcticZymes and Finnish Biovian and Paras Biopharmaceuticals. The large exhibition space with thousands of delegates present constitutes an arena for a myriad of informal meetings.
View over the partnering “boxes”.
Will Sweden exhibit next year?
Some of the responders to the small survey raised the issue of the absence of country pavilions for Sweden and the Nordics, and the message was clear: Sweden needs visibility and presence at BIO – period.
The message was clear: Sweden needs visibility and presence at BIO – period.”
Marjo Puumalainen, International Director, SwedenBIO, the non-profit association for the life science industry in Sweden, was constantly reminded of Sweden’s absence when talking to delegates from other countries in the exhibition area and elsewhere.
“I don’t know how many times I was asked: Where is Sweden?” she said.
In the survey, all responders considered BIO to be as important or more important than similar meetings in Europe, and a great majority said that they will attend BIO next year.”
In fact, one of the missions for SwedenBIO this year was to gather information and insights for a possible Swedish pavilion at BIO 2024 in San Diego. In the survey, all responders considered BIO to be as important or more important than similar meetings in Europe, and a great majority said that they will attend BIO next year.
This year, 67 Swedish companies attended BIO and unless something exceptional happens, most of them will likely come back next year. But what about the companies who stayed home? Why should they take part next year?
“Think about your story and who you want to meet – make sure you adjust your partnering offer to the target audience. My advice is to start planning early on, and if you haven’t been to BIO before, seek advice. If you decide to attend, we offer discounts for our members,” said Puumalainen.
Sverre Bengtsson, co-founder of Viedoc Technologies and Marjo Puumalainen, International Director, SwedenBIO, both attended BIO International Convention 2023
New deal between Swedish NorthX and Mendus announced
While most partnering meetings end with “let’s meet again when you have more data or keep us informed on progress etc”, one tangible deal was announced at BIO, namely the Mendus and NorthX Biologics manufacturing alliance.
Read more: Mendus enters alliance with NorthX and announces a directed share issue
I asked Erik Manting, CEO, Mendus, to comment on the Swedish life science industry in general – which are the strong points and what can be improved?
“Sweden has a long history and a wide range of companies active in the life sciences sector. This is a really positive environment for innovation and entrepreneurship. What is more challenging is that a lot of companies go public at a very early stage, which results in early hope of quick success, whereas in reality biotech entails hard work and is very capital intensive. This requires support from professional investors with deep pockets or it could come from partnering with big pharma companies, which however are highly selective and cannot be counted on as a solution. Therefore, also based on my experience from Investment Banking, I believe the life sciences sector in Sweden could become even stronger if companies would first secure an institutional investor basis and a more solid operational basis before going public,” he said.
Erik Manting, CEO, Mendus, believes that the life sciences sector in Sweden could become even stronger if companies would first secure an institutional investor basis and a more solid operational basis before going public.
Global roundtable discussions on current topics
As mentioned, the annual BIO International Convention is also home to international policy meetings organized with international partners. Four such meetings with international attendance were arranged and Sweden was represented by SwedenBIO to ensure voice of Swedish life science companies.
1. Annual meeting of the International Council of Biotech Association – focus on AMR, WHO’s pandemic preparedness accord, TRIPS waiver and news from all biotech associations around the world.
2. Roundtable discussion: Biomanufacturing for Health: Advancing Healthcare and Global Prepardness, hosted by EuropaBIO and BIO.
3. Roundtable on EU Pharmaceutical Legislation and HTA Harmonization, hosted with Eucope and EuropaBio.
4. Roundtable with the European Commission on the Use of Non-Human Primates in Clinical Studies, hosted by European Commission and EuropaBIO.
